You are not logged in.
Hey all, I would like to do some paer mashe projects with my two boys could some one help me out with the recipe. Also I remember making baskets with my elementry teacher using a paste and string around ballons, if anyone knows what I'm talking about please message me back. Thanks
Offline
Hello, Jon! Welcome!
Papier mache takes very few materials: paper of some kind (usually torn in strips), and an adhesive like common PVA white glue, or an organic adhesive like flour mixed with water, wallpaper paste, etc. Food-type materials like wheat flour, rice flour or potato flour might draw insects or cause animals to chew it. Plain white glue is probably the simple way to start.
Look back through the posts for all kinds of ideas on how to proceed. You can build on an inflated ball or balloon, or on a basic styrofoam form, or a soft drink bottle, etc. You are only limited by your imagination.
Have fun!
Sue
Offline
This is the place to find paper mache info. But here is a site that has all kinds of interesting stuff for fathers to do with kids. Pay particular attention to the "Make Awesome Stuff" section: http://www.dadcando.com/
Offline
Could anyone tell me what would make the best substrate for designing a river model with tributaries etc. Styrofoam would work but my little terrors would get it everywhere.
All suggestions eagerly awaited.
Thanks
Offline
Styrofoam would be lightest and easiest. You could always NAIL it to the wall, out of their reach! ;-)
Otherwise, plywood?
How large are you anticipating this will be?
Sue
Offline
Are you suggesting that children will be doing the making? If so, styrofoam would certainly be very messy. If not, it gets covered by paper laminate which gives complete protection.
Tell us a bit more about who is making, what size, what maximum height, how is it being displayed . . . and we might be able to be more helpful.
DavidO
Offline
does anybody know what kind of "hair substitute" to use for tails or manes in papiermache animals?
Offline
For hair, you could use some form of jute fiber. Or you could use the synthetics that they use for soft rope or macrame, and unravel it.
But if you wanted to be a Papier Mache Purist (PMP), you might might want to use that twisted paper rope that comes in packaged coils (craft shops), soak it in thinned adhesive, and arrange as required. [Example: http://www.harveyshobbyhut.com/shop/ite … ;catid=172 ]
Sue
Offline
Apologies for cross post
Murthy, you could try using plumbers flax/hemp.
Offline
Dear Sue and foamcutter, thanks for the info. Has anybody used knitting yarn and how does that work?
Offline
I only tried knitting yarn (acrylic) once, and cotton string, and ended up with a mess on both. If you want to leave it dry, as decoration, that should be fine. But when it gets wet with adhesive, I find it hard to handle, and it mats down.
I haven't tried wool yarn.
If you discover a material or a method that works well, PLEASE post!
Sue
Offline
I use knitting yarn, I use the techniques developed by doll makers to attach the wool. You can either make a cap and knot the wool through, or you can use rows of tape (not ribbon as it frays badly, shearing tape or bias binding are best) you can either sew the hair to the tape in hanks using a running stitch, or glue it. I find that gluing is less successful. If you want a good guide to how to do this then get hold of a copy os Suzanne Oryan's Finishing the Figure. She shows you a lot of techniques in there.
PS if you use knitting yarn and split the ply apart you get a fabulous dreadlock style ringlet.
Offline
Thanks for all your help. I am trying a nylon rope , I bought in a hardware store. I believe i will work OK. I will let you know.
Offline
regarding using hair substitue. I tried nylon rope. Although it looked good in the beginning, I did not like it. I used "doll hair" available at Michaels. It looks good.
Offline
It depends how big you want it. For smaller work - hair, tails, I have used cotton string. I soaked it in strong tea to stain it and then unravelled it to about two or three strands. This worked very successfully up to about six inches in length.
DavidO
Offline
Regarding using wall paper paste, is it better to use the powder or use a premixed paste? Is there any formula of proportions of each ingredient(paste, glue,chalk etc) to be mixed. I will appreciate a reply from the forum experts. Murthy
Offline
Either one should be okay, but you'll have to make sure it is the cellulose type. There are generally three types of wallpaper paste: wheat flour based, cellulose based, and I think the third is vinyl.
If you buy the premixed, try thinning it down a bit, and see if that produces a smoother surface for you.
I've never seen any set rules for additives. I believe they are added to solve a particular problem. I think you add the amount that will suit your purpose.
I usually keep all the adhesives and additives quite thin, unless I am trying to fill in a low spot in the work. Others use heavier, thicker types, but for me, that seems to create more problems. Thicker is NOT stronger, that I've found. Sometimes it cracks when it dries.
Sue
Offline
Thank you sue, I appreciate your help. Murthy
Offline
The Papier Mache Resource All content copyright © 2000 - 2024 the respective authors. Mentions in the media