3D Objects From Recycled Materials

This instructable is part of "something out of nothing" series, this time "nothing" is material - recycled paper, banana skins and more. I've actually came across this idea, making sheets of paper for my art and soon realised that I get left over pulp, which goes to waste and could be used to make other things. This is how I started making 3D paper objects, that are not just nice to look at, but can be useful too and actually more fun to make. 

Materials:

recycled paper
banana skins (optional)
grasses, flower pedals (optional) 
vegetarian gel (Agar)


Tools:

blender

Step 1: What Can Be Made

There are countless objects to be made of paper pulp. Some suggestions: cup for organising pencils or bowl for coins and other small items; make the lid and here's a great box for jewellery and other stuff that need to be protected from dust. Balls on rope could be useful for making christmas decorations.

Step 2: How

Make the pulp by soaking torn paper overnight, then whiz it in a blender with bit of water to desired consistency, for the smooth result, blend it fine, myself prefer textured more, so I leave it quite lumpy. For banana pulp, you need dry banana skins, boil them in water till soft and drain, blend it when cooled. If you adding grasses, flower pedals, soak them in water, no need to blend. When all ready, mix all ingredients with plenty of water. Choose a mould like a cup or glass or bowl, place damp cloth like the blue stripy one (see picture) inside your mould (you could do outside, but i find it difficult to remove when dried) then add pulp squeezing some water out by hand and form. Leave it to dry, this might take a day or two. When its dry remove cloth by pealing it of and for extra durability and smooth finish add a gloss coat of vegetarian gel (agar) apply with brush and leave to dry again. Now you can paint it or leave it natural, up to you;)

Step 3: