How to Mold a Brown Paper Bag

You can make a paper bag out of clay.

The iconic brown paper bag is a symbol of simplicity and can be used in an alternative way to hold objects of greater complexity, such as a flower bouquet. However, an ordinary paper bag will leak water and cannot hold flowers for too long. You can make a brown paper bag that is waterproof by molding it out of clay. Once the clay is fired, it will look just like a brown paper bag.

Things You'll Need

• Terra cotta clay
• Rolling pin
• Clay knife
• Kiln

Instructions

1. Knead a 1 lb. of terra cotta clay for 5 minutes to remove any trapped air bubbles.

2. Roll out the clay using a rolling pin to make it 1/2 in. thick.

3. Cut two rectangles using a clay knife from the clay slab that each measure 4-by-8 in.

4. Cut two more rectangles from the clay that each measure 2-by-8 in.

5. Cut one additional rectangle from the clay that measures 2-by-4 in. This will be the base.

6. Place the rectangles from Step 3 upright on to the base you cut in Step 5 on the 4-in. sides of the base. Smooth the edges together using your fingers.

7. Place the rectangles from Step 4 upright on to the 2-in. sides of the base. Smooth the edges together using your fingers.

8. Smooth the corner edges of the upright sides together using your fingers.

9. Place a clay knife against the sides of the clay bag in random places, and press inward slightly. This will make the form bend and fold like a real brown paper bag.

10. Allow the molded brown paper bag to air dry completely and then bake it in a kiln to harden.

References

• How To Make Pottery: Glazing and Firing Pottery