Versatility & Variety
Paper Mache' is a great medium for creating very large forms as well as small. Because it can be formed over most any shape and a variety of items it is most versatile and easy for even young children to work with.
What Can Be Made
Paper Mache' eggs, puppet heads, rattles can be formed over small balloons. Bowls can be formed over real bowls, and extra large items, like a snowman, can be formed over a chicken wire frame. Large balloons work great for making piņatas and masks can be formed over wadded up newspaper. Cardboard tubes, plastic rings and a variety of items can be worked into the surface to create added features like teeth, long necks, bulging eyes or even a large snout. One can paper Mache' several base forms together to create some very unique shapes.
Finishing Techniques
When the forms are finished they can be painted and decorated in many ways. Tempera pain can be used but often will flake off in time. Acrylics work great and often pieces can be decoupaged for a shiny effect. Decorations can be glued on using a super adhesive glue or a glue gun.
Materials Needed
Large tub for mixing the paste.
Wheat paste or other homemade pastes. (recipes shown below)
Materials for making the form. This can be most anything that can be torn way later or light enough to remain as part of the form.
Optional items for making removal of the form from it's base may include masking tape, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil.
Plenty of newspaper which can be used to form a base but is also cut into strips for making the actual form.
Paint, decoupage, or lacquer for covering the finished surface.
Glue, glue gun and glue sticks or other means for attaching decorations.
Scissors, razor blade, or knife for cutting away the base if needed.
Paper towels, rags, and other items for cleaning up.
Sometimes a base is needed to hold the item as it dries.
Getting Started
- Create your base using whatever materials you've chosen. This could be a metal bowl, balloons, chicken wire, etc.
- If using wadded up newspaper you might cover it with a few layers of masking tape to make it more solid.
- You may next wish to cover your base with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to make removal later easier. This isn't always needed as it depends on the surface of the base you use.
- Cut newspaper into long strips. You will need a few wide pieces for large areas,
- Mix up your paste in a large tub. It should be the consistency of thick soup.
- Run your newspaper strips through the paste and remove excess by running it through your fingers. Cover your base with the strips, smoothing them out as you go. It is a good idea to overlap and criss-cross your strips for stronger bonding. Strips can be torn to shorter pieces when needed.
- Especially with larger pieces you will need to do more than 2-3 thin layers of strips. Do not do more than this in one day as the layers may not dry properly which can cause mold or other problems with your piece later.
- The more narrow and shorter strips are needed for the finishing layers where you really want to create a smooth and even surface. Torn edges also help to blend the strips in more smoothly.
- After all the layers have dried you can prepare your form for painting. In some cases you may need to cut away a portion to remove the insides. If this section needs to replaced you can do so by adding more paper Mache' strips to the surface until it bonds. Be sure to let it dry fully before continuing.
- Once your form is ready you can paint it. For more permanent pieces it is recommended you use acrylic paints. They harden to form a better bond and it is easier to glue things to the surface.
- If making masks and other such fanciful items, you may glue whatever you wish onto your form. Craft glues or superglue will work for most items. Slightly heavier materials may call for you to use a glue gun.
Paste Recipe's
For the most part I like to use wheat paste. It's simple to use as just need to add lukewarm water and mix. But here are a few other suggestions I have come across.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 cups boiling water
- 3 tbsp. sugar
Mix together flour and cold water in a bowl. Add this mixture to the boiling water and allow it to return to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar. As the mixture cools it will thicken as it does.
Ingredients:
- flour
- water
- (optional - oil of Wintergreen)
- Stir three parts water into one part flour until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- To make the paste last longer, add a few drops of oil of Wintergreen. (optional) You can buy this oil at a drugstore.
- Stir well and the paste is ready to use.
Ingredients:
- wallpaper paste (dry)
- water
- Mix one part wallpaper paste with three parts water.
- Stir well and the paste is ready to use.
Ingredients:
- glue (white glue)
- water
- Mix two parts white glue with one part warm water.
- Stir well and the paste is ready to use.
You can also just make a quicky paste by putting flour in a bowl and adding water until you have kind of a soupy paste. If you have the ability to work quickly and wish a super hard surface you can also use plaster of paris mixed with water. (or plaster of paris strips but this can be more expensive)
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10/15/01
