Turn old egg cartons into a moldable, air-drying clay! This project teaches kids how to recycle paper into a sculpting medium for creating 3D art and figurines.

Tools

• blender
• strainer or colander
• mixing bowl
• measuring cups
• old towel or t-shirt

Materials

• cardboard egg cartons (3-4 large cartons)
• warm water (approx. 8 cups)
• white PVA glue (1 cup)
• joint compound or flour (1/2 cup)
• cooking oil (1 tbsp)

Safety

• Adult supervision is required when using the blender.
• Be careful with hot water to avoid burns.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling glue and joint compound.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Tear the cardboard egg cartons into small pieces, about 1 inch square, and place them in a large bowl.
2. Cover the paper pieces with warm water and let them soak for at least 2 hours (or overnight) to soften the fibers.
3. Pour the soaked paper and water into a blender and pulse until it becomes a thick, greyish pulp.
4. Pour the pulp into a strainer and use an old towel to squeeze out as much excess water as possible until you have a thick ball of damp pulp.
5. Place the squeezed paper pulp into a mixing bowl and add 1 cup of white PVA glue.
6. Stir in 1/2 cup of joint compound (or flour) and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to make the clay smoother and less sticky.
7. Knead the mixture with your hands for several minutes until it reaches a consistent, dough-like texture.
8. Store any leftover clay in an airtight container or Ziploc bag to keep it from drying out.
9. Sculpt your clay into any shape or figure you like, then let it air dry completely (usually 24-48 hours) before painting.