PAPER MACHE TECHNIQUE

Materials:

Flour
Water
White craft glue
Household bleach
Newspaper
Tissue paper

How to Make Papier-Mache
Newspaper is the most common source of paper. Unless a craft specifies a particular paper, use anything handy or in need of recycling. Tear paper into strips. Match the size to your project. Unless you are making something life size, a 1/2 x 4 inch piece is a good starting point. Because paper mache is layers of paper glued over a mold, you need to be able to tell the current layer from the one before it. The easiest way to create contrast is to use colored comic pages and black and white print. You can also alternate the fine print of classified pages with the bolder print of news pages. You just need to be able to tell that you are totally covering each layer.

The second part of papier-mache is the paste.

2 cups of flour
1 cup of water
¼ cup white glue
1 teaspoon bleach

Put flour in a bowl and gradually add water, stirring and mashing out any lumps. When it is smooth, add the glue and bleach. The bleach will help preserve any unused paste. You can adjust the water up and down to your preference. You just need a thin paste. I store unused paste in a lidded jar in the refrigerator.

Okay, now we have our paper and our paste. All we need is a mold. Anything that is waterproof makes a good mold. I use bowls, trays, bottles and balloons, cardboard boxes and lids, plates, fruits, vegetables, light bulbs etc. Balloons don’t need a release agent. You simply pop them when the first two layers of paper and paste are dry. Cardboard is used as an armature and remains a part of your art. If you are using something that is rounded and easily removed, cover the mold with clear plastic wrap or a very light coat of Vaseline. Once the paper is dry, simply lift off. If you are using something more intricate, you may need to remove the dried paper in two pieces. You can either use a craft knife to slice through the middle, making two pieces, or safer and easier on the mold, tape a piece of string from top to bottom and up to the top on the other side. Leave long tails coming out the top and when the paper is dried, use the string to slice down the sides. Remove the string and tape the two sides together, applying more layers over the tape.

Ready to start now? Pour your paste into a bowl and dip your strips into the paste, pulling it between two fingers to remove excess paste. Lay the strip flat on your mold. The second piece should be at a small angle, slightly overlapping the first piece. Continue placing strips of paper until your mold is covered. If you have used the paste sparingly, you can start the second layer right away. Once two layers are on allow them to dry thoroughly before adding the next and successive layers. Usually four to five layers are required.

After you last layer is dry, lightly sand the surface to remove any bumps of paste. Your last layer should be tissue paper. This will give your piece a smooth, finished look. Allow your finished piece to dry overnight and paint one coat of Gesso over all surfaces. Gesso is a white paint with plaster in it. It not only helps create a smooth surface for painting, but also acts as a base coat and sealer at the same time. Finish up with acrylic paint and sealer. Enjoy making art from paper and paste