What is the easiest way to make glue or paste for a paper-mache project?

Question

This is for a maraca art project.
Something that may stick to a light bulb.

Answer 1

flour and water and cook it lite

Answer 2

I just made mache with my grandkids and I just made it up as I went. I used paper and water and my electric wand(for smoothies) and blended it to watery mush.Drain excess water. I added a little flour to each portion we took out of the big bowl to make it stick together. We formed our objects and let them dry outside for a couple of days and then painted them. I made a small sculpture and placed it in the oven at 250 and then lowered it to150 and turned it several times to keep from browning it and making it flat on the surface. Make sure to pack your mache tight because it will shrink as it dries. I think making it into mush was much easier than doing the strips of paper with the goo dripping and getting all over.The kids made snowmen, a frame, volcanoes,a Mickey mouse, and a cat.i made a black and white cat like my cat and a gray mouse.The mouse was tiny and harder to do. Have fun. I guess I used about 1/4c lour to 1/2c mush(paper and water) and mixed it in well before forming it. Would a small balloon be safer to use than a light bulb and cheaper? EDIT: I just read the other answers and I guess cooking it may be ok. I don't know why the heat is necessary. As a child we never heated it and it worked and lasted for years. I did use gesso on the objects first and used acrylics and then used a water based varnish by Apple Barrel/Ceramcoat to cover it well.

Answer 3

Hmm... When I used to do paper mache, I used to just mix flour, water, and a bit of Elmer's Glue until I had a goopy paste of the right consistency. Dunno if this would stick to a light bulb, but if it doesn't, try wrapping the light bulb in masking tape first. Then dip strips of newspaper into the goop I just described, and layer them onto the bulb.

Messy, but fun! And it works! :)

Answer 4

put flour in a pot, add water while whisking so as to avoid any lumps, and bring to a slow rolling boil..Let it cool completely and then use, it is okay to use warm, but it can really burn you if you use it too soon..

put it on your paper sparingly as well.. also, when you are ready to paint, do a layer of Gesso first. it will give your piece a much nicer finish.. and the paints will go on a lot easier. As a final touch, you can spray the finished product with a water based glaze from a can.. it gives it a nice shiny surface.

Answer 5

1/2 flour and 1/2 water, a little more water than flour. Mix.

Answer 6

Hi.I make papier mache items & I have found that wallpaper paste is best.It is cheap & mixes well.Flour & water tends to be lumpy& can leave a foul smell afterwards.

Answer 7

Flour and water