Pendants Created from Paper aka Papier Mache Clay (PMC) – Best out of Waste
by Matsa Zilih.
(Serbia/Czechia)
pendant with texture
Being around for quite a while, today’s fan badge surprise on FB group nudged me to finish this article I started months ago.
Hi Rena and everyone,
My passion is upcycling so most of the items (jewelry, home décor ) I create are made from recycled paper – paper mache and found objects. And yes, you may call me junk artist 😊.
I use all sorts of waste-paper to firstly make clay from papier mache and then I create pendants from it. As the base material to make PMC for the pendants featured on the photos, I used printed paper – old copies of documents that over time cluttered my drawers.
Then, I form them in different shapes and sizes – either by hands or using tools (for example: a glass with thin walls or cookie-cutters) so they look like big flat pebbles, but unlike pebbles, being made from paper, they are light-weight and don’t feel as a burden on your neck.
After the clay is dry, I prime the pendants with white acrylic paint and the next step is painting with a colour of my liking.
And then, for decoration, I use various techniques like:
* decoupage with pieces of a napkin: Image 1
decoupaged pendant
* texture: Image 2
pendant with texture
* free hand drawing: Image 3
pendant with hand drawing
* acrylic pour (which has become very popular in the last couple of years): Image 4
heart pendants painted with fluid acrylic paints
In the end I protect the pendants with several coats of a strong sealer and add a cord with beads that slide so the necklace length gets adjustable: from ~40 up to ~60/70/80.
Thank you
Matsa Zilih
Unique Art Gifts by 3xRe
