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Hello, I'm new here, but have been an avid crafter for as long as i can remember. This past week I got inspired by a video game, We Love Katamari, and decided that I was going to make myself a Katamari (its like a nobby ball) by paper-mache-ing a punch ball and adding the nubs after the second or third layer of paper.
Here's my dillemma: I made homemade paste using a 4c:1c water/flour recipe (boiled till it got thick, then added 4 ice cubes and it made some AWESOME paste thats lump-free and really smooth), and added some cinnamon to keep the flour stink down. I made it and promptly used it yesterday and it was out for about four hours, and then I put it in a sealed container in my fridge to keep for today. I used it today for about an hour and a half, and then resealed it and put it back in the fridge. How long, if I keep it refrigerated, should my paste last before it goes bad? I don't want to go for it say, on saturday, and have a tupperware full of gelatenous stink.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Min-Min
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When I started doing PM, I also used the same method you talked about until I found out that there are many problems that can occur without using a few additions to your basic recipe. the probems are
1. The paste does not last more than 2-3 days in the fridge.
2. The finished piece will attract insects and vermin.
3. the finished piece will lack strength.
4. The finished piece may not have a long 'life expectancy' because of these inherent problems.
You can solve these problems by adding wood glue , a small amount of bleach (1 tsp per 2 cups of paste) and salt (1 tbs per 2 cups of paste).
You will not loose the smoothness we all love of the flour paste and your piece will be strong and protected.~tammy
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Thanks so much for the help! Luckily I'm just working on a prototype for my piece right now (it has been forever since I did any PM), so the lack of strength and the short-term life will be okay, especially since i made my paper strips far too big and the prototype will probably end up as a pinata (it looks crappeh right now). After tonight I'll toss the paste I made (there'll only be about a cup left anyway), since i made it late tuesday afternoon it should be okay. How much wood glue should I add? Also, should I add the bleach, salt, and wood glue while I'm cooking the paste or after?
Thanks again for all the help!
~Mindy
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I always add the bleach, salt, and wood glue after I cook the paste..Good Luck~tammy
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