Halloween Forum banner

Paper mache pumpkin problem

Static: 
2K views 10 replies 11 participants last post by  kakugori 
#1 ·
I used cellulose insulation, ,paper bits, and elmer's past powder, now it was easy to use but when I applied it to the pumpkin it went on lumpy, now maybe I didn't wait for the cellulose to fully absorb the water, but even wetted down It was still lumpy, end result I am sanding my pumpkin to get a somewhat less rough look.
I have seen many pictures of smooth paper mache pumpkins and was wondering what paper mache clay mix people use to achieve that effect.
 
#2 ·
I have seen some recipes that use dryer lint, but I'm pretty sure that I've seen some folks suggest using a layer of Elmer’s Wood Filler over the surface and then sanding. But for really lumpy surfaces, it may be using a mix of different maché materials and perfecting your technique overall.



Here's a previous discussion about it with some great links (Stolloween is a master of paper maché!):
http://www.halloweenforum.com/halloween-props/142967-smoothing-paper-mache.html
 
#3 ·
Sanding is what gets you a smooth surface.

Sometimes you want lumpy so you don't bother sanding, but the only way to get that super smooth surface is to sand it with several grits, start rough then work your way up to the finer grit.
 
#4 ·
In my experience, home made paper clay like you used tends to have a coarse texture compared to commercial paper clay products like Creative Paperclay. You could try making cold porcelain like in this video but sanding might be your best bet. You can always use the paper strips dipped in water, flour and glue method too. That tends to yield a smoother surface.
 
#10 ·
I've tried and made a lot of paper clay this year. For the cellulose insulation clay I've followed Scott Stoll's recipe as given by Antrocks above. Yes, you can smooth it out a bit by either brushing on more paste or rubbing it down with some on your fingers or with your hands wet down. I found that if you mix in too much cellulose and go for a dryer clay it's like sculpting tunafish. :) If you start with a wetter clay (less cellulose) its much easier to smooth. Either way, at best it dries looking somewhat like cement. The cellulose just gives a coarser texture. If it's a little drier to start, it's good for larger projects.

There are quite a few recipes out there if you're looking for a smoother clay to start. Generally I think you'll find that the finer your paper in your recipe, the smoother your clay will be to work with. My most recent I did last night is a modified recipe from ultimatepapermache.com via a Youtuber. this one calls for two rolls of toilet paper, soaked in water to separate, which is then broken down further with a hand mixer. Squeeze out the water, tear it into small chunks and grind it down as fine as possible with the mixer again. Mix with 2 cups pre-mixed drywall compound, 1-1/2 cups PVA glue and a small amount of kosher salt to keep mold from growing. As with the cellulose, watch out for how much paper you add. More paper = dryer/chunkier and not as smooth. You may need to add a little water if the mix is too sticky.

When you use the TP clay, smoothing it with a palette knife dipped in thin paste will give a really smooth finish. The lady at ultimatepapermache.com has a version of the recipe she uses in lieu of strip mache and applies with a knife directly to her armature. Experiment a bit to find out what works best for you. You can always dip a ball of too-dry clay into your paste and knead it into a moister material as you're working as well.

PF
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top