Thread: paper mache help

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Im having some trouble with paper mache and chicken wire. How many layers do I have to put on to cover the shape of the wire? I put on 3 layers but the wire was still VERY obvious. Im using flour paste and news paper (cause its cheap also there are no craft stores near me) Is there something I should put on the wire before I start the mache? It doesnt have to be a very strong prop, it will only be used once and will be laying on a table untouched.
Thanks in advance for any advice

Hopefully, Ghoul Friday will show up on this thread, she answers my mache questions for me.
I am sure that there are others out there that Is more experienced than I. Usually when I use chicken wire, I end up doing moster mud (MM) .... so not sure. I would have thought that by 3 layers, you wouldn't be noticing the chicken wire.
If you don't get help....Go to Ghoul Friday's page and leave her a message. She is extremely helpful and nice. Would give you here link, but I don't know how.

Newbie - The easiest way is to cover the chicken wire with newspaper. Just lay it over the wire and tape it in place, then mache over that. Since you have the 3 layers on now I would lay on a layer, maybe two, of just newspaper, then you may only have to do one layer of the mache.
Some mache'rs use the heavy duty craft paper over the wire to hide the honeycomb look, but newspaper can work just as well.

Check out STOLLOWEEN he does some amazing stuff with homemade paper mache clay.

I think a coat of the paper mache clay will cover the chicken wire.

Thanks for the tips....., Im gonna try the newspaper first (just cause its easier and Im tired of messing with this prop) but if that doesnt work I'll give the paper mache clay a shot.

Stolloween is an absolute master of mache!!

I'm still lol making my mourner, but I covered her form with duct tape before I started the mache. Worked pretty good, but I suppose it wouldn't be so handy on a smaller prop.