I am currently making a lampshade layering with tissue paper and am having the same trouble.

The only idea I have come up with is fire retardant spray.  I have seen it being used on various design programmes.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any yet.

i too am seeking assistance in this area. perhaps someone knows a fireman or someone in chemistry?

I'm trying an experiment with borax today based loosely on research done for fire retardant paint  by the university of Oregon forestry dept. their mixes were all 25-35%borax by weight in white lead and linseed oil based paint mixes the study said that at least 25% by weight was necessary to be flame retardant so I'm gona try 25% by volume in raw flower water mix..... ill let you know

Thanks, Captain.  That's helpful.
DavidO

I'm not truly going to flame the thing ...but I will be sleeping in it ..

  I found an article on "appropriate paper based technology" in there they talked about an art project in Africa turning into a furniture school,... it really got the wheels going.

I've had a years long daydream of a tiny portable hut on wheels small enough to move by bike or hand, but shelter to sleep off the ground and coral a few possessions..there are lots of examples on the web. search shelter in a cart

  But it would have to not kill me in the process... and be durable.and lite enough to move ...I'm not picky ...really

  IN the 1800's coach body's were pressed out p/m and linseed oil .  paints  have come a long way since then , there has got to be a way to do this without a hot press

  And in the end paper might not be the right thing .but its cheep, light, simple, ,repairable, and kinda fun to mess with ,... cool

  the A.P.T.'ERS are making couches and workbenches out of this stuff so the walls should be a no brainier ,the curved roof might be a little more trouble but I'm thinking the BIG propane tank in the back yard will work for  a form ...maybe in sections .I'm going to make the unders out of 1/2"plywood and 2x4's,with wheelbarrow wheels .....

sigh... I'm getting ahead of my self  ...fireproofing .not perfect but cheep and good enough, next water proofing,,,,, have seen the article here .but neckless nick was waring some unbelievably expensive varnish,thompsons water seal is lots cheaper... I'll let ya know how it goes

thats all for now .....thanks for the reply's   <:3O~~~

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond, sounds like it would be useful stuff but borax is $4 for several pounds and works well enough .

the show stopper will be waterproofing .I've got 3 gallons of white exterior latex kicking around ,goes on like liquid rubber,that a a freebie ,thompsons water seal is cheap enough and is probably  oil based ,gona have to do small test panel,to see how it goes oil is best according to the article but will still look like paper ,paint would cover,and let me decorate ,but its gotta hold .....sigh ...oh bother

I've read the waterproofing article on this site  but ol neckless nick was wearing some mighty spendy clothes ,,spar varnish goes for ,,,$60 a quart if memory serves ,just bought cheep ext.varnish for work and it was $14 a quart ,and the sun here kills that in a year ,still too much ,I'm looking at a gallon per coat and hoping for $15 or so,but it might not go

I'm going to keep the ability so shed water in mind as the as the piece takes shape that will help ,and it don't rain much here thats good too.but still need something

oh the creative juices are dancing around in tiny circles....I love this,,,<:3~~~

WOW ,,,thanks sue ....hmmmmm wonder if it can be painted over ,,,, gona hafta go read labels