Papier Mâché Is Not for the Weak

October 30th, 2013

paper mache project — jessica bowl

My friend Jessica’s paper mâché success. She’s an artist and made it look easy.

Remember paper mâché? That totally innocuous craft medium we used to be amazing at in Kindergarten? I recently indulged in an overambitious paper mâché sesh with some friends, and it turns out that it’s not a medium for the weak or stupid. In my defense, I never went to Kindergarten, thanks to my unkempt hippie childhood. So it was a humbling experience with dubious results. Here’s how it went:

Paper mache project — rolling dough

Leslie rolling out the paper mâché at like one in the morning, after our evening flight to LA, where said project went down. Also, I have to admit that it wasn’t actually paper mâché but rather some nefarious product that comes in a box off the internet and doesn’t list its ingredients.

 

Paper mache project — fitting over molds

First step: cover every bowl in the kitchen with plastic wrap and then fold paper mâché goop over it to form a basic mold.

 

Paper mache project — popped off molds

In an ideal world, the bowls are completely dry 24 hours later.

 

Paper mache project — oven

In our world, however, they required several hours of “firing” in the “kiln” before we could paint them.

 

Paper mache project — painting

Jessica deeply absorbed in applying Martha Steward-brand (that’s right) fabric paint to her bowl.

 

Paper mache project — gold leaf messy

I overreached with this ambitious gold leafing idea. Anyone ever used gold leaf? I’m blind and crazy now and have arthritis.

 

Paper mache project — gold leaf neat

But if you squint, it looks pretty cute!

Verdict: I will probably never do that again. Turns out I’m better at more ladylike kitchen crafts. But it was an interesting endeavor and made for some great bonding time with my awesome, creative friends in LA!

Paper mache project — second bowl

I made a backup bowl too. I might actually like this one better. Oh what are these bowls for? Good question. Nothing. They’re made out of paper, so.

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2 Responses to “Papier Mâché Is Not for the Weak”

  1. Jamie says:

    Love it! Want to come help me do Halloween costume crafting tonight?

  2. Tom M says:

    They must be useful for something. That was an awful lot of bowls set out in the kiln for them to have no purpose.

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