Sanding is probably your best choice.  If you only have fairly minor imperfections, use a finer grit.  Be sure to use a sanding block or even an appropriately-sized block of wood wrapped with the sandpaper, as fingers alone can't exert enough pressure to do a smooth job.

Sue

If you have to press down, I would have some kind of support under the part that is being sanded, a book, a brick, a solid piece of wood, etc.  If it is light and delicate, you'll have to work very carefully.  If it is light and delicate, a power sander may rip the piece apart.  If access to parts of the piece is difficult, maybe gluing sandpaper to a stick or old spoon or knife would help.

I don't understand exactly what you are making. The choice of additional layers or change of paper must be up to you.

Before planning on putting any PM out in the weather, be sure to read site owner Jackie's article on sealers (see top of the page "Articles" or click on http://www.papiermache.co.uk/articles/w … ier-mache/
Always keep in mind that if you miss sealing one tiny, pinpoint spot on an outdoor piece, moisture will enter and ruin your work.

Goddess heads, hmmmm?  Guys can be so picky about things like that.  But show them a stack of skewered Ferraris topped with a voluptuous naked woman, and suddenly they're speaking about 'the meaning of art'.

Welcome to the board.  There are lots of fun people here.

Sue

Yes, it could use a bit of smoothing, and I think that 'hand-operated' sandpaper is the best thing to use. 

Another possibility, now that I see what you're doing, is one of those pumice things for smoothing feet--- the kind with a handle. I don't know if it would be rough enough, but they often have them at the Dollar Stores.

It looks like a nice piece of work.  Are you going to paint it or anything?

Sue

CatPerson wrote:

Yes, it could use a bit of smoothing, and I think that 'hand-operated' sandpaper is the best thing to use.  (((snip))) It looks like a nice piece of work.  Are you going to paint it or anything?

Thanks!

I'm going out today, and never need much prodding to see what can be found at the Dollar Tree, so I'll get one of those pumice stones while I'm there, and give that a try, as well as the sandpaper.  I think I'm just a little paranoid that I'm going to tear it up or something... I'll just have to take it slowly.

I am, indeed, going to paint it... green and purple... and I'm going to be hanging three little pm-covered foam balls from it, too.  (This is going to be a mobile.)

If you're wondering what on earth this thing is, it's my best friend's "personal glyph" or sigil.  Here's a picture of one of his painted renderings of it:  http://www.homewitch.net/images/eeglyph.jpg  He has "cleaner" versions of it, but like as not, the thing is generally got that organic feel, which is why I probably shouldn't be stressing overmuch... but since he is one of those innately artistic, creative, style-conscious people, and I kinda have to work at it... I guess I feel like I have a lot to live up to!

Anyway, my friend has used this symbol for years and is currently getting ready to incorporate it into part of the branding for his new business, so I thought it would be cool to have a representation of it hanging in his new house - which he closes on today!  So this is kind of a combination birthday/housewarming/congrats present.

Thanks again for all your suggestions.  It will probably be Monday before I get down and dirty with this thing, but will let you know how it turns out!

PS: I've spent the last two days creating an archway (rolled foil base, anchored in two big empty wine jugs, and covered with PM) for a church ritual tonight.  I'm not quite finished painting, but I think it's looking pretty good for my first-ever "big" (as in large-sized) pm project.  This is fun!

I've been using a fine file lately on my stuff, to iron out fine imperfections--I'm finding I like that better than sandpaper, but use whatever works best for you.

I also make extensive use of a woodburner to smoother out my stuff as well, particularly when it's still wet.

Also, a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  If you place a paper strip and you see it resulted in a big wrinkle, I'd recommend ripping it off and reapplying it till it looks better, or applying smaller pieces.

His sigil is more organic-looking than perfect, so I wouldn't think you would need to do an awful lot more smoothing on it.

Acrylic paint is often the 'safest', as once it's dry, it doesn't run when it's rewet or sealed.  But if you wanted to try other types, you could coat it with gesso (most common brands are a form of acrylic and gypsum or chalk, although the original kind is hide glue and calcium carbonate).  Several coats of gesso can also have a smoothing effect when it is used as a base or a primer layer, before the application of paints, etc. And, since it's white, any colors applied over the top will appear to be more 'true' than paints applied over a darker or mottled foundation paper.

But it is always wise to make a sample piece from the same materials as your art piece (just a flat piece is fine), and try finishes on it  before you continue with your art piece, just in case your finish happens to be incompatible with your adhesive or the kind of paper you used. 

A woman I used to know worked in ceramics.  She would make  flat tiles about 4x4" (10cm x 10cm) of the exact same clay mix she was making her main object from, and test her glazes on them.  Then she would file them in an open cupboard with type of clay and formula for the glaze(s) on the back. This way, she could reference what worked and what didn't.  I think this is an excellent thing to do when we work with PM, too.

Sue