Supplies
Tools
- Base or mold
- Molds:
- To give a form to your paper mache, you can use all sorts of containers (glasses, bowls, or objects with unusual shapes).
! - Make sure your container won't absorb any dampness.
- To keep your mixture from sticking to your mold, coat your mold with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or cover it with plastic wrap
- Different types of bases:
- Cardboard to make templates, that is, the shapes you'll be putting your paper mache on.
- Wire mesh (small-mesh chicken wire that's easily shaped) if you're making a frame for more complex projects.
- Other necessary tools:
- Something to protect your table. This is a very messy project, especially with children!
- 1 large bowl
- 1 saucepan
- 1 electric hand mixer
- 1 wire strainer (not a solid one with holes) or a piece of mosquito netting
- Final touches:
- Prepare the surface for decoration: sandpaper to sand away small imperfections, then Gesso or acrylic varnish to limit absorption of moisture (especially absorption of paint).
- Paint, items to glue on, items to inlay, varnish, etc. There's no limit to your creativity!
Materials
- Newspaper
- Glue of your choice:
- PVA glue
- This glue binds the paper mache mix and makes projects more rigid. It's best used for fragile projects, especially tissue paper.
- Downside: this glue makes the mixture sticky and difficult to work with.
- The best idea is to mix half PVA glue with half wallpaper paste.
- Wallpaper paste
- Wallpaper paste usually comes as a powder that will be diluted before using (generally a 1:10 ratio powder to water).
- The majority of wallpaper pastes contain fungicides (made of a type of warfarin): this allows it to combat mildew when the objects are in humid atmospheres, but know that this substance is toxic and shouldn't be used around children. You can also buy wallpaper paste without fungicides.
- White glue
- Dilute it with an equal portion of water.
Directions
Preparation of the pulp for paper mache
- Tear the paper in pieces, about 4 cm (1-1/2 inches) square.
- Place the pieces of paper in a large bowl and cover them with hot water.
- The next day, simmer the mixture on low heat in a saucepan if you want to increase the deterioration of the paper.
- Let mixture cool a little, then mix it with an electric hand mixer just until a fibrous pulp forms.
- Add 2 times its volume in water and mix it until you have a homogeneous pulp.
- Pour the mixture into a strainer and press it with the palm of your hand.
- Transfer the strained mixture back to the large bowl and add wallpaper paste.
Molds or bases used in paper mache
- Build your base or protect your mold (so the pulp doesn't stick to it).
- Apply small amounts of pulp, making sure to get rid of any air bubbles.
- Push firmly with the palm of your hand and an absorbent rag.
- Wipe up any spilled pulp.
Final touches for paper mache
- As necessary, use sandpaper to sand away any imperfections.
- Apply some coats of Gesso or acrylic varnish.
- Let your imagination run free as you decorate your project!
Video
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