How to Make Bookends With Paper Mache

Make your own paper mache bookends out of recycled cartons and scrap papers. Home-made projects for minor stylish details like bookends can help you personalize your home decor in a budget-friendly, environmentally-friendly way. Kids will especially love getting in on craft projects to make decorations for their own rooms or gifts for loved ones to display. If you have even a small collection of craft supplies, you probably won't have to buy a thing to make some bookends for your shelves.

Things You'll Need

• 4 half-gallon milk or juice containers
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors or craft knife
• Rocks, or heavy objects
• Sand paper, medium to heavy grit
• Damp rag
• Paper
• Flour or craft glue
• Water
• Old plastic container
• Plastic spoon
• Plastic cover
• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Embellishments and decorations

Instructions

1. Measure the width of one carton with a ruler. The width of all four sides should be the same. For a standard half-gallon size carton, this should be just under 4 inches.

2. Measure from the bottom of the carton up, and make a mark at almost 4 inches, or whatever the width of your carton measured. You want the height of the mark to match the width of the container.

3. Use a ruler and pencil to draw a straight, level horizontal line across the carton at the mark you made. Repeat this mark on all four sides of your carton, then repeat the process on your three other cartons.

4. Cut the tops of all the cartons off with a pair of scissors or a craft knife at the horizontal line you made. Discard the top parts, and you should be left with four square bottom containers, all the same heights and widths.

5. Fill two of the containers with something heavy, such as stones, dried beans or marbles. Cover the two full containers with the other two containers. Slip one empty container over the top of the full one, like a cover, and push it down as far as it will go.

6. Sand all the exposed areas of the containers with a heavy or medium grit sand paper. This will dull the waxy surface and help paper mache adhere more evenly. Wipe them clean with a damp rag.

7. Tear strips of paper into approximately 2-inch squares. Set them aside. Mix up a paper mache paste recipe in an old container, such as equal parts of flour and cold water, or equal parts of white craft glue and water. Cover your work space with an old plastic shower curtain or table cloth.

8. Dip your finger in the paper mache paste and rub some on one of your cubes. Place a paper square on the carton. Dip your finger in the paste again and smooth it on the paper square so it is wet and flat.

9. Add more squares using the same finger-dipping technique. Very slightly overlap them. Fold some squares over the edges of the cartons.

10. Cover five sides of each carton with a single coat of paper mache. Let them dry for a few hours, or overnight. Flip the cartons over so the sides without paper mache are facing up. Cover the five exposed sides with a second layer.

11. Leave your cartons to dry overnight. Add a third layer of paper mache if desired and let them dry for a day. You’ll know they’re dry when they feel solid, and the surfaces and edges are hard.

12. Paint or decorate your paper mache cube book ends as desired. You can glue photos on them, add stickers or use felt and foam shapes to make designs.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a blank paper, such as newsprint or white typing paper, to make it easier to cover your finished product with paint. Alternately, use old book pages to paper mache the cubes and don’t paint them — let the book pages be the decorations.

• Cover and store your paper mache paste in the refrigerator when not using it.

• Apply a clear spray varnish or sealer to the finished product, if desired, to protect it from moisture and dirt.

• Don’t use newspaper to cover your work space. If your paste spills on newspaper, it can soak through and stick to your table.