How to make paper pulp balls for paper mache clay

Getting your main ingredient right is important.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I turn scrap paper into the pulp balls I use for my paper pulp clay.

Let’s get started!

Materials You’ll Need

• Paper
• An office shredder (optional)
• A sturdy blender
• Water, salt, and vinegar
• Two small buckets—one for soaking, one for straining
• A kitchen sieve
• Cheesecloth
• A container to store the balls

Making the Pulp

Step 1: Choosing your paper

Things to consider:

• Recyclability
• Availability
• Fibre quality

I use paper shopping bags. Recycling is a core value in my practice. I have the bags on hand, and the sturdy kraft paper fibres fit my needs. Used office paper is a good alternative if that’s what’s available to you. Buying paper specifically for pulping makes sense in other applications: plant-fibre based papers like mulberry or washi paper can yield incredibly durable, filigree paper sculptures, but I’d steer clear of cheap toilet paper.

Step 2: Shredding the paper

Before soaking, I run the paper through a cheap office shredder. Smaller pieces soak through more evenly and break down more easily in the blender, saving both time and wear on your equipment.

Step 3: Soaking the paper

I soak the shredded paper in boiling water with a splash of vinegar and a pinch of salt, then leave it overnight. The heat helps break down the fibres faster, while the vinegar and salt work as natural preservatives, discouraging mould and bacteria from taking hold. By morning, the paper should feel completely soft and ready to blend.

Step 4: Blending the paper

Blend the soaked paper with plenty of water. It’s better to run smaller batches than straining your blender with too much paper—or burn it out which happened to me more than once #ouch. I blend continuously for around two minutes, until the mixture is smooth and free of visible paper fragments.

Step 5: Draining the pulp

Once blended, strain the pulp through a cheesecloth over a sieve to remove the excess water. You’re aiming for a pulp that holds together well without dripping, but isn’t so dry that it crumbles apart.

Step 6: Storing the pulp balls

Shape the drained pulp into balls and store them in an airtight container, ideally in the fridge. This keeps them from drying out or growing mould before you’re ready to use them.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post, you might want to check out my paper mache clay recipe next.