How To Make A Fun Decoupage Paper Mache Bowl

6 Materials
$2
2 Days
Easy

I love those gorgeous plates in Anthropologie with the animals and flowers on them. I have quite a collection as I buy one every time I visit thier London store. I thought it would be fun to make my own large decorative "nature table" themed bowl for my dining table to match the plates.


I can't make one out of clay as I don't have a kiln. However, after the success of using paper mache to make my Marimekko Planters I decided to use the same method as the base for these bowls.

You will need a big bowl to use as a mold for this craft. Cover the bowl in clingfilm/plastic wrap.

Then cut newspaper into strips and stick it to the upturned bowl. I used a 50/50 mixutre of white craft glue and water as my adhesive.

Cover the whole bowl and let the layers dry before adding another one. The more layers of newspaper the stronger and thicker your bowl. I used six layers of paper.

When finished with the paper mache, remove the bowl from the mold. Then using scissors cut the edge to even it up.

Then add one final layer of paper mache over the edges to smooth them out.

Paint both the inside and outside of the bowl with gesso paint.

I used images printed on paper napkins for the decoupage on my bowl. If you go to the blog post there is a tutorial on how to print onto paper napkins at home. Plus I have a lot of free gorgeous vintage images that you can use for this project too.

Using Mod Podge decoupage the paper napkin images onto the bowl. I used paper napkins as they are so thin it looks like the images are printed onto the bowl.

I loved this bowl so much I ended up making 2 of them. You can see the other one on the blog.


Paper napkin decoupage is a great way to decorate objects for the home. One of my most popular post on the blog is another paper napkin decoupage my map mason jars.

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Claire at Pillarboxblue
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  • Debby Weisman Debby Weisman on Jul 30, 2020

    I have made these bowl and used a cylinder base than covered with paper Mache or once a large balloon to make a very big pumpkin which lasted for years. I have taken Styrofoam balls and even old golf balls all from Goodwill wrapped with paper tape and than painted or covered with matching napkins as the bowls. Than also used over the paper tape once glue gun designs all over the balls to give dimension and than painted multiple colors and when dry gold or silver craft paint accents where the glue gone was. came out gorgeous and also produced finials for all my lamps with your idea ! Endless possibilities !! What did you use as a sealer that wouldn't yellow ?

  • Debbie Debbie on Aug 20, 2020

    I know this will sound horribly beginner of me....(which I am lol) but how do you remove the bowl? 🤔

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  • Cproulx Cproulx on Jul 28, 2021

    I love it!!! I am definitely going to be trying this. Thank you so much for sharing.

  • Dl.5660408 Dl.5660408 on Jul 29, 2021

    They came out beautifully! Such a versatile project! When I worked in Sp.Ed. I made bowls with the middle schoolers out of tissue paper and balloons

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