Materials:
corrugated paper*
thick white glue
scissors
patterned tissue paper
polymer medium, decoupage medium, Mod Podge, etc.
corrugated cardboard - optional
*Corrugated paper is sold in rolls in craft stores, art stores and stationery stores. It is sometimes available in colors. I used the brown most often associated with corrugated cardboard.
Note: Although the book directions call for strips of the corrugated paper to be cut 1/2" wide this is optional. The size and shape of the pot can be determined by how wide you cut the strips and how far you overlap them over the row beneath. I used strips about 3/4" wide. The wider the strips and the farther they are above the row beneath, the straighter the sides will be. The narrower the strips and the closer they are to the row beneath, the more the sides of the pot will fan out. Experiment to obtain the shape you want.
Steps:
- The bottom of the pot can be made from either coiled strips of the corrugated paper or two or three stacked circles of corrugated cardboard. If using the paper cut strips about 1/2" wide. Starting at one end of one of the strips coil it as tightly as possible with the smooth side facing out. Glue as you go and keep the top surface flat. When you come to the end of the strip start with a second one, butting the ends up to each other. Continue in this manner until the bottom is the desired size.
- Cut individual strips of the paper for the sides cutting as you go. Cut the first strip long enough to go around the bottom piece but position it about 1/4" up from the bottom with the smooth side facing out. Glue as you go and butt the ends up to each other.
- Start the second strip in a different spot on the side. Again place it about 1/4" above the one before it, glue as you go and butt the ends up to each other.
- Continue in this manner until the container is of the desired height and width. On the last row cut the strip about 1" longer than the circumference. Peel back the top layer of paper on the extending end, and glue it over the other end of the strip so you have a smooth ending. If you will be covering the pot with something other than paint or stain, this is probably not necessary.
- Paint, stain, or cover pot as desired. The pot featured was covered first with gold tissue paper to which cutouts from another tissue paper were added using decoupage medium. Brush on several more coats of the acrylic coating for added protection. If you will be using the pot as a real flowerpot, repeat surface treatment on the inside.
Resources Simple Paper Style
by Dorothy Wood (ISBN: 0823048063)
This title is out of print. Consult local libraries, used book stores or click
here for Amazon.com's book search.
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