The Create Series: Perfectly imperfect DIY Paper Maché bowls

Mar 2
2 min read

Updated: Jun 8

THE CREATE SERIES

Perfectly Imperfect

chunky DIY Paper Maché Bowls

I’ve always loved those big, chalky paper maché bowls — the ones that look like they’ve been pulled from a quiet old house in Provence. Soft-edged. Matte. A little imperfect.

Here’s my take. It’s not fast. It’s not tidy. But it’s deeply satisfying — the kind of project that leaves you with wet hands, a dusty table, and something solid and sculptural at the end.

Even better if it’s done outside. On a sunny afternoon. With the kids dipping fingers into pulp and arguing over who gets the sieve.

This version is less about strips and layering, and more about transforming the paper completely, breaking it down and rebuilding it into something new. Here's what you need to make your own DIY paper maché bowls.

Old newspaper or scrap paper

Warm water

PVA glue

A blender

A sieve or cloth

A bowl form to shape over

Acrylic or limewash paint

METHOD:

Tear the paper into small pieces and soak it in warm water for a few hours, or overnight if you can. The paper should feel soft and fully saturated.

Blend the soaked paper in batches until it becomes a fine pulp. You’re looking for a texture that feels almost like thick porridge.

Drain the excess water using a sieve or cloth, pressing gently until the pulp is damp but not dripping.

Transfer the pulp into a bowl and mix in PVA glue gradually, kneading it with your hands until it forms a mouldable paste. It should hold its shape when pressed, not crumble or feel too wet.

Leave it to dry completely, this can take 24 to 48 hours depending on thickness and climate. Once dry, lift it off the mould and lightly sand any rough edges.

Paint it in a finish that suits your space. I prefer soft, chalky whites or earthy tones that feel understated and timeless. The final piece carries the quiet evidence of handwork — subtle imperfections that make it feel alive.

Sand, paint, seal if required and decorate.

It’s a simple process, but there’s something profound in breaking something down and shaping it again. It reminds me that making doesn’t have to be complicated.

It just needs attention.

The heart behind

my business

Hunter & Snow is a return to something more personal — a slower, more considered way of creating and living. For years, my work was rooted in building brands. Understanding people, shaping ideas, and bringing vision to life. But over time, I found myself drawn back to something quieter.

It started in small ways, making with my hands, rearranging my home, collecting meaningful pieces, writing again. Letting creativity unfold without pressure, guided by instinct. At my core, I am a creative, and it feels like a life force, something I feel compelled to share and encourage in others.

Hunter & Snow is an extension of that. A place for thoughtfully made pieces, shaped by everyday living, seasonality, and the quiet beauty of a home that evolves over time. A space to share what I’ve learnt, in the hope that it invites a slower, more personal way of living.