Does anyone know how to make a paper mache project last a long time and not mold?

Question

I want to make some paper mache pumpkins for next year and carve them out,but i have tried to make paper mache before using salt,and it molded anyway.I want something that wont mold and that is weather proof and will last.I would hate to spend all this time making Halloween decorations out of paper mache if its going to mold and if bugs get into it and ruin it.Does anyone have any tips?

Answer 1

My brother's made life-size body parts one year for Halloween out of papier mache. When they were done, they painted them with house paint and they lasted for years that way, even when stored in the garage. They didn't do anything special to them. We do live in California so we don't have to deal with damp conditions and perhaps that's why they stayed for so long???

I did see some type of foam pumpkins that you can carve. This may be an option if you don't want to take a chance on papier mache... The foam ones look real and can be carved with the same tools as a pumpkin.

Good luck!

Answer 2

First, papier mache is made from paper or paper products --often strips or sheets of paper, but could be just a paper "mash" (which doesn't use a glue). You wouldn't probably be able to "carve" either of them though.

The "salt dough" clay you made is different because it's not made with paper, it's made with a pulverized grain (flour) and a liquid adhesive. Air-dry clays like that type can be carved after drying (with some difficulty), or they can be shaped and cut into before they dry... which is probably what you did?

At any rate, any air-dry type clay must be thoroughly sealed in order to be protected against moisture (mold) and bugs (crumbling). A few good coats of an acrylic sealer or of permanent white glue (like Elmer's GlueAll) thinned with water till it's paintable should do the trick (it'll dry clear), but if cracks develop in the sealer later moisture and bugs will have an entry.
(whether you're using an acrylic sealer or white glue, make sure to let each coat dry thoroughly before adding the next for the best result... and also, don't sit the sealed item in water for a long time because it will eventually get cloudy looking --few glues in particular would be completely waterproof in that situation).

You could always use a "polymer clay" (oven-bake clay) instead of an air-dry clay, depending on the size pumpkin you're making. That would need no sealer and be waterproof all by itself.

If I'm not mistaken, there are also polystyrene foam-type pumpkins that are sold specfically for carving, and those would also be completely waterproof and bug proof.


Diane B.

Answer 3

Paste


1 cup cold water
1 cup flour
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 T. powdered alum
3/4 tsp. oil of wintergreen

Mix the cold water and flour together, stirring until smooth.
Add the boiling water and mix well. Pour the mixture into the top of a double boiler.
Cook over low heat until smooth. Add the alum and stir.
Remove from heat. When the mixture is cool, add the oil of wintergreen.


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Paper Mache Recipes:

Use one of these 3 Paper Mache Recipes:

Recipe 1/ Ingredients: Flour,water,paper
Stir three parts water into one part flour until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
To make the paste last longer, add a few drops of oil of Wintergreen. (optional) You can buy this oil at a drugstore.
Stir well and the paste is ready to use.
Now you need paper- newspaper works well!
Dip each piece of paper in the liquid mixture and apply it one piece at a time to form your shapes.

Recipe 2/ Ingredients: Wallpaper paste,water,paper
Buy some wallpaper paste at a hardware store.
Mix one part wallpaper paste with three parts water.
Stir well and the paste is ready to use.
Now you need paper- newspaper works well!
Dip each piece of paper in the liquid mixture and apply it one piece at a time to form your shapes.

Recipe 3/ Ingredients: Glue,water,paper
Mix two parts white glue with one part warm water.
Stir well and the Paste is ready to use.
Now you need paper-newspaper works well!
Dip each piece of paper in the liquid mixture and apply it one piece at a time to form your shapes.

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To make the paste:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cold water
2 cups boiling water
3 tbsp. sugar

Mix together flour and cold water in a bowl. Add this mixture to the boiling water and allow it to return to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar. As the mixture cools it will thicken as it does.

You can also just make a quicky paste by putting flour in a bowl and adding water until you have kind of a soupy paste.

If you're planning to make something you want to last for years and years, be aware that flour paste can get moldy, especially in humid environments. You might want to try using powdered wall paper non-pourous adhesive (Note: please read waring on carton) mixed with water. It comes in milk carton type containers and you can find it anywhere wallpaper is sold.

Be sure to cover your work area with lots of newspaper or wax paper - papier mache can get very messy!

To make your shape:

Tear (don't cut) narrow strips of newspaper or newsprint. Narrower strips work best when using a rounded mold... for flat or rectangular surfaces, larger strips are ok. Dip the strips into the paste, coating completely. As you lift the strip out, run it between your thumb and forefinger to squeeze out excess paste. Then drape the strip across your mold. Overlap strips slightly as you go - the torn edges will blend together and your final product will have a smoother finish. You may need more than one layer of paper. It's best to allow each layer to dry before putting another on - this means some projects could take several days!

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

papier mache will never be completely weatherproof. Even if you varnish it, water will find a way to get in. You can save them from year to year if you keep them indoors.
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