Easy Peasy DIY Paper Mache Diya
With festivities around the corner we thought why not share tips to make your own DIY Paper Mache Diya which you can use at home or gift to friends. You must have heard about Papier Mache aka paper mache. In a literal sense, it means paper pulp. The French the always ingenious people introduced this craft to the world in early 17th century but this technique goes back way beyond that to the ancient Egyptians.
In paper, mache artifacts are made with paper pulp bound with an adhesive like white glue. Sometimes the pulp is reinforced with fabric pieces too. This pulp is then moulded around a frame to make various paper mache craft pieces. One can make masks, ornamental vases, boxes, jewellery, toys and more. Last year when I went to Kashmir I saw a full-fledged handicraft industry based on Paper Mache. What lovely decorative pieces were being made!
So did you know that there is an easier technique of paper mache? In this paper, strips are glued together with an adhesive to make various ornamental pieces. The same technique has been applied to make this lovely bowl to decorate your space this festive season. It looks lovely as a part of the vignette on the mantelpiece in my living room.
The process of making this bowl is simple. We need a lot of newspapers, Fevicol, a plastic bowl, some Vaseline, white pencil, Fevicryl Acrylic colours, paint brushes and a water container for this.
At the onset, we will have to tear or cut the newspapers into small strips. Take a bowl and using Fevicol intermittently arrange the strips over the bowl in a layer. Ensure that the outside of the bowl is greased so that the paper bowl comes off easily when dry.
When you are applying the layers ensure that the breadth of the bowl is thick enough. Leave it to dry thoroughly overnight. Voila, the paper bowl will come off like this.
For a smoother finish, the final layer may be done with an A4 paper or muslin cloth.
Paint the bowl with Black Acrylic colour. Let it dry. With a white pencil draw a desirable pattern on it. I choose a Moroccan pattern but you may do as per your choice. I recently saw a papier mache box decorated with one stroke flowers which looked lovely.
Start painting the pattern again with the colours of choice. I used Teal blue, Greenery and Coral Red colours to paint the pattern.
You may need to apply two coats of the colours for an even finish. Let the colours dry and voila we have our lovely trinket bowl. If you want you can apply a varnish spray on the bowl.
Isn’t it a lovely art and craft idea and so easy that most of us at home can do it easily. Do try it out and let me know how you find it! Ciao till the next one and all the best for the upcoming festivals!
