Papier-mâché Dish

This is an easy project that's basically free, but it requires a bit of a time commitment. Papier-mâché uses only a few ingredients, but you need to give each layer time to dry, and then each coat of paint takes time. For this project, I tried a recipe that requires cooking the papier-mâché mixture. This extra step is supposed to give you a harder, glossier finish (and it wasn't very difficult, so it was probably worth it!). 

To make the papier-mâché, I mixed a half cup of flour into two cups of cold water. After stirring out all the lumps, I added this mixture to two cups of boiling water. I let it boil until it thickened, then took it off the heat and added two tablespoons of salt (this helps prevent mold). The recipe was thick and custardy, which is great, but I ended up with way too much. If you are doing a small project, I recommend making just a quarter of this recipe.


To start, choose a dish to use as a mold. I used a little storage container, and covered the outside with plastic wrap to keep the project from sticking. You can use a thin layer of vaseline instead of plastic wrap, but then you end up with some grease on your finished project. Here's the dish wrapped up and ready to papier-mâché!

Now you dip paper into the papier-mâché mixture and let it soak a few seconds, then lay it on the mold. Lay strips down in one direction, then lay more strips in the opposite direction. Try to remove most of the goop from each strip before laying it down, or you will end up with a sticky finished project that will take days and days to dry. 

Ideally, you should do a couple layers of paper, give it a day or two to dry, then do another layer (or two). I did two layers, giving it a day to dry in-between. My finished project is thin and fairly flexible, but seems strong enough. The papier-mâché mixture can mold fairly quickly, so it's best to refrigerate it in between uses and try to get the project done within a week or so. 

Once it's good and dry, carefully remove the papier-mâché from the mold. To neaten the edges, trim off the excess at the top. 

Now you're ready to paint! I did a few coats of paint and finished it with Mod Podge to seal it and give it shine. It's perfect for holding earrings or other odds and ends, and you can decorate it however you want. 

Thanks for reading! 
Cate