Step-by-step guide on how to make a paper bowl from recycled newspapers.

Materials you'll need:
​

• Newspaper or magazines
• Skewer stick or chopsticks
• White glue and/or Mod Podge
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Binder clips or clothespins
• Varnish sealer

Step 1: Preparing Paper Strips

Cut the newspaper into three equal parts.

• Take the entire newspaper and fold it into three equal parts. You can use the insert section of the newspaper and fold it in half if you prefer.
• Cut the folded paper into strips, making sure they are about the same width. The size of the strips will determine the thickness of your bowl.

Step 2: Rolling Paper Rods

Start rolling the paper strip with your both hands

Gently and slowly make sure that the stick is covered all around.

Add a bit of glue to the corner of the strip

• Take a skewer stick or chopstick and work one end of a paper fold around that stick.
• Start rolling the paper strip with your hands pressed down on the table.
• Continue rolling until you get close to the end. You may need to lift the roll to tighten it.
• Add a bit of glue to the corner of the strip and continue rolling to the end. This creates your first paper rod.

Step 3: Making Multiple Paper Rods

separate paper strips according to they colours to give you bowl an interesting colour combinations

• Continue rolling more paper strips to create around 50 or more paper rods, depending on the size of the bowl you want to make.
• Create as many paper rods as you need.

Step 4: Coiling the Bowl

Paper strips coiling process

• Start coiling by taking one paper rod and making a very tight roll. Ensure there are no gaps in the center.
• As you coil, place the coil on the table and gently pull and twirl it around with your palm hand to tighten it further.
• One end of the rod will be larger than the other, which is good for attaching additional rods. Apply a bit of glue to one end and insert it into the other end of a rod, then flatten.
• Keep coiling and adding rods until the bowl reaches the desired size.
• Do not glue any of the rods down as you coil to allow the bowl to move freely while shaping.

Step 5: Shaping and Gluing

Gently push the layers of the coiled bowl

you should end up with something like this

• Gently push the layers of the coiled bowl to shape it the way you want.
• When you're satisfied with the bowl's shape, apply additional glue (or Mod Podge) to the inside and outside of the bowl.
• Let the glue dry for 3 to 5 hours.

Step 6: Sealing the Bowl

• Apply a varnish sealer to the entire bowl to make it waterproof.
• Let it dry for 2 to 3 days, depending on varnish product you are using and the climate, it might take less time to dry.

Step 7: Personalizing Your Bowl

• Once you have the basics down, you can have fun customizing your bowl. You can make it larger or smaller and decorate it with paint or colors according to your preferences.​

Remember, waste isn't waste until we waste it. Have fun creating your unique paper bowl and consider the environmental benefits of reusing materials like newspapers or magazines.

click here to check out other designs that We have made.

quick video guide