Ingredients of Paper Mache

 If you look around a bit in your kitchen and craft room, you're sure to find the ingredients for making paper mache. The materials are common, cheap, and easy to find, so this is one craft that's easy to get excited about.

Traditional paper mache is made from torn strips of newspaper, which is then dipped into a paste or diluted glue and then stuck onto a form. The form always comes first, So we'll talk about the materials you'll need to make one before we go on to the recipe for paper mache paste.

Making the Form:

The armature or inner form for a paper mache sculpture can be as simple as a balloon or the back of a bowl, but my personal favorite is a form made from crumpled paper and masking tape. If you make your own form with these materials, it can be in any shape you imagine. You'll also have a nice firm armature that doesn't change shape or bounce around the way a balloon will do.

If you're making a plate or bowl with your paper mache, the shape won't be limited to shapes you find in the cupboard if you make your own form out of crumpled paper and masking tape. Just wad up your paper into the general shape you want, poke and prod until it gets reasonably smooth, and then cover completely with your masking tape. Add legs, tails, heads and ears if you're making a paper mache critter.

If you need a hollow form to make a piggy bank, build your armature out of crumpled paper and masking tape over an empty salt box or oatmeal box. That way, the box can stay inside after your sculpture is complete, and the box will make your finished piece stronger.

Paper Mache Paste Recipes:

There are two ways to make paper mache paste. The most common recipe is just white flour mixed into some cold water, to make a slightly soupy, sticky paste. Some people like to boil their flour and water, but I never do, and my sculptures last for years. Just make your paste to the consistency that you like, dip in your torn paper strips, and stick them on your form. Use at least three layers, and up to ten layers, so your sculpture will be hard and strong when it dries.

If you're making a piece that relies on the color of the paper itself for decoration, and you don't intend to paint the sculpture, use diluted white glue in place of the flour and water paste. Just mix about one part glue to one part water, and use the diluted glue the same way as described before. The glue will dry clear and the colored paper will be visible on the finished piece.

The most important ingredient of all, is fun!

Jonni has been writing online for over 8 years. She often writes about pets, gardening, and crafts, but she has other interests as well. In her latest website she talks about the new car battery boosters that every automobile owner should have for emergencies. Even if you own a portable charger, you'll also want some car battery jumper cables in your trunk, just in case.