The Best Way to Make Paper-Mache
Paper mache, or papier-mache, is French for chewed paper. Like the meaning sounds, paper mache is made with pulp made from paper and a paste. As an inexpensive art medium, paper mache can be made from recycled materials such as old newspapers to create any shape and size of sculpture. It is also used to make bowls, pinatas and masks. The best way to make paper mache is with glue, water and strips of paper. Using these ingredients guarantees longer-lasting paper mache that will not be eaten by bugs, compared to paper mache made with flour or cornstarch.
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Instructions
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Make strips of newspaper. Place a straight-edge, such as a ruler, on top of the paper. Tear the paper along the edge of the ruler. The amount of paper strips is determined by the size of your project. Make enough strips to cover your project up to four times.
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Place the paper in a container. The container size is determined by how many strips of paper you are using.
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Mix one part of white glue with one part of water. Pour the glue mixture in the container, so the paper is saturated.
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Cover the object you are using as a guide with the saturated paper strips. Smooth or wrinkle the strips, depending on what texture you want. Coat the object with paper strips up to four times. Allow the paper mache to dry.
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Decorate your paper mache project with paint, feathers, tissue paper, rhinestones and other embellishments. If you will be using light-colored paint on the paper mache project, use white paper on the last layer so that words from the newspaper do not bleed through the paint.
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Tips & Warnings
Adding salt to paper mache prevents mold. Use any paper that can be recycled in your project.
References
Resources
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