Thread: Paper Mache Clay (how to)

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Today I made my first bach of paper mache clay. It turned out nicely and will be used to scuplit ridges on my pumpkin scarecrow. Thank you UltimatePaperMache for the recipe.

Here's what you'll need:

1 cup of spackling compund (or joint compound)
2 rolls of cheap toilet paper
1 cup of flour (approx)
1 tablespoon of bleach or salt
1 cup of elmers glue
and an electric mixer


First, fill a little bit of a large bowl with warm water just enough to soak the T.P

Second, soak the toliet paper in the water try to absorb most of your water with toliet paper. pull apart the t.p. into chunks.

Next, ring out the toliet paper to get the water out

Then add a cup of elmers.

Fifth, add a cup of joint compound

Then add a tablespoon of bleach or salt

Mix with the elcetric mixer.

Then add a cup of flour and mix

wallah!

store in a air tight container so it won't dry out!

Good Luck!!! Thanks for viewing

Just wondering how much this end up making? How many batches would I have to make to do large hands and feet?

One batch (for me) made me 2 large yogurt containers full to the brim (about 1300g) As for the number of batches it depend on what you classify large as. I would try about three batches! (:

How long would a sculpture take to dry since it is a solid chunk?? and is it pretty heavy?

I did a hugh paper mache project of a life size nativity scene. It took several days for parts that had been worked on to dry well. Do a good section, then let it dry a couple of days before going back to it. It needs to dry all the way before adding more. The added parts also can mosten under layers so the drying time and lots of patence is important.

i use this same recipe and it works really well.
i suggest that if a person wants to make a big prop then use crumpled newspaper or foil as an armature before applying the clay. this serves a few purposes, 1) it wont use as much clay 2) it takes less drying time, 3) the finished project wont be AS heavy.

it is still very important to allow all the clay to dry a day or 2 depending on how thick of a layer was used before painting as said by the OP.
to get a smoother texture just simply dampen the area and smooth the surface with a craft stick or something similar.

any kind of paint works very well on this.