Thread: paper mache pumpkin head question

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How long will these last INDOORS? I want to have several of these this year and I am wondering how soon can I start making them and storing them inside.

Thanks.
Kaye

Until someone sits on them...

In all seriousness, paper-mache will last indefinitely, as long as it's not subject to moisture.
Speaking of that - if you seal them well, they'll last outdoors for a good long time as well.

Crushing, however, is a pretty quick death for mache...so, no sitting on them. Not even the cat.



edited to clarify: I mean, the cat sitting on the mache...not you on the cat. That's an entirely different kind of situation.

Do you mean actual pumpkins covered with mache, or pumpkin heads made from mache "a la Stolloween"?

No live pumpkins, just paper mache forms.

Originally Posted by Ugly Joe

so, no sitting on them. Not even the cat.

Believe it or not, I've been making some cat furniture out of mache...

I wouldn't suggest the needed # of layers for a typical art project, though.

How long will these last INDOORS? I want to have several of these this year and I am wondering how soon can I start making them and storing them inside.

Mom, like Joe said...moisture is evil to mache. As long as you don't have a high humidity problem in the house then unsealed mache will be ok for long periods. But...if you do have a high humidity problem and/or plan on putting them outside at Halloween, you should go ahead and seal them while your making them.

Once sealed they should last indefinitely indoors. Surviving outdoors, once sealed, all depends on what they are sealed with, etc.

Originally Posted by UnOrthodOx

Believe it or not, I've been making some cat furniture

I tried making cat furniture a few times, but the pieces are hard to nail, the fur kept falling off and they smelled after awhile...






Note: This was a typical lame attempt at humor by me. My wife and I are cat lovers and have two happy and healthy cats at home. No cats were harmed in the attempt at humor.

I have some skulls, corpsed with mache, that are still good several years down the line..

Wolf... whats worse is when you forget to remove the claws while making the furniture and accidentally sit on one.

Originally Posted by KimilyTheStrange

Mom, like Joe said...moisture is evil to mache. As long as you don't have a high humidity problem in the house then unsealed mache will be ok for long periods. But...if you do have a high humidity problem and/or plan on putting them outside at Halloween, you should go ahead and seal them while your making them.

Once sealed they should last indefinitely indoors. Surviving outdoors, once sealed, all depends on what they are sealed with, etc.

What's the best thing to seal them with?

TIA
Kaye