How to make paper mache bowls

I love making decorative papier-mâché bowls out of newspaper and using tissue paper as the top layer. I know a lot of people turn this papier-mâché process into a big, messy project by making papier-mâché pulp in their blenders. My motto is to keep it simple and my results have been very satisfactory.

First, I choose a bowl in the shape I love. I have a large ceramic salad bowl that I particularly like. OK, the bowl is chosen for the form.

Flip it over and ‘grease’ it with Vaseline or anything (even Crisco) to keep the paper from sticking to the container. It’s a good idea to place it on a board or tray to catch any drips and also to make it portable, as the paper mache container needs to dry completely. Tear the newspaper into small pieces. You are going to need a lot of pieces of paper to complete this paper mache bowl. I have used wallpaper paste to adhere the paper to the form. Dry wallpaper paste is easy and inexpensive because a tablespoon of paste makes a lot of glue after mixing with water.

ModgePodge diluted with water works great. I have also used Elmers glue diluted with water. All we’re doing here is joining the wet paper together and smoothing it out with the brush. Cover the greased form with the newspaper pieces one at a time adhering them with the ‘glue’. Use a small brush to apply the glue or paste.

After completing the first layer, continue with the second layer and then the third, etc. After a few layers, let the paper mache container dry before adding more layers of paper to the paper mache container. The more layers you add, the more substantial the bowl will be. Let the container dry completely. I let it dry for several days. Remove it from the form.

When the paper mache bowl is complete, you have a couple of options:

Paint it inside and out to complement your décor or add a few layers of tissue paper. Acrylic paint is available in small bottles and works great on paper. Let your imagination guide you to a masterpiece! I like to use tri-colored and white paper, also cut into small pieces, and layered until the newspaper doesn’t show. The different colors layered randomly, form new colors and shades. Pay attention to the rim of the bowl for neatness… fold the pieces of paper over the rim to make it smooth.

Hint: keep all that tissue paper you receive in gift bags. Use tissue scraps to cover boxes or anything else that catches your eye.

As a final step, spray the papier-mâché container with a sealer. There are many spray sealants available at craft stores and even Walm art. Making paper mache bowls is a great way to recycle some of the paper that accumulates in our homes. You can use paper mache bowls as a basket for a gift basket, a fruit bowl, or to hold potpourri…

I found this gallery of paper mache projects you might enjoy…