How to Make Paper Bowls With an Acrylic Polymer Medium

You can create decorative paper bowls out of recycled materials using papier mache and acrylic polymer medium. Although these bowls won't be food safe, they can be used for a variety of purposes. Paper bowls look great on a coffee table filled with seasonal decorations like pine cones or glass balls. Small bowls can be used in the kitchen to catch your spare change, or in the bedroom to hold rings and other jewelry. Coating your bowl with acrylic polymer medium adds to its strength and seals it to protect it from dirt and moisture.

Instructions

1

Protect your work area by covering it with a small tarp, piece of cardboard, or newspapers.

2

Choose a bowl that you will use as a mold and turn it upside down on your work surface. Coat the entire outside of the bowl with cooking oil. This will allow your work to easily release from the mold once it is dry.

3

Combine 2 cups of water and one cup of flour in a mixing bowl. Mix with a whisk until smooth.

4

Dip torn strips of newspaper into the flour mixture and smooth them over the outside of the bowl. Cover the bowl with about 4-6 layers of papier mache and allow the bowl to dry for 24 hours.

5

Using a butter knife or other thin tool, pry the paper bowl off the mold. If the inside of the paper bowl is not thoroughly dry, wait a few hours longer before moving on to the next step.

6

Paint your bowl with a paintbrush and acrylic paints.

7

Once the paint has dried, paint on a coat of clear acrylic polymer medium to protect your work and add durability and shine.