How to Make Paper Mache Paste at Home

Paper mache can be used for making holiday masks.

People use paper mache to construct all types of projects -- from giant heads for costume to special features for stage sets, about anything you can imagine can be fashioned from paper mache. One of keys to make durable and usable paper mache projects is to have a good, high-grade paste to hold everything together. This paste is easy and inexpensive to make. It requires a few minutes and a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• Sauce pan
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Put 2 cups water into the sauce pan and put it on the stove to bring it to a boil. While the water is warming, mix the flour and 2 cups of cold water together in the mixing bowl. Mix this with the spoon, and try to get rid of most of the lumps of flour.

2. Pour the flour and water mixture into the pan of boiling water. Pour it slowly so that it does not cool the hot water too much. Use this as an opportunity to eliminate the rest of the lumps of flour in the mixture. When all of the flour and water have been added to the sauce pan, leave it over the heat until it boils. Stir it occasionally to keep it well mixed. When it starts to boil, remove it from the heat.

3. Stir 3 tbsp. sugar into the mixture and make sure it all dissolves. Pour the liquid into a container for storage and allow it to completely cool. It should thicken as it cools. When fully cool, it is ready to use for your next paper mache project.

Tips & Warnings

• Take extra care when working with hot liquids to avoid being burned.

References

• Disneys family fun: Best Papier-Mâché Recipe