Also see the tutorial on this site of Louie Rochon's Viewfinder!!

You don't specify exactly what is wrong with the surface.

If the problem is that the surface isn't smooth enough, please realize that something as large as that would be practically impossible to make as smooth as, say, sheet metal.

One way to confuse the eye is to deliberately make the surface slightly uneven.  You may have noticed that on many commercial object that are handled a lot, the surface isn't smooth, but covered with a flattened pebble effect. 

Perhaps wad up some aluminum foil but leave the surface rough, then daub the rough surface (with judicious pressure) on a thin, fresh layer of pulp.  If it seems too rough, let the surface dry just long enough so the surface isn't sticky, then lay some plastic wrap (cling film) on the surface and press it down it just slightly, so you get something like a flattened cobblestone effect.

In other words, if smooth doesn't work, disguise it!

Sue

White glues can be different by brand... did she use it full-strength or dilute it?  Most kinds tend to work best when they are diluted approximately 50/50 with water.

And you need to take particular care not to leave bare spots on the paper strips that don't have glue, and to firmly press down all the paper.  Working too fast and not smoothing as you go often produces an uneven surface.  Sanding might help, then putting another layer of paper on it.

Sue

Thanks for all of your help. If I can figure out how I could post a pict of the camera. She has two more picts to draw for her senior series to be finished. She needs four pcs total. As of now 1 camera and a painting. The paintings are framed like Polaroid picts