Craft a Paper Bowl

*I got this from the Family Fun magazine for the month.  Since we are using SOTW, and our very next weeks chapter deals with making paper, I thought this would be a fun thing to do next week as well.  And even better -- all the materials are stuff that most of us have on hand!!

 

CRAFT A PAPER BOWL

 

Learn about the process of papermaking - an art that dates back more than 4,000 years - with this step by step project that recycles pieces of ordinary paper into a decorative catchaall for your desk or bureau.

 

You will need:

Construction paper (2 sheets the same color and then various other colors)

1 sheet of newspaper

Blender

Warm Water

Colander and pan

Paper towels

Vegetable oil

Round kitchen sieve

Large bowl

 

1. Tear the 2 sheets of same-colored construction paper and the newspaperinto 1 inch squares. Put all the pieces in a blender, then fill it three-quarters the way with warm water. Blend the ingredients on medium speed for  afew minutes, or until a pulpy mixture forms - know as slurry.

 

2. Set the colander over the pan and pour in the slurry. Let it drain for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, use a paper towel to apply a light coating of vegetable oil on the inside of the kitchen sieve. This will help the finished paper bowl come off more easily.

 

3. Tear the remaining pieces of construction paper into small pieces for decorating the outside of the bowl. Dip each piece into water, then place it along the inside of the sieve.

 

4. With your fingers, scoop and mold a thick, even layer of slurry along the inside of the sieve, covering the decorated paper pattern. Gently press the slurry against the seive to squeeze out any excess water.  If you like, place a few more decorative pieces of construction paper along the inside of the bowl. Set the sieve over a large bowl to dry completely (about 48 hours), then carefully remove the paper bowl from the seive.