How to make paper maché with Bostik Art & Craft White Glue

A simple paper mache recipe using PVA glue, newspaper and water

Paper mache is simple and fun to make and can be used in many arts and crafts projects. In a hectic and fast-paced world, spending a little time getting crafty can provide some welcome relaxation. It allows us to pause, get lost in the moment and learn a new skill to express your creative side.

Making paper maché is super easy using Art & Craft White Glue. Plus, it's a brilliantly versatile medium. There are so many things you can make from paper mache, including an artistic sculpture, papier mache Christmas decorations, or a homemade trinket dish to gift to friends and family.

In this tutorial, we show you how to make paper mache using a balloon as a mould to create a handy bowl. This DIY paper mache bowl is great for storing items such as keys, jewellery or any other small household items.

Pouring glue into a container to prepare the paper mache adhesive mix.

Why use PVA glue for paper maché?

Bostik Art & Craft White Glue is the ideal paper mache adhesive. It's a multipurpose, solvent-free white glue that turns clear when it dries, making it the perfect choice for pva paper mache projects. Papier mache with PVA glue is a tried and trusted technique, and the same glue works brilliantly across all kinds of crafts with PVA glue, including card-making, scrapbooks, model-making and school projects. It sticks lots of materials too, including paper, card, wood and fabric.

Our Art & Craft White Glue comes in an easy-to-use bottle with a resealable cap, and it's specially formulated to be washable, so accidents are easy to clear up.

Instructions

Step 1: Rip your paper

First things first, you need to tear up a good supply of old newspapers. Your strips of newspaper should be 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) long and 3-5 inches (7-13 cm) wide.

Step 2: Create your paste

Once your newspaper strips are prepared, you need to mix 2 parts of Bostik PVA Glue to 1 part water in your mixing bowl. To open your Art & Craft White Glue, twist the blue part of the nozzle anti-clockwise, then gently squeeze the bottle so the glue starts pouring out.

Stir the Art & Craft White Glue and water together until you get a paste-like consistency.

Step 3: Grease your mould

Select your item depending on what you are trying to create from the paper maché - your item is your mould. For example, in order to create a paper maché bowl we are using a balloon but a plastic bowl would also work - the choice is yours.

Grease your mould with petroleum jelly so that it will be easy to remove at the end of your project.

Step 4: Apply paste to your strips

Dip a strip of newspaper into the paste so that it is fully covered.

Tip: If you're struggling to apply the paste or find it gets too messy, lay some old newspaper on your table to protect the surface. Then, dip a large paint brush into your paste mix and paint the newspaper strip on the table being careful to not apply too much paste.

Once the strip of newspaper is fully covered, hold the strip above the mixing bowl and running it between two fingers to remove any excess paste.

Step 5: Stick to your mould

Apply the covered strip to your mould and then repeat, starting in the centre of your object and gradually fanning out.

Continue layering strips to cover the whole mould, overlapping them and laying them in different directions. Then allow your piece to dry completely.

Step 6: Leave to dry and then repeat

Once your first layer of newspaper has dried on your mould, repeat steps 4 and 5 several more times to build up the layers. This will give your finished item strength and will better withstand the test of time.

Step 7: Tidy up your creation

Once the final layer of newspaper strips has dried, ease your paper maché off your mould. If you've used a balloon, you can carefully pop the balloon so that it deflates. Remove the deflated balloon and your DIY paper maché bowl will stand intact.

Where required, trim the edges of your paper maché creation to tidy everything up.

Step 8: Decorate

The final step is to decorate your new paper maché bowl. You can use paint or pens for a pop of colour or add stickers, gems or Bostik Glitter Glue to bring that sparkle - let your imagination run free.

And that's it! You've now learnt how to make paper maché with Art & Craft White Glue. For more craft inspiration and ideas, take a look at our full list of #CraftWithBostik tutorials.

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