Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Papier Mache
- 2 June 2011
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I save all the thin tissue papers or un-printed newsprint papers that are wrapped around the flowers that are delivered to me to make batches of Papier Mache with. These sheets make fantastic Papier Mache because it is designed to be super absorbent and colour fast.
You will need:
Paper
Wood glue (or wallpaper paste)
Water
Tear the paper. Mix equal parts of water and glue.
Soak the paper in the glue mixture
Apply to the mould
...or construction, as I did when making these paper pedestals
For another Papier Mache construction look at my Baby Stroller Gift Hamper and Cardboard mushrooms filled with Lavender Tub-Tea and Cardboard Cup Cake Tower and the Tiny Note books and Serviette rings I made for my Mud!!! demonstration
Or:
Pulp the paper by mashing it in the glue water until it becomes the constancy of sculpting clay (or place the mixture in a food processor and blend until smooth).
Papier Mache pulp
Balloons and inflatable plastic balls make excellent moulds. (Piggy bank) Simply blow up, cover with Papier Mache, leave to dry. Pop or deflate and remove the inflatable. No release agent is required.
If you use a solid mould to shape the Papier Mache to, you will need to apply a release agent to the mould. I prefer not to use oil (Vaseline or Cooking oil) or even dish washing liquid because of the residue.
The best way to cover the mould is with cling film. If you use cling film it creates a very interesting texture on the finished item which can be left as is or sanded smooth, or filled with more Papier Mache.
When choosing a mould make sure you will be able to remove the dried Papier Mache.
Leave to air dry.
Then paint or decorate if required.
Left over Papier Mache can be stored in an airtight container.
If I need to paint my design I prefer to paint the items with water based paint or even better, natural colourants (for a Tutorial about natural colourants see the links at the bottom of this post). That is simply because I do not want to have to wait days for the paint to dry. I also like the idea that my design will be biodegradable so I do not paint it with a varnish. I would rather recycle plastic to line the item if I require it to be water proof. Encourage the receiver of your Papier Mache object to recycle (plant) it by adding small flower seeds to the mixture at pulp stage.
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Tutorials
You can use any type of paper to make flowers. I use tissue paper, Crêpe paper, cardboard, newsprint and coffee filters (new and used) to make sweet peas, carnations, paper...
Using fruit, berries, flowers, leaves and grasses to naturally stain design details for floral art relies on the same techniques as using paint or any other dye.
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