11/04/2011 14:33:00

Flower Collage Papier Mache Cups

This little project was one of the activities we did at the Orleton School infants gardening club. Different tasks were done over several weeks, so that there was no waiting for glue to dry, and no one got bored. Each session therefore was only about 10 minutes and then they went on to other gardening jobs. As the club is after school and the children are little you have to cater for low levels of concentration.

We recycled some washed used yoghurt pots and decorated them with these lovely bits of the garden. The tissue papier mached over the top is supposed to make the pot look aged like a cracked antique.

The first session everyone painted their yoghurt pot with some thick white paint. An adult could do this beforehand, or if you use a pot with a removable label you wouldn't need to.

The second session the children went around the school garden and fields collecting items to use on a tray. We encouraged the children to choose items which were not too bulky and could be squashed flat so the paper would fit tightly. We had varying success with this instruction!
Then the children glued their favourite items on to their pot. Fewer items work better and make it easier for the paper to glue over but some kids wanted to more or less cover the pot with bits.

On the last session the children glued thin layers of white tissue over the top of their pots. We had torn the paper up into little strips beforehand so the kids could easily paste them. They used lots of watered down PVA in a papier mache style. The paper should be pressed down around any bulky bits.

Some pots came out better than others but they were all pleased with them. You should either give them a second coat of PVA later or a coat of varnish. The photos below were before we put the extra coat on top, hence some of the edges.

You'll need a permanent marker or named mats to mark the pots between sessions so they don't get mixed up.

Here are some of the ones we made: