Learn how to make paper mâché bowls with kids. Use a bowl from your kitchen as a mold and then paint the finished product!
Updated March 2025
Paper mâché bowls are a fun and creative craft that kids will love making. Using a simple kitchen bowl as a mold, children can layer strips of paper and paste to form sturdy, decorative bowls.
Making these bowls is also an opportunity for kids to experiment with colors, textures, and designs, as they paint them in bright patterns and add decorative touches.
The finished product is a sweet keepsake, perfect for holding treasures or gifting to someone special. These homemade bowls make a perfect art project for any age!
How to Make Paper Mâché Bowls with Kids
MATERIALS
- Paper mâché (recipe: 1 part flour to 2 parts water)
- White glue
- Kitchen bowl (for shaping)
- Plastic wrap (to prevent sticking)
- Strips of newspaper or tissue paper
- Paint and brushes (for decorating)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare the mold
Cover the outside of the kitchen bowl completely with plastic wrap.
- Make your paper mâché
Mix one part flour to two parts water until it makes a paste. Sometimes we also add a little bit of white glue, to make sure the paste dries extra firm.
You can also dilute white glue with water. - Layer the paper
Dip newspaper strips into the paste, remove excess, and lay them over the bowl, covering it completely. Add 3-5 layers, letting each layer dry slightly before adding the next.
- Let dry
Let your bowl dry completely before moving onto the next step.
- Remove the bowl
Gently peel the paper mâché off the kitchen bowl. Trim edges if needed.
- Decorate!
Paint your bowl with bright colors and patterns.
After the paper mâché bowls dry completely, you can add a layer of Mod Podge or other sealer to help protect them.
How sweet do these bowls look!? We love having them out on the table for decoration.
More Crafts to Make as Gifts for Kids
- 40 Handmade Gift Ideas that Kids Can Make
- How to Make Felt Succulents
- 12 Ways to Reuse Children’s Art
- How to do Glue Resist Painting on Canvas
- How to Make Your Own Shaped Crayons
- How to Make an Artful Bunting
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