If you want to fill your spare time, making paper dresses can be a fun afternoon activity. You can also wear paper dresses for costume parties. The process of making a paper dress can take a long time. So you have to be patient. First, you have to make the bottom, then make the top as a partner. When you're done, you can have fun and show everyone your beautiful homemade dress.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing Materials and Taking Measurements
Step 1. Collect old newspapers
As a first step, you need to collect a variety of used newspapers. If you don't subscribe to the newspaper, things can get a little tricky. However, there are several ways to get it; You can go to a craft store or buy one online.
- Old newspapers are usually recycled. If you know a neighbor who is very serious about recycling in their daily life, you can ask if he or she has an old newspaper to give you.
- You can also buy used newspapers at local used newspaper stands, but make sure with the workers there you can do it. Try going to the local grocery store as well and ask the seller if they have used newspapers. If the day's newspaper is not finished, they usually throw it away. Ask if you can buy them in bulk on cheap days.
Step 2. Prepare the necessary materials
Making a dress out of newsprint can be a fun project to fill your spare time in the afternoon. You can make it as a party costume. To make a dress from newsprint, you will need the following materials:
- Pen or pencil.
- Non-toxic tape.
- Meter to measure. You can buy one at your local supermarket if you don't have one.
- Rope. You can use shoelaces or buy spools of laces at your local craft store.
Step 3. Secure the two sheets of newspaper using masking tape
To start, take two sheets of newspaper. Unfold the newspaper if necessary to spread it as wide as possible. Place two sheets of newspaper side by side and secure them together using masking tape by stacking a small part of the edges of the newspaper. You will use this sheet of newspaper to make the bottom of the dress. Use a lot of tape so that the newspaper sticks tightly (it's best to apply tape on both sides; front and back).
Step 4. Measure your waist circumference and mark the newspaper
Use a tape measure to measure your waist circumference. Take the measurement just below the chest, slightly below the ribs. Wrap the tape measure around your waist and see what your waist size is. Record the measurement results.
- To measure waist circumference, take a tape measure. Place the tip of the tape measure just above the skin, halfway between the bottom rib and the top hipbone. This location is more or less parallel to the navel.
- Exhale and wrap the tape measure around your waist making sure there are no kinks or creases. Take note of the waist measurement before removing the tape measure.
- Mark the waist measurement at the top of the folded newspaper. For example, let's say your waist size is 60 cm. Start at one end of the newspaper and extend the tape measure to a length of 60 cm. Use a pen to make a small vertical line across the top of the newspaper to mark the 60 cm length.
Step 5. Wrap the folded newspaper sheets around the waist and make sure the newspapers cross where you made the vertical line
Now, you have to wrap the newspaper around your waist. Make sure the two ends of the newspaper overlap where you made the vertical line. Allow the ends of the newspapers to point slightly downwards as they overlap, as you will create a long, fluffy triangle. The newspaper should look like a lampshade. Hold the newspaper in this position.
If you're having trouble holding the newspaper in place, ask a friend for help
Step 6. Draw a line to mark the place where the newspapers overlap
Use a pen or pencil. Draw a line to mark the starting position of the newspapers starting to stack on top of each other. You will use masking tape to glue the newspaper along this line to make the beginning of the bottom of the dress.
Step 7. Glue a few pieces of masking tape along these lines
Remove the newspaper from the waist. Carefully fold back the two sheets of newspaper, making sure they overlap in the line you have drawn. The newspaper should have the same basic shape as when you wrapped it around the waist. Remember, the bottom of this dress/skirt should be shaped like a lampshade. Use a few pieces of tape to glue the newspaper along this line. Now, you will have a cone-shaped newspaper that can stand upright.
Part 2 of 3: Making a Full Skirt
Step 1. Add several layers of newspaper to the skirt
You can place your freshly made skirt, which is a sheet of newspaper that is glued and shaped into a lampshade, on a chair or bench. You can add layers by attaching a few other sheets of newspaper to the skirt. Take a piece of newspaper and stick one end about the middle of the skirt. Glue the newspaper to the skirt using a few pieces of tape. Then, add a few sheets of newspaper in the middle of the skirt and allow the newspapers to overlap until the entire skirt is covered with the extra newspaper. The extra freshly affixed sheets of newspaper will make the skirt longer because it stretches beyond the first two newspapers in the shape of a lampshade.
- The amount of newspaper needed will depend on the size of the skirt. If your waist is bigger, you'll need more newsprint.
- The length of the skirt can be adjusted according to taste. You can stop after finishing one layer on the skirt. However, if you want a longer skirt, you can add another layer. This time, glue the new sheet of newspaper over the overlapping portion of the newspaper in the first layer. The ends of the newly added newspaper should be glued to approximately the middle of the first layer of newspaper.
Step 2. Make a slit at the back of the skirt
Now, take the scissors. Make a cut at the back of the skirt. Make a cut in the middle of the first two newspapers you glued together. This will create a slit at the back of the skirt that will allow you to put on and take off the skirt.
Step 3. Make two small folds of newspaper
Now, you need to make two small folds of newspaper. To do this, take a piece of newspaper, fold it in half lengthwise and cut it along the center line. Take one side of the newspaper and roll it into a solid cylinder. Press the cylinder until it folds into a dense newspaper strip. Glue a few pieces of tape on the edges to prevent the creases from coming off. Repeat the same procedure for the other side of the newspaper.
Step 4. Use these two small folds of newspaper to make a drawstring behind the skirt
Now, you can attach these two newspaper folds behind the skirt. This process can be a little tricky. So take it slow so you can get it right.
- Place one of the small folds of newspaper along the slit at the back of the skirt. Tape the folded edge of the newspaper to the top of the split with tape. Then, go down about 2.5 cm and glue another piece of tape over the small crease of the newspaper. The goal is to create a series of openings along the top of the skirt that will later be used to weave the straps to secure the dress. Continue gluing the tape along the hem of the skirt at about 2.5 cm intervals until you reach the hem of the slit.
- Repeat the same procedure for the other side of the split using the other fold of newspaper. Make sure the opening you make on the other side is aligned with the opening on the first.
- Then, take a few pieces of rope. Tuck a piece of string between the openings on one side. After that, pull the string and tuck it into the parallel opening on the other side. Once you're ready to wear your skirt, you can tie the strings together to secure them. When you want to remove the skirt, you can untie the rope.
Part 3 of 3: Making the Top of the Dress
Step 1. Glue two sheets of newspaper together
With these newspaper sheets, you can make the top of the dress. Again, you'll start by gluing two sheets of newspaper together as you did when making a skirt.
Step 2. Cut the top of each newspaper in an arc so that it resembles the top of a dress with a low neckline
Now, you're going to make the top of the newspaper look like the top of a low-cut dress. Cut the top of each newspaper in an upward curved shape. You'll get a newspaper cut that looks like the top of a bra or bikini top.
Step 3. Slightly fold the bottom of the top of the dress
Don't let the paper dress top look boxy or weird when paired with a skirt. Therefore, you should make the top of the dress slightly bent, following the curve of the waist.
- Take two sheets of newspaper that have been glued together with tape to form the top of the dress. Make a small slit from the part that doesn't curl up to about halfway. Do not make a slit all the way to the top of the newspaper. Just make a half of it.
- Now, pull one end of the split to the other, bending the top so it's slightly angled. Glue these parts together. Repeat the same procedure for the other side.
Step 4. Glue the top of the dress around the chest
Wrap the top of the dress around the chest. The curved part (or like a bikini top) should be just above the chest. Estimate how much newspaper you will need to fit your bust. Make a mark where the newspapers cross each other. Remove the top of the dress and trim off the excess newspaper.
Step 5. Glue back the top of the dress and put on the skirt
Now, you have a complete paper dress. Wear the bottom, tie a string at the back so that the skirt does not sag. Then, wrap the top of the dress around the waist and tape to keep it from sliding. You now have a complete paper dress and can wear it for a Halloween party or just for fun.
You may need a friend's help to put on the dress so that it fits properly
Warning
- If it rains or the weather gets bad while you're wearing a paper dress, it will get wet and tear. Wear underwear (miniskirts and undershirts) just in case that happens so you don't hang around in just your underwear.
- Stay away from fire.
