They are not what they sound like.
Plaster-impregnated gauze, the kind surgeons use to make casts for broken bones, can also be used to make bowls! It is available in surgical supply stores. Perhaps more easily accessible, however, is a product called Rigid Wrap, which you can find in most craft stores. The amount you will need will be determined by the size bowl that you wish to make. It is a good idea to buy two packages to start since leftovers can always be used for additional projects.
Materials:
two or more packages of Rigid Wrap
bowl to use as a mold
petroleum jelly
newspaper
white glue or wallpaper paste
paint and trim as desired
bowl of water
Steps:
- Cut gauze into strips the length and width appropriate to the bowl. The smaller the bowl, the narrower the strips so that they will lie smoothly without wrinkling.
- After slathering the outside of the bowl with petroleum jelly (figure A), start covering it with the gauze strips. Following the package directions for applying, dip the strips in water one a time and smooth them over the outside of the inverted bowl. If you want a lip around the edge of the bowl, apply the strips so they extend beyond the edge for an inch or so.
- After applying one layer of the gauze, cut a doughnut-shaped piece of cardboard to fit over the bowl. It should fit perfectly so that the inside of the "doughnut" fits smoothly up to the outside edge of the bowl (figure B).
- Continue to add layers of gauze until you have at least three layers. If you're making a rather large bowl, use four or five layers.
- Allow everything to dry.
- Trim the top edge. If you have put a lip on the bowl, trim around the outside edge. Cut a number of short (two-inch lengths) of the gauze, dip them in water and apply them around the edge to keep the layers from pulling apart. Let dry.
- When completely dry, the bowl is ready for decorating. If you will be painting the bowl, you may want to add one paper mache layer since the paint will chip off the plaster bowl too easily, even after applying several coats of gesso. After decorating, you might wish to apply a coat or two of a protective finish, as well (figure C).
Featured Bowls In all cases, the completed paper-covered bowls were coated with a protective acrylic coating.
Bowl #1 - I presented a large bowl painted with several coats of gesso then completely covered with torn pieces of handmade paper applied with decoupage medium. Pieces of large netting were added for further embellishment. One piece was applied directly to the bowl, and another was applied over a piece of torn handmade paper in a color different than the basic bowl.
Bowl #2 - This large bowl was covered with patterned tissue. After applying gesso and allowing it to dry, the tissue was torn into small pieces and applied with the medium. When the piece was dry, some of the stars and other small shapes were covered with gold leaf. The outside of the bowl was covered with pieces of handmade paper and bordered around the top edge with triangles torn from another sheet of handmade paper. More paper was torn into circles, which were then applied between the triangles.
Bowl #3 - The large bowl with a lip was dried, coated with gesso, and covered with torn pieces of handmade paper. Pieces of paper in a different color were applied here and there for accent. The main focal points were the colorful lizards cut from a piece of batiked paper and applied around the inside of the bowl.
Bowl #4 - Another bowl was first painted with light orange granite stone and when dry, accented with a swirl of blue on the inside and stripes up the outside.
Glass Jar - The last item was not a bowl but a very large (family-size) plastic pickle jar. A layer of the Rigid Wrap was applied to the outside of the jar. Dry, heavy twine was glued into a pattern form around the outside of the jar and everything was covered with granite stone.
Note: texture paints are available from arts and crafts stores nationwide, or try making your own by stirring gritty bits of material (such as sand) into paint.
Resources Duncan Granite Stone Paint
Check Duncan's ceramic line Web site for a local ceramic retailer: www.duncanceramics.com
Duncan Enterprises
Website:
www.duncancrafts.com
Black Ink batiked paper
Graphic Products Corp.
Available at Michaels or check GPC's website for local retailers.
Toll-free Phone: 800-323-1660
Website:
www.gpcpapers.com
Rigid Wrap plaster cloth
Activa Products Inc.
Website:
www.activaproducts.com
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