Residents create paper mache vases

On Friday, the smell of glue was filling the craft room at the Mission at Castle Rock Rehabilitation Center.

As residents were busy working on their craft projects, Kathy Elliott was busy instructing them on what to do next.

Bowls of glue were seen at each work station. The residents would dip a paintbrush into the glue and then paint it onto a balloon. The balloon was stuck to a plastic cup, which held it in place while the residents worked on them. Once the balloon had glue on it, the residents would place strands of tissue paper over the glue. Elliott said it is paper mache, but with tissue paper instead of newspaper.

She said the reason for the tissue paper is because it will become one of the vase's layers. Some of the residents choose polka dot tissue paper, while others selected stripes and plain tissue paper with glitter on it.

Elliott said the two-week long project is something the residents were enjoying.

On Friday, the residents will use cotton string, glitter glue and Mod Podge glue. During this phase of the project, residents will select a color of glitter glue, including blue, green, black, gold, purple or red. They will mix the glitter glue with the Mod Podge and then dip the string in it.

Once the string has been dipped into the mixture, the residents will take it out and adhere it to the outside of the tissue paper. Elliott had already made one so the residents could see what their project would be Friday.

Elliott said it will be nice to see what the residents' imaginations will come up with.

"A lot of what we do is doable at multiple ages," she said.

Once the paper and string have dried, the balloon will be popped. This will leave a vase.

Elliott said she does not know what they are going to put in the vases, but that certainly can lead to other projects.