Papier-mâché (pap-ye mesh-ey) or paper mâché is a hard material that is easy to make to cover a wide variety of surfaces. Usually made for arts and crafts in the manufacture of sculptures, fruit bowls, puppets, dolls, and many others. The surface is easy to paint, so you can apply a variety of patterns, bright colors, and interesting designs to your work. This article will cover how to make a general or basic papier mâché that can be used to work on any piece you have in mind.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Setting up Papier Mâché
Step 1. Clean the work area
Papier mâché can be messy (what kind of handwork doesn't?), so protect your grandma's favorite dining table, lining it with a few sheets of newspaper or other scrap material for easy cleaning. While looking for used newspapers you can search and prepare:
- Bowl or other large container
- Flour, wallpaper powder, or white glue
- Water
- Basic structure
- Paint brush
- Newsprint (for your work -- not for cleaning)
Step 2. Tear the newspaper into strips like long ribbons
The ideal width is about 2.5 cm, but each project requires a different shape and size. In addition, you'll be covering your work in three layers or three loops, so tear as much as possible. Don't use scissors -- the torn edges come together better than the cut edges.
There's nothing wrong with the size of your tear. In fact, if you want to add volume to your structure by shaping newspaper strips, you'll need a variety of different sizes. So keep tearing your old newspapers freely
Step 3. Choose your method of making papier mâché
Several variations will produce the same product. Choose the one you can use.
- Glue solution: Pour white glue and 2 to 1 water into a bowl to stir. The amount can be changed according to the size of your project. Or, if you have a stronger glue, 1 part white glue and 1 part water will suffice.
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Flour solution: Mix water with flour 1 to 1. So easy!
For super large projects, you can replace white glue with water
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Wallpaper powder solution' : Pour wallpaper powder and water; 2 to 1; into the bowl. This method is great if you're thinking long term -- this piece will last for years.
Image Step 4. Choose a solution
Use a brush, spoon or stick to stir. Stir until the consistency is smooth.
If it's too thin or thick, adjust. Add additional adhesive if it's too runny, and add water if it's too thick
Create Papier Mâche Step 5 Step 5. Locate the surface on which to papier mâché
You can use balloons, cardboard, or molded dolls. In addition, you can papier mâché two objects together to form a masterpiece! The solution can use anything.
If you're using a balloon, you can coat it with oil beforehand -- so when it's dry, you can take it off easily
Part 2 of 2: Making Papier Mâché
Image Step 1. Dip a torn newspaper in the adhesive solution
You will get your fingers dirty! The dirtier, the better job you do.
Image Step 2. Remove excess solution
Do this by pressing the torn newspaper with two fingers from top to bottom. Hold it over the bowl so that the solution goes back into the bowl of adhesive solution.
Image Step 3. Lay the tear on the surface
Smooth it out, using your finger or a brush. Make sure it is smooth so that there are no wrinkles and lumps. The goal is to create a very smooth surface to paint or decorate.
If you want to make a shape (such as a face), stack the stubs into the shape you want them to be, place a piece of newspaper on the surface, then place another piece of paper on top of it. This way you can easily create volume, texture and detail
Image Step 4. Repeat laying out the torn newspaper
Do this until the entire surface is covered in three layers. This step is important when you're lifting the base when it's dry -- the tear layer must be sturdy and stand on its own.
Lay the first layer horizontally, and the second vertically, and so on. This will help you show which layer you are on and to strengthen the layer
Create Papier Mâche Step 10 Step 5. Place the object on a padded surface to dry
It will take about a day to dry completely, depending on the size of your object. Leave it untouched until the next day, then see if it can be painted.
Image Step 6. Start coloring
Paint or decorate as desired. Please enjoy! (And don't forget to tell everyone that this is your own work.)
Some experts suggest starting with white. If you use light/light colors, you can start with this white color first (otherwise the writing and pictures on the newspaper can be seen)
Tips
- Make sure you have more newspapers. Running out of newspapers in the middle of the road is certainly not fun.
- Wait for the papier mâché to dry completely before starting to paint.
- You can paint papier mâché with acrylic paint once it's completely dry. It helps to spray the papier mâché with a few coats of matte before painting to prevent the paint from peeling off.
- Your strip of paper doesn't have to be shaped like a ribbon. Any small piece of paper will do, as long as you can handle it easily.
- In addition, tearing the newspaper by hand will result in a smoother or slicker finish than using scissors.
- When you use a solution of water and flour, white flour produces a finer finish than wheat flour.
- Flour solution is better for piñata, because it breaks easily. If you need something stronger (for cosplay, for example) use a glue solution.
- It will take more than 40 minutes to dry.
- Using a ribbon-shaped tear of a smaller width will result in a slicker or smoother finish, with less lumps. Likewise tear with other shapes, smaller, the result is better.
- Papier mâché is not waterproof or waterproof unless you coat it or apply additives to the adhesive solution. If you plan to place objects in water or outside, you will need to coat them with some kind of sealant such as tempera paint for children's crafts, to ship varnish for statues to be placed outdoors.
- If you are making a large project and need a lot of newspapers, you can get them at your local newspaper headquarters or at a recycling center.
- To keep your fingers from sticking, wear latex gloves.
- You can make papier mâché from anything: frames, old CDs, etc.
- If you want the final look to be white, use plain white paper for the last two layers.
- Try using paper other than newspaper -- kitchen towels work well too.
- If you are making a piñata place a paper clip inside whatever you are using before working on newsprint
- Prepare all the materials before you start.
Warning
- If you're making a piñata using a balloon, make sure you make enough layers (at least 3 or more) or replace the newspaper with a thicker paper (like plain white paper) and make sure it's completely dry before popping the balloon. Otherwise the balloon will pull the balloon in and perforate when it explodes.
- The glue solution may be difficult to remove from your work surface once it has hardened. If you're worried about soiling your work surface, cover it with newspaper before you begin.
