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Papier mache in French literally means "chewed paper." The name reflects how much the paper, when wet, looks like it has been eaten. Papier mache is a craft-building material made up of strips of paper dunked in paste. It is an economical material in that the paper and the paste can both come from recycled or inexpensive sources. The strips of paper can come from a newspaper, and the paste can be made from pretty much any watered down starch base, like flour or cornstarch.
Papier mache volcanoes are crafted in a variety of ways, but the basic concept is the same. The maker uses a mold base such as a soda bottle, a large funnel or chicken wiring shaped into a volcano frame. The maker then applies paste-dipped strips of paper over the mold until it roughly resembles a volcano and lets the model dry. Depending on how durable the model needs to be, the mold base is either removed from the model or left in. Some papier mache bases, for example, are made from inflated balloons that are popped when the model is dry.
Once the basic model is complete and dry, creativity dictates the final product. Volcanoes that are simple visual aids require nothing more than paint to make a 3-D model. For a more functional effect, the maker might rig the volcano to spurt lava. - Papier mache had its beginnings in Japan, China and India, where it was used for money-making crafts like small containers and ornamental boxes. It was introduced to Europe in the early 1700s as an alternative building material to replace wood and plaster. Papier mache still has hundreds of uses across the world from novelty gifts to pinatas to science fair volcanoes.
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Diorama: The diorama-style papier mache volcano is more of a visual model than a functional demonstration. It is molded onto a volcano-shaped base (sticks, a bottle, a funnel or shaped chicken wiring) and painted artistically to resemble a real volcano.
Demonstrative: Volcanic models can be more than visually appealing. They are useful in demonstrating the function of a volcano when created with lava-erupting simulations. These types are more realistic than the static models. - Lava Spewing: Papier mache volcanoes that show the activity of a volcano and not just the visual characteristics are usually constructed to erupt with imitation lava. The most common way to accomplish this effect is to mix baking soda with vinegar and add red dye. This causes a chemical reaction that will squirt (or push) the homemade lava out of the model. More elaborate models use electrical wires to cause a much more dramatic reaction.
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Artistic paper mache volcano models are good for elementary school projects, topographical models and architectural landscape models for hobbyists. With better quality materials, these models can also be used for home decoration or even sold at novelty stores.
The functional models, those that spurt lava, are more fun to make than the artistic models. These are best used for science fairs, contests and educational demonstrations.
