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Hello Autumn!
This week we're bringing you exactly what the doctor ordered -- a fun craft project to break us all out of that post-vaccine slump!
This project is perfect not only because it's right up our alley - paper! - but also because this is a really simple, afforable and creatively flexible activity to do. It's easy enough to spend the afternoon partaking in this with your kids, siblings or even friends; this truly is an all ages welcome type of project and ranges in complexity depending on your mediums.
We've noticed a lot of clay craft trends floating around the internet the past year and were surprised that this particular medium hasn't gotten more love in the process. Well, today that all changes with the paper mache vase, perfect for dried florals & grasses.
This particular concotion of paper and a glue:water (or flour:water) mixture isn't too foreign to us, especially with our resident paper mache expert and ongoing muse: Mieke, inspiring this creative experimentation. If you want to learn more about this artist's role in our shop you can read this blog post.
These gorgeous handmade clay vases have been surfacing our socials (click images for links) as of late. Our mission today is to make our own using recyled and leftover paper. So, again, this is a great idea if you're looking to reuse scraps, save money on seasonal decor but keep that wow-factor or as a budget-friendly gift idea! We know birthdays aren't something that our friends like to compromise on and the cost of presents can really add up with so many celebrations, so this may be a cool option worth trying. And if it doesn't work out for you, you aren't out of pocket more than a couple dollars depending on what materials you have laying around.
If you're worried about longevity we're going to talk about ways you can preserve or use topcoat to protect your paper objects later on, don't you worry.
Convinced yet? Okay, let's get started.
To make these vases you will need the following materials:
MATERIALS
- topcoat of choice
- clothes hanger
- acrylic paint
- scrap paper such as newsprint, flyers, printer paper, or any paper with a light gsm
- glue, we're using regular white craft glue (or flour depending on your preferences *note that if you use flour and don’t give your project time to cure or keep your finished object in a humid area, it may collect mold over time)
TOOLS
- mixing bowl
- scissors
- wire cutter/jewellry pliers
*OPTIONAL MATERIALS + TOOLS
(See *Tips section to find out if any of these will be necessary for your project and/or preference)
- extra newsprint to protect work surface
- sandpaper
- drywall joint compound
- acrylic gesso
- tape
- chicken wire or insect screening
- acrylic paint
- mod podge
- resin
- baking soda
- blender
- silicone spatula
- image/pattern cutouts
SUGGESTED SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Caution! When you're working with certain materials they may require you to handle them with safety gear or in a well ventilated space. Certain materials are listed as optional and are not suitable for children to use with/without supervision. We suggest you refer to the labels on your products before use.
- gloves
- safety glasses
- mask, respirator* if sanding and/or using joint compound
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Essentially we‘re just taking the basics of the classic paper mache and creating some sort of aesthetic object. It’s not rocket science but it is something we enjoyed doing, was affordable, surprisingly resourceful and just felt very on trend a la small business boutique.
For arguments sake and the purposes of this post, AND because we've learned a whole bunch of different techniques through this process, this is exactly how we did it:
Ideally before we mixed any of our paste we prepped everything else first to avoid the mixture drying up before we could get much use out of it.
We started by laying down cardboard to protect our work surface from the giant mess that goes hand in hand with wet paper. Then we cut up all of our scrap paper into strips. It's generally more forgiving to work with small pieces to yield a smoother result or more specific shape like we tried to achieve. This is nice to have ready before hand so that you aren't reaching back for the scissors while your hands are all gooey.
After that was all prepped we decided on our shape for the vase. Since this object needs to be hollow, the easiest way to keep the structure was to use some sort of wire. Whether you buy this at the craft store or use an old wire clothes hanger like they give at the dry cleaners, this is the base for the shape we'll build.
Once that was in a place we were happy with, we mixed the glue and water to a consistency that is just a bit more watery than regular glue and started dipping our paper pieces into the mixture, pinching off the excess moisture and then laying that straight onto our makeshift frame.
From there it was a series of layers simply building the shape with each one.
If there's anything difficult with this process, it's simply the wait time for drying between layers. You want to make sure your layers are fully dry between applications because it just ensures the final product is stronger, especially since you won't have a whole lot of success applying a topcoat to a moist paper thing -- it doesn't always cure and that would just result in a soppy, mushy mess.
Nobody wants that!
Like mentioned earlier, we experimented with a few different methods that perhaps took up more time than necessary if you were to do this yourself but overall, applying a lot of coats, we spent about 3 days on these vases and 90% of that time was just dry-time. So it's not like it requires your hands-on attention during that period, it's perfect for bouncing around between projects, but it does mean you probably won't have an object of this size ready in a hot minute. Smaller, maybe palm-sized objects could potentially be completed in a day if you're looking for a last minute activity to do. Now comes the best part of all, adding a personal design.
We kept in mind the inspirations for this project & the colours of our apartment and then just went for it!
Possibly the most effective method for getting an even base coat when it comes to the painting portion of our project was paint-dipping, however, this can be pretty wasteful and by the time it’d dried we’d changed our mind on colour and went with good old fashioned brush and paint for the final coat, sealing with a matte finish.
To paint-dip you can thin out the base acrylic colour with some water, adding corn starch at times to thicken the consistency and then simply submerge the part of the object you choose in the paint:water mixture and leave it to dry. This avoids the need for many coats and uneven brush strokes. We also think that something along the lines of an acrylic pouring medium mixed in with your acrylic paint for the dip could yield a similar result, if not a slightly more opaque version meaning that you can achieve greater colour without having to apply as many layers as say, water and corn starch if that's what you're going for. There's a lot of options here.
As you can see, once you start one object, it’s easy to fall in a loophole of making many funky shapes. Suddenly we went from owning one vase to about 4 of these.
PAPER MACHE TIPS
Here are some ideas we've collected through our experience and from around the internet that can manipulate the overall look and texture of your completed project.
To help build your base foundation and shape we mentioned using a spare coat hanger, however, you could also use anything from toilet rolls and construction tape to balloons and bowls. We found using hot glue to attach thicker bunches of paper to our base helped to round out the bottom of our vase before applying the paper and paste combo over top.
A tip we learned for anyone wanting to build a stronger more dense object that will stand the test of time is to use other materials between layers such as chicken wire or a thick insect/door netting material, often fiber glass. These will not only provide durability but also flexibility to maintain your desired shape.
To create a rough texture mimicking an earthy, rustic and organic pottery feel (not polished!) we suggest working with larger strips and/or pieces of paper to form an irregular shape. The thicker the paper the more texture you'll get.
In order to even out the roundness of the shape but also maintain that surface texture we used paper pulp with our water:glue mixture. This is achieved in a similar fashion to making recycled sheets of paper. First we soaked scraps of recylable office paper in hot water for about 15 minutes and blended the softened paper with a cup of fresh water. How long you soak and/or blend will determine the texture of your project. The less time, the chunkier and more organic the object will seem.
Using the paper and pullp mixture we coated our vase and in order to get the best shape and adhesion, applied pressure to squeeze out some of the excess moisture and compact the pulp.
Once that was dried we could use a light, 150 grit sandpaper to gently even the textue out a bit more and it was ready to paint!
Speaking of, your paint texture can add a lot in the final stages of your project. For example, chalk paint or the home remedy version of mixing baking soda and acrylic paint gives a real grittiness to it. Additionally painting with a sponge will achieve the same feel.
To create a smoother finish and more refined claylike texture you can use a similar method to the paper pulp, blending until you get an even smoother consistency and apply it in thin layers, sanding between each one until you reach a point you like.
Some forums suggest using wood filler here and there to cover up unevness or lumpy areas and then sanding that down once it's dry.
For our tallest vase we tried a version using our silicone spatula to lay drywall joint compound as suggested in the deepest recesses of internet forums, although we suspect a cheaper option would be plaster of paris (mixed with water & craft glue), and then sanded it down after it had dried.
The final step to achieving smoothness that we have gathered is applying a paint, sealant or topcoat like the classic Mod Podge. A crafters delight.
Acrylic paint is great for decorating and coating your project. You could use a brush, sponge, dip paint or whatever your heart desires. We've also loved the combination of using some of our cricut cutout designs to create a pattern on top of an acrylic paint base and sealing with more mache paste.
Once we were happy with our designs came the decision of how we wanted to protect the final piece. You can leave the acrylic paint designs as-is and they'll last quite well but for the argument of longevity and colour fastness versus UVs, why not try a sealant?
Now, these come in all forms and it is really up to you. You could use a spray protectant, paint on varnish, cast the whole thing in resin to make it industrial strength or maybe even buff on a wax...or you could simply stick with modpodge/our paste mixture right back over for that final coat.
Paper mache, or papier-mâché has a lot of versatility once you get into it. Patience is simply key to working with this medium in order to make it do what you want it to -- and trust us, we're already planning to do a lot more with it!
Stay Creative,
TLA
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