Large Paper Mache BoxesLarge paper mache boxes are fun and easy to make, look great and make useful storage space. We even use this one as a coffee table.
We used some pulp, some hemp string and some dark oak wood stain. How we made it We began by tearing newspaper into one inch strips and pasting them onto the box and its lid using pva glue. If you prefer you could use wall paper paste which contains an anti-fungal agent. You could also make your paper mache paste, using flour and water. If you do make your own, make sure that it dries thoroughly or it might attract the local wildlife. Clove oil makes a good insect and mouse repellent and is usually available at your pharmacy, but the smell has been known to repel some humans too. Annemarie being one of them ;-)
Allow your box to dry thoroughly between every 2 to 3 layers. Also alternate the direction of the paper as you apply your strips. This is because the paper has a grain and alternating adds strength to your box. It also helps to prevent warping.
Once your last layers have dried out completely it's time to decorate. This is where you can really have fun and use your imagination. How we decorated it We had some left over pulp from another project which we spread on the top to add texture. As a bonus this added extra strength as well. Once the pulp was on Annemarie coiled several wraps of hemp string around it. She stuck this on with PVA glue and then coated this string with a layer of slightly diluted PVA (just add enough water to make it about the same texture as single cream). When this was dry she painted the whole box, apart from the string, with an oil-based wood stain. We could have added a coat of varnish but the wood stain makes a pretty good protective finish by itself.
A point to remember If you use a water-based primer such as household emulsion, you need to use an oil or spirit base on top of this eg oil paints or, as we used, an oil-based wood stain. This helps to prevent the decoration chipping off. If we had used a varnish it would have been water-based. Large paper mache boxes can be used for all sorts. We hope you enjoy making yours. Here's our finished box as seen from above.
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