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Art-Based Workshops for the Self 
Paper mache is an ancient method of creating objects with the
simple materials of various papers and glue substances. You may
remember creating small animals and jewelry in grade school using paper
mache. The method is wet, and it can be a very gratifying tactile art
experience. The technique could possibly bring up memories or may make
some people uncomfortable.
There are two methods for creating this spirit bowl. One method is with strips of wet painted paper and the other is with paper pulp. Both methods use a casting technique with whatever is available--small plastic, glass or ceramic bowls work great.
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For paper strips just paint strips of paper with watercolor or acrylic paint. Paint strips with a glue solution of flour and water or paper mache glue. (Boil 1 cup flour in 3 cups of water until desired consistency for flour glue.) Make sure you add a dash of mold retardant like teatree oil, alum power or wintergreen oil to the flour glue to prevent mold, and to make your paste last longer. Add any essential oil to make your bowl smell good. Layer painted strips into casting bowl that has been dusted with talc powder. The layers with stick together. Embed threads, flower stems, etc between layers. There is a very soothing reaction during this layering phase. This is where you build up metaphor if you like.
Be creative when forming the rim.
For the paper pulp method, just tear or cut tiny shreds of colored paper. Mix and heat under light fire stirring often. Add a tablespoon of flour glue or paper mache glue to the pot. Add the anti mold retardant too--just a dash. Put this mixture through a blender until easily molded with hands. Squeeze excess moisture out of pulp. Mold pulp into bottom of bowl (remember to dust with talc first) and push out to edges to smooth pulp. Embed special objects like poetry, threads from an infant garment are some examples. Let air dry or use hand held hair dryer to firm pulp.
Materials
PAPER -- All colors, tissues, crepes, thin enough to mold
BINDING MATERIAL -- Glue, flour glue, wall paper paste
MOLD RETARDANT -- Teatree Oil, Alum Powder
COLOR -- Watercolor or Acrylic Paints
Found or made objects that can easily be embedded
(threads, flower petals, leaves, snips of poetry etc.).
Bowls for casting (plastic, glass, ceramic, wooden).
Talc for smooth release of paper.
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