Activity Overview
Create your own decorative bowl out of out paper mache. In this activity you can use unused wrapping paper strips to make a colorful and unique bowl to hold dry items as a decoration. This activity is great for school aged children and teens.
Using a paper mache technique over a glass bowl of your choosing, the gluey paper is layered over a plastic wrapped encased bowl to prevent sticking and damage to the bowl. With proper layering and dry time, the paper retains the shape of the bowl once it is lifted and peeled away from the plastic wrap.
Materials Needed
- 2 Bowls
- spoon
- 1 cup of school glue
- 1 cup of water
- Wrapping paper
- Plastic wrap
How to Make It
- Place a sheet of plastic wrap over a glass bowl. Cover the inside and the edges.
- Tear wrapping paper into strips.
- Mix one part glue to one part water and mix well in a bowl with a spoon.
- Dip the strips into the watery glue mixture and layer the strips on top of the plastic wrap while overlapping the edges of the strips as you go.
- Continue this dipping and layering process until you complete 4 or 5 layers of gluey paper.
- Allow to dry for at least 24 hours.
- After the paper in the bowl is dried completely, pull up on the edges of the plastic wrap that overhangs on the bowl to lift the paper mache out of the bowl.
- Carefully pull back the layer of plastic wrap from the paper bowl.
