How to make an Upcycled Magazine Bowl

Step-by-Step instructions for making a bowl from magazines. (Magazine print is likely to rub off onto your fingers making them black but washes off quite easily!)

You will need:

Magazines/catalogues/junk mail etc (make sure you’ve finished reading them!) Sticky tape Scissors Varnish and paintbrush (or PVA glue or similar) Paper slicer (optional)

Step 1 Slice up the magazines into workable strips  (I make 9cm widths the length of the page)

Step 2 Fold each strip lengthways in half

Step 3 Open flat and fold one side into the centre crease

Step 4 Fold the new edge into the centre again.

Step 5 Turn page around and fold the edge in to the middle again.

Step 6 Fold the final edge in to the middle.

Step 7 Fold back along the centre line

Step 8 Repeat this for the rest of your magazine strips.  To make a 17cm diameter bowl I used approximately 150 strips of magazine.

(I kept them up together in a large plastic jug.)

Now to start rolling!

Step 9 Carefully start to make the roll. Curl the first paper around itself don’t worry if its not tight enough you can pull it tighter later.

Step 10 When you come to the end of the first piece carefully line up the next piece slightly overlapping the first and stick together with clear sticky tape. Continue rolling, adding pieces one at a time, sticking them together as you go.

Step 11 As the coil grows you will find it easier to work pushing the disc onto the table. pull the end as you go keeping the coil tight.

Step 12 If you need to stop coiling (either to cut more tape or for any other reason) use elastic bands to secure the loose end. Wrap the disc well to stop it unrolling!

Step 13 Continue rolling adding all the pieces until you have reached the size you want. (the outer edge will make the rim of the bowl)

Step 14 Choose the last 2 or 3 pieces carefully to get the colours you want for the rim of the bowl.

Step 15 Cut a small piece of tape and stick the last end back to the rim of the bowl.

Step 16 You now have a flat disc.

Step 17 Carefully shape the bowl by pushing the sides up and the center down. Take care with this so you don’t loose the whole structure of the disc!

Step 18 Once you have the shape you want coat the bowl in varnish (or PVA or similar) The paper will soak up lots of the varnish/glue. Use plenty!

Step 19 Leave to dry. It will take a while and you may want to add more coats of glue/varnish to make the bowl stronger.

You now have a lovely recycled bowl! 

The journey of some Blue Fabric

In my fabric stash I have some bright blue voile fabric. This fabric was given to me in 2006. It has been used in many different ways. This is the story of the blue fabric!

2006

Whilst working as a teacher in Guildford I was given a long length of blue voile by a colleague. She had acquired a vast amount of the fabric which had been used initially for promotional purposes.

The colour was fantastic and the drape of the fabric made it ideal to use in classroom displays.

These pictures show the display created by my colleague. She used the fabric to represent water and used it as a focal point for her prayer corner.

 

In its next incarnation I used some of the fabric to help to create a fancy-dress costume.

I went to a party with a theme of London Underground stations. Using the blue fabric, a chain around my head and a couple of toilet rolls hung on strings I went dressed as “Waterloo”

 

During 2006 I moved school and took a post in Kidderminster. I was working initially in a temporary classroom. I used the blue fabric to add colour and focus to the walls with a display in the prayer corner.

 

I also used some of the fabric to add texture and detail to a display on the topic of “Water”

 

2007

I was eventually moved into a brand new school building whilst still teaching in Kidderminster. I used the blue fabric once again in a display whilst studying all about water making the effect of a waterfall.

 

2008

I moved north to Cumbria and started work at a school in Workington. Whilst there I first came acroos and became involved in the Rock Challenge. The production that was performed by the school in 2008 was based on the story of Baba Yaga. In the story there is a river, so once again the blue fabric was brought out and used to help represent the river being manipulated by children dressed in blues and greens and silvers. The fabric had lily leaves attached with blue lace to add flow.

Dress Rehearsal at School

Dress rehearsal press photographs.

 

 

2009

The following year the school took part again. This time the performance was based on Narnia. The fabric was used again to represent the ice and snow melting once Aslan had returned. This time the fabric had silver holographic ice floes attached.

 

Since then the blue fabric has gone back into a cupboard but plans are being made to bring it out once again for a new incarnation….

Watch this space!!