Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Starfish Bowl

Z Gallerie

I've been looking at this starfish bowl from the Z Gallerie for some time now, trying to figure out the best way to re-create it.  I first saw a picture of it posted by Sunny for her Great Glitzy Hack-Off. I just knew someone would make it, but no one did. I looked at the price of starfish at craft stores and they were way too expensive.  I could buy the bowl outright for what I probably would have to spend just to make it.
Then I read about Amanda's tutorial on making starfish and I knew this would  be the best way to go. I mentioned it to Amanda and she said it was a "brilliant" idea. Ha!  I had no idea what I was getting into.  You see, when I set out to make something I want it to be hurry up and over with.  I can't wait for the finish product.  I'm always thinking of "short-cuts" and have to remind myself to go step by step.  And that is what I had to do in attempting to make this bowl.  First, follow Amanda's instructions for making the toilet paper pulp.   

For the armature I used 20gauge floral stem wire and covered it with masking tape. I made the form as thin as possible.

 

Next, I tried applying the pulp to the 
form. I added gorilla glue to the mix hoping the pulp would stick better. What a mess!  Sorry, I didn't take a picture of me trying to "add" the pulp to the taped form, but my hands were very yucky.  The more I plopped the pulp on it, the more of a mess I made.  Nothing was sticking or working.



Then I decided to "roll" the pulp
between my floured hands and wrap it around the form.


I continue wrapping the armature with the pulp, shaping the starfish with my fingers. I then pressed lines and tiny round marks into the starfish to give it a bit more character.


 I was able to make fifteen starfish out of the pulp batch.  I placed them on a plastic container covered in saran wrap and put it outside in the heat.  I let the starfish dry for 24 hours, turning them over midway.
Next,  using Liquid Nails Glue and clamps, starting at the base, I began shaping the bowl.  This was a slow process.   I could only glue and clamp a few starfish at a time. The glue needed to "cure" for at least 24 hours.


I tried speeding the process up, but I didn't have enough clamps to keep the form secure. The glue had a 30 minute "set" time, but when I removed a clamp to use on another spot, the glued area would come apart.  It took me about four days to secure with the glue and clamps all of the starfish into a bowl form, and then, allowing it to dry completely.



I spray painted the bowl with a sealer, then hand painted it with Martha Stewart Metallic Silver paint I had on hand.  The Z Gallerie bowl is "a multitude of starfish linked to form an openwork bowl".  It is 11" x 3".

   My bowl is approximately, 111/2" x 4", and the starfish are linked to form a         "unique openwork bowl", too!

  That's pretty darn close I would say . . . . and to me, that's amazing!
                                                                                   ENJOY! 

    








Linking To:

Visit thecsiproject.com

21 comments:

  1. Gail, I LOVE it! You cracked me up, with your story. I think your starfish turned out way better than mine, and the bowl is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh that is so awesome! I was surprised no one did the star fish dish either. I have started one, but it's far from finished. Yours looks great and I love that you made your own starfish!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!! OMG, you're wayyyyyyyyy too cool! Prepare to be boarded and featured tomorrow, Missy!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is amazing, Gail!!! I bow to your skillz! Just gorgeous and so very clever.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You need to be linked up to Debbie Doos copykat challenge! This is amazing! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow! This turned out really great. I'm stopping by from Knock Off Decor. Congrats on your feature! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm amazed as well! That is fantastic! Such a great outcome despite the gooey mess! Was it worth the time and trouble? Sometimes just knowing you can and did do it is what counts, isn't it. Great job. I'm impressed. Hope you'll stop over and visit at Quirky Vistas sometime.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS: I'm now following. Hope you'll do the same if you like.
      Liz

      Delete
  8. Those are so cool! I love it. Thanks for sharing with my party! Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, I would say that they are very amazing~You did a fantastic job at recreating the starfish bowl.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amazing copy! I love Z Gallerie but not those prices....thanks for the great tutorial.

    Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow! I love this! You did a fantastic job. Your newest follower from the Newbie party. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love love love this idea! I found you from the newbie party and am now following you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is an amazing project. I thought at first that you'd used real starfish and then I was shocked to see that you actually made them. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like your results! Just to pass on to others, you can order starfish from Qualityshells.com for as little as 66 cents a piece (nope, not affiliated, just got curious and did some googling - I had no idea you could buy them so cheap). Papier mache and its cousins drive me nuts. I wonder if you could glue the starfish around a balloon and go from there? Might give this a try, because if that worked, you could really make a nice-sized bowl that way.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is terrific! I can't wait to make one. I hope I have as much patience as you. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is terrific! I can't wait to make one. I hope I have as much patience as you. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What is pulp made from exactly? jackwjames@aol.com

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...