Solution: use the flour on the inside for structure and glue on the outside for the smoothness etc. That is of course if you're doing more than 1 layers :)
Flour/water paste is a lot smoother if you a) used about a quarter of the flour, b) Make a well in the flour, pour a little water into the well and gradually incorporate flour from around the sides, adding more water as needed then lumps should not form but if they do, either strain or blitz the mixture until it's completely lump free c) Keep adding water until the mixture is quite thin in viscosity then d) boil the mixture until it's translucent. e) leave to cool down. You'll be surprised how a little flour goes a long way and how much more pleasant it is to work with warm paste than cold, especially on a cool day.
If you're going to be storing your flour-based project somewhere that it may be susceptible to mice, like a garage, throw a bit of cayenne pepper into the flour mixture as well, that helps deter the paper predators! :)
Wow!! Thanks for sharing that bit if info!! I know in places in the kitchen you want to keep mice away you can place a dry basil leaf. Mice HATE Basil!!
For the flower recipe,you can take a damp sponge to wipe away access paste to make it smooth, and I put a few coats of mod podge to strengthen it after it dries
Put a marble in the balloon before you blow it up so it will help keep it steady when you apply the first few strips :) I had no idea you could paper mache with flour. Thanks for sharing !
Gabriela Fitz you don’t just keep applying if using the flour mixture then it should take like two hours and you only need one Layer but if using the glue it will take like three or four layers
If you use cold water it will be less likely to clump up. When I make my flour and water roux for gravy I always use cold water and I have no lumps in my gravy.
I hands down prefer the glue recipe. I apply the glue with a brush...much faster and neater than dipping the paper strip and then wiping it off with fingers. Also, for me the glue method dries much, much faster than the flour recipe does...but instead of Elmer's school glue I used Alene's, and it was thinned a little more than in this video. Use the brush to smooth out the paper on your armature, as you work the glue gives the paper more elasticity than the flour recipe and results in a much smoother surface...that's been my experience. Yeah, you do have to apply more layers, but for me it's far more worth the effort. I'll only add that every artist/crafts person develops their own method...so don't hesitate to experiment to achieve what suits you best.
tinkmarz1 I’ve been doing the same as you - pva plus some water and applied with a brush. The brush gets rid of any air bubbles and the result is quite smooth. It’s been a successful method for me. Also I can’t stand that gloopy flour mixture! Ugh!
@@debracarter7290 Yep...we're on the same page with this. If it weren't for the Aleene's/pva glue method I probably wouldn't even bother...lol...! I've also used cold porcelain (the no cook recipe) to cover for an extra smooth surface or sculpting detail. After the surface is dry, just brush some of the water/pva mix, apply the cold porcelain and smooth and work it, and dip brush or fingers in water/pva to help spread it. Don't stretch too much without working more water/pva into it...as it will probably crack as it dries. Speaking of cold porcelain, experimenting around I mixed some silicone caulk with corn starch and got a clay that when dry was very flexible felt like leather. Problem was, there's only about a 15 minute time frame to work with it before it's set. I wonder if adding a few drops of glycerine would extend working time (?). I also tried mixing pva glue with water putty (wood filler, powder form) and got a rock hard substance...problem again, dries too fast to make a large amount. I'm pretty sure adding water would probably extend the drying time...but never experimented any further with that, either. I thought maybe those two recipes might help you or someone else in experimenting in their creative journey. Whatever, good luck...!
How fun it is to be in my room working on the biggest project I’ve ever made and jamming out to the most high energy songs ever while getting mad at the paper for not drying fast enough. I love being a kid
DYING over the newspaper's "have SEX again" title on your green glue balloon. Ha! I didn't leave with those kind of tips, but thank you so much for reminding me how easy it is to make paper mache!
I like to use the flour glue that you boil. I made many projects with it and by putting at least 4 to 5 layers, I got a very hard surface that could crack a skull. I made doll rocks for doll photography to vessels (bowls). They were a lot of fun and very messy. My flour vases or bowls I would put in the oven for an hour or two at 100 degrees to aid in drying and yes, it was fun and gave me many ideas..
@@nowirehangers2815 I use this process for outdoor/weatherproof statues but I substitute cement mix for the flour. Its about $3 a bag so the cost is about the same and I have used strips of old fabric instead of paper with great results. the glue is still added, it helps with adhesion. I do prefer wood glue, it dries more quickly and harder but school glue works also.
I prefer flour and newspaper. I need the firmness. I tried a recipe online that suggested glue and paper towel. All was a waste for me. I've used flour and newspaper in the past and it worked wonderfully. Thanks on the salt tip. We're making the solar system so the bumps won't hurt! Subscribed! 💜
Actually you can use warm tap water, you just can't use hot water or you will get clumps. I'm not a professional chef but I'm an old lady who has cooked for years. ❤️ From West by-God Virginia
Great video! I'm sure it's been mentioned, but wallpaper paste is cheap and excellent for paper mache, or even flour and wallpaper paste together if you want to combine materials. The process is very forgiving, so it's not necessarily either-or: if you want more hardness to the final product you can add some glue to the flour mixture (don't skip the salt, though, for the reasons you mentioned!). Also, don't use whole wheat or grainy flours - just regular all-purpose stuff. If you are using cloth instead of paper, then adding some white glue is probably a good idea for the added stiffness.
Years ago my mother-in-law taught me the flour method, I made frog heads for Halloween costumes! They lasted for years and made great memories for my daughter and her cousin!
Great video. I didn't realize the salt was to prevent molding. I live in a super arid and dry climate and have not done that but I also do just the glue method with water. I don't use warm water but that makes way more sense to help in getting the mixture mixed. Love all these tips!
If the paste is thin, it only becomes a problem if you apply over three layers per session. If you use the traditional glue recipe you need to apply 3 layers at most, wait a day or so for them to completely dry and then apply the next 3. If you need to apply many layers for structural support, apply the paper mache 3 layers at a time. That way the base will not collapse and drying will happen all the way to the core☺️
This is so helpful, at last! Our balloons never peel off the glue ones, they always make the whole thing collapse when we try to remove the balloons 😔 may be we've been doing the glue mixture too thin, like you say, most recipes say 50/50 glue to water. Will try with thicker glue mixture and also we'll try with flour. Thank you, so helpful.
You might need to do a couple more layers, or try smaller/thinner strips of a thicker paper (like notebook, magazine pages or an old book) sandwiched between the thinner newspapers. I do remember that you get a smoother transition from piece to piece if the paper is torn.
I saw another video where they did one layer with just water and immediately after one layer of straight glue. At the end, the balloon came right off. I wonder if it came off easily because the first layer was just water?
thank you, looks like a nice easy way to have a go at a sculpture project I want to try. No fancy materials. I appreciate the clear explanations Kristin. Thank you!
Cornflour paste is my go-to, cook it until it goes slightly translucent. It's not as messy, holds very strong, keeps about a week in the fridge, dries clear, & then your project is compostable if it's a temporaary decoration you don't want to store.
Wonderful job with this video, Kristin. You are so personally engaging and bright, it is fun to watch. I wanted to say, and you probably know - one can sand the roughness off the dried flour papier mache with very fine sandpaper.
Interesting video. I made paper mache as a child (im in my 50s) and still remember this way of doing it. I have never added salt, but good tip. Also, if you use a little larger container to mix, and use a whisk, it mixes so much faster and easier.
Thanks for the helpful video. FYI in the video it says 1 cup of water to 1 cup of glue, but as you pointed out in the video you actually used 1 cup of glue and 1/2 cup of water.
Nice work, Kristin. I have seen that a few people have used strips of paper bag to make Paper Mache, as well. I live in Canada, where large paper bags are available at our local Sobeys and Co-op grocery stores. Whenever I go there, I get paper bags for my groceries, although sometimes I like to go box shopping at the Co-op and get my stuff in boxes. I find that paper bag strips are much stronger than newspaper. It is also easier to paint. I am going to start working on paper mache crafts and what I am going to do is put a layer or two of newspaper around the object, and then put the paper bag strips over that. It should make it work well. Has anyone ever tried making paper mache chess pieces? Also, I saw a recipe where it said that paper mache paste can also be made with wallpaper paste, and it sticks better. Basically, with the glue recipe, can you simply say that you just dilute glue to make paper mache paste? I think that is basically what you are doing, isn't it?
I've made paper mache items using a 2 to 1 ratio of water to flour & I like it better as it's less sticky & gives me longer to smooth it out. As it dries, it falls into place the way I want (hopefully). Obviously it depends on how fast you work -- quicker artists might find this method annoying but being old & slow, this works better for me. I liked your video -- lots of good info.
You say specifically to make the glue / water 2 to 1, yet the graphic on your video @ 4:12 shows 1 cup water and 1 cup glue. You might want to fix that.
Great tutorial. I've done both & basically came up with the same results. I subscribed as soon as it was done. Waiting to see what else u can teach me.🤗🙋🏾♀️
Really liked the video, thanks. My high school art teacher made us use this stuff and it was like a dream come true to be able to create anything I dreamt of. Many years later I finally remembered the name 😅 I'll be buying the material tomorrow after work
Wonder what would happen with a flour/glue hybrid paste? The glue itself is flexible, hence the flexibility in the finished product. While the glue finish is smoother than the flour, it's VERY difficult to sand if you want to try and make it even smoother. Flour-based paper mache is actually sandable. Thanks for the vid!
I enjoyed this video! I am attempting to make a large spider body with chicken wire and paper mache for Halloween. It will have fun noodle legs and red glowing eyes. Thanks to your video, I decided to use the flour rather than the glue because the flour will be stronger and I will also be using Drylock for added strength and durability. Thanks again for making this video. It was very helpful!❤
Its 5 years after this video has been posted but any if newbies or otherwise happen to see this.. I find the flour+water+salt mixture works a lot better is and is smoother (and less white-casted) if you add boiling water. *It turns the mixture more translucent as well as helps get rid of flour clumps* It ends up being more of a glue texture as well. I dont have a specific recipe for amounts but I recommend playing around a bit til you find what works best for the paper medium you're using :) _(of course let it cool a bit before starting!)_
Thank you so much for this! I am making the Loki helmet for Halloween and I just couldn't get the horns right. First I used aluminum foil and wrapped it is clay to smooth it, but the clay cracked. I also tried to make them entirely out of foam, but that didnt work for me either. Then I tried the floor method to wrap aluminum foil with and it worked amazingly! Now I have light and smooth horns to use for my Halloween costume. Thank you!
Great video and thank you for sharing this video and your thoughts! And, I think another bonus of the Flour over Elmers Glue, is that Flour is more Eco-Friendly. Elmers is 99.6% plant matter, which is great, but the other 0.4% contains Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA), which has some long term environmental considerations. PVA industrial practices are worth considering and comparing to the industrial practices involved in making Flour. When we consider how many kids and adult Paper Mache projects are created every day around the world, it seems worthy to consider that for every 996 gallons of Elmers that are used, there are 4 gallons of chemicals that will remain. As a parent, I have been trying to consider these topics more, as well as share the thought process about product life-span, discussing fashion, drafting, prototyping, and iteration, and appreciating the long-term impact of our creations with my 2 daughters. I feel like these two construction techniques are a great opportunity and primer for Social Empathy discussion with our children and peers, and I really appreciate that your video helped me and my family with our project. :D
I've just had a childish chuckle moment. I was gluing a plastic shape onto a stick and spilled glue onto the paper below. A phrase came out of my mouth I haven't heard or used since I was a kid in junior school. Paper mache!!!! Hahaha.......... I'm 42 and its after 11pm but I'm gonna give it a go! Happy days!
Very interested in doing this over a large styrofoam pumpkin that has crackling old paint.. i've sanded it down, removed as much chip paint as possible and am ready to paper mache it.. but am confused, you said that the recipes using 1:1 ratio of glue and water didn't work, but yet that was the recipe you mentioned in print over the video..can you clarify what you would do different.. like would you use more glue than water, like 2 parts glue to 1 part water??
Use masking tape first , cos it will provide the paper mache to hold onto something , and make sure to make the mache a bit thicker cos if its not thick it will be a bit runny and wont stick...
Im in the process of making a pokeball surprise hopefully it will turn out just as nice! Someone told me to use wallpaper glue, so thats what im going with. Will also need more layers of newspaper since I want to put the actual bday presents inside, so it needs to be pretty firm. I'll have to let it dry between the different layers. Fingers crossed!
Just wanted to add - If you are making the flour recipe put in a teaspoon of bleach. It will kill anything that could hatch later and also will keep insects from getting to your work. I've done a lot of Paper Mache through the years and this will save you some headaches. You can also use oil of clove or mint but bleach is very effective and cheap. Oh, BTW, never use wheat flour. Best Wishes - T.R.
Thank you. It was really frustrating making things and foe them to go mouldy. Salt preserves, excellent. Wonderful video, thanks for sharing, and fantastic Art pieces.
Incredibly clear and useful video, thank you so much! Was contemplating ordering some new glue today but instead I can just try the flour recipe later on. :)
to help reduce mess grab paper strip with only 2 fingers and start to dredge thru mixture and use a small throw away brush in other hand to finish. the brush helps to apply wet paper to the form very easily and very fast.
In my country we use wheat with water and put it on the inside of mini flags to hang on threads and decorate our house with them. It’s like fairy lights but substituted for mini flags of our country (buntings) at every interval.
If you’re interested in subscribing to my vlog channel, click here: bit.ly/2dFYXoz
Ok boomer
@@ljl9552 the meme is dead, she literally did nothing wrong, and this was 7 months ago
@LJL bruh u wierd plus that meme is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo dead stupid
@@ljl9552 what the heck 😡😡
excuse my ignorance, but doesn't this grow mold?
Solution: use the flour on the inside for structure and glue on the outside for the smoothness etc. That is of course if you're doing more than 1 layers :)
You mean you straight up out glue on the planet or use glue on the paper later?
@@majoka4853 on paper later, for second/last later. Not tried tho
my mom use to mix glue and flour method and then sanded it when dry. she made bowls and boxes and furniture.
great minds think alike
Ty that rlly helps
‘Use something you can throw away after’ *sweats in I used a bowl that the whole family uses*
Lemonade *chucks 3 bottles of bleach and dishwasher soap in bowl* CLEAN BE CLEAN
bahahahahah ME literally right now oop
Lol
O.o Wat I do. Now Rip
@@siddarthchatlapally9the948 u gon get ur a$$ beat
Flour/water paste is a lot smoother if you a) used about a quarter of the flour, b) Make a well in the flour, pour a little water into the well and gradually incorporate flour from around the sides, adding more water as needed then lumps should not form but if they do, either strain or blitz the mixture until it's completely lump free c) Keep adding water until the mixture is quite thin in viscosity then d) boil the mixture until it's translucent. e) leave to cool down. You'll be surprised how a little flour goes a long way and how much more pleasant it is to work with warm paste than cold, especially on a cool day.
A pro 👌🏾
Thank you so much for sharing I knew there was a lil more to it than what she was showing in the video
Fyi: you can use pepper as an alternative to salt in the recipe. It might taste different though
Lol I just watched a tutorial where someone used cracked pepper in homemade paper clay to get a speckled stone texture on a diy vase
You don't eat paper mache lol
@@HailStorm411 That’s the joke o7
@@HailStorm411 r/woosh
Don't forget the onions
If you're going to be storing your flour-based project somewhere that it may be susceptible to mice, like a garage, throw a bit of cayenne pepper into the flour mixture as well, that helps deter the paper predators! :)
Wow!! Thanks for sharing that bit if info!! I know in places in the kitchen you want to keep mice away you can place a dry basil leaf. Mice HATE Basil!!
Some people use copper sulphate to flour
For the flower recipe,you can take a damp sponge to wipe away access paste to make it smooth, and I put a few coats of mod podge to strengthen it after it dries
Okay wait, do I wipe it while the paste is wet or do I wait for it to dry?
@@mikayladenton8600 whilst it’s wet 😊
If I remember correctly, it's a smoother transition from piece to piece if you use torn pieces of paper.
I remember hearing this...
Put a marble in the balloon before you blow it up so it will help keep it steady when you apply the first few strips :) I had no idea you could paper mache with flour. Thanks for sharing !
..."marble in the gallon 1st!.👂👈👍💯
**GENIUS**
I've made this project a million times (with the flour mixture) and never once though of this! Thanks for the tip!!:
Hey , do you have to wait for it to dry to do the other strips ?
Gabriela Fitz you don’t just keep applying if using the flour mixture then it should take like two hours and you only need one Layer but if using the glue it will take like three or four layers
If you use cold water it will be less likely to clump up. When I make my flour and water roux for gravy I always use cold water and I have no lumps in my gravy.
@@justanotheruser8179 the flour glue is essentially a basic batter
Who asked if you eat flour?! 😂😂😂
Always told as a kid If you do your first layer with just wet paper, it releases from the balloon or mould alot easier when dry. Nice vid
GREAT tip. Thank you!
That makes a lot of sense, thanks for the tip.
omg i needed this sooo bad
I hands down prefer the glue recipe. I apply the glue with a brush...much faster and neater than dipping the paper strip and then wiping it off with fingers. Also, for me the glue method dries much, much faster than the flour recipe does...but instead of Elmer's school glue I used Alene's, and it was thinned a little more than in this video. Use the brush to smooth out the paper on your armature, as you work the glue gives the paper more elasticity than the flour recipe and results in a much smoother surface...that's been my experience. Yeah, you do have to apply more layers, but for me it's far more worth the effort. I'll only add that every artist/crafts person develops their own method...so don't hesitate to experiment to achieve what suits you best.
tinkmarz1 I’ve been doing the same as you - pva plus some water and applied with a brush. The brush gets rid of any air bubbles and the result is quite smooth. It’s been a successful method for me. Also I can’t stand that gloopy flour mixture! Ugh!
@@debracarter7290 Yep...we're on the same page with this. If it weren't for the Aleene's/pva glue method I probably wouldn't even bother...lol...! I've also used cold porcelain (the no cook recipe) to cover for an extra smooth surface or sculpting detail. After the surface is dry, just brush some of the water/pva mix, apply the cold porcelain and smooth and work it, and dip brush or fingers in water/pva to help spread it. Don't stretch too much without working more water/pva into it...as it will probably crack as it dries. Speaking of cold porcelain, experimenting around I mixed some silicone caulk with corn starch and got a clay that when dry was very flexible felt like leather. Problem was, there's only about a 15 minute time frame to work with it before it's set. I wonder if adding a few drops of glycerine would extend working time (?). I also tried mixing pva glue with water putty (wood filler, powder form) and got a rock hard substance...problem again, dries too fast to make a large amount. I'm pretty sure adding water would probably extend the drying time...but never experimented any further with that, either. I thought maybe those two recipes might help you or someone else in experimenting in their creative journey. Whatever, good luck...!
Came to get piñata tips. Going to make one that looks like a coronavirus germ so we can beat the hell out of it at my daughter's graduation party.
Linda williams Your comment made my day 😂😂
Haha, I'm doing that too😂
lol
Make sure you have gloves and masks in there along with the candy lol !
Linda, did you do it?!!
How fun it is to be in my room working on the biggest project I’ve ever made and jamming out to the most high energy songs ever while getting mad at the paper for not drying fast enough. I love being a kid
DYING over the newspaper's "have SEX again" title on your green glue balloon. Ha! I didn't leave with those kind of tips, but thank you so much for reminding me how easy it is to make paper mache!
so funny`!!! I wonder if she meant it!
I seen that too hilarious
@@smilenbhappy2763 I saw that too!! haha
I looked for comments about it after I seen it on the video lol
Same
I like to use the flour glue that you boil. I made many projects with it and by putting at least 4 to 5 layers, I got a very hard surface that could crack a skull. I made doll rocks for doll photography to vessels (bowls). They were a lot of fun and very messy. My flour vases or bowls I would put in the oven for an hour or two at 100 degrees to aid in drying and yes, it was fun and gave me many ideas..
Ha e you found a way to waterproof these yet?
@@nowirehangers2815 I use this process for outdoor/weatherproof statues but I substitute cement mix for the flour. Its about $3 a bag so the cost is about the same and I have used strips of old fabric instead of paper with great results. the glue is still added, it helps with adhesion. I do prefer wood glue, it dries more quickly and harder but school glue works also.
@@SpecsAppeal that’s very clever
Thank you
@@SpecsAppeal Can you give a basic "recipe" for the CEMENT/WATER/GLUE proportions?
thanks!
I prefer flour and newspaper. I need the firmness. I tried a recipe online that suggested glue and paper towel. All was a waste for me. I've used flour and newspaper in the past and it worked wonderfully. Thanks on the salt tip. We're making the solar system so the bumps won't hurt! Subscribed! 💜
Professional cooks know that to get a smooth flour mix easily you start with COLD water then when smooth add hot water to thicken .
I appreciate you commenting this 😊
And you do consider yourself a professional cook, Mr. Ed Lechleiter?
Actually you can use warm tap water, you just can't use hot water or you will get clumps. I'm not a professional chef but I'm an old lady who has cooked for years. ❤️ From West by-God Virginia
Atole makers too
@@glinda9243 ah spoken as a true NORTHERN Virginia native.
Great video! I'm sure it's been mentioned, but wallpaper paste is cheap and excellent for paper mache, or even flour and wallpaper paste together if you want to combine materials. The process is very forgiving, so it's not necessarily either-or: if you want more hardness to the final product you can add some glue to the flour mixture (don't skip the salt, though, for the reasons you mentioned!). Also, don't use whole wheat or grainy flours - just regular all-purpose stuff. If you are using cloth instead of paper, then adding some white glue is probably a good idea for the added stiffness.
Years ago my mother-in-law taught me the flour method, I made frog heads for Halloween costumes! They lasted for years and made great memories for my daughter and her cousin!
Thank you so much Kristin! I find out that using the flour method with a brush instead of dipping each paper piece in it is less messier than glue.
Thanks for this tip! I can just see wet flour flying all over the place with the kids. We'll try the brushes!
Great video. I didn't realize the salt was to prevent molding. I live in a super arid and dry climate and have not done that but I also do just the glue method with water. I don't use warm water but that makes way more sense to help in getting the mixture mixed. Love all these tips!
I think it's clear
First apply flour
Then apply glue
Oz DeVil I was thinking about doing this!
Thats a better idea. Thank you!
That what I was thinking to I’m going to try that.
That's what I do. The flour is easier to remove balloon.
If the paste is thin, it only becomes a problem if you apply over three layers per session. If you use the traditional glue recipe you need to apply 3 layers at most, wait a day or so for them to completely dry and then apply the next 3. If you need to apply many layers for structural support, apply the paper mache 3 layers at a time. That way the base will not collapse and drying will happen all the way to the core☺️
Flour Recipe 0:40
Glue Recipe 4:04
A hero
Best Advice 5:55
thx man
She says that in the video
This is so helpful, at last! Our balloons never peel off the glue ones, they always make the whole thing collapse when we try to remove the balloons 😔 may be we've been doing the glue mixture too thin, like you say, most recipes say 50/50 glue to water. Will try with thicker glue mixture and also we'll try with flour. Thank you, so helpful.
You might need to do a couple more layers, or try smaller/thinner strips of a thicker paper (like notebook, magazine pages or an old book) sandwiched between the thinner newspapers. I do remember that you get a smoother transition from piece to piece if the paper is torn.
I saw another video where they did one layer with just water and immediately after one layer of straight glue. At the end, the balloon came right off. I wonder if it came off easily because the first layer was just water?
@The singing barmaid … you didn’t let it dry long enough is why it collapsed, I had one to do that ..
The flour adds a bit of structure with the stringy gluten proteins
Matthew did you try this recipe? How did you like it?
You can use sandpaper to smoothe out any roughness. I use a super fine grit for my paper mache projects.
Can I sand paper a newspaper sphere using the glue method too?
@@chibidragon4047 i think if you used pva glue it wouldn't work but i heard if you used wood glue like tidebond it would work
@@csgotrollling4 yeah I learned it the hard way. But it's cool.
@@chibidragon4047 thats unfortunate
Came because I'm gonna make a skunk head and run on all fours throughout my city
Lmfao wth
I support your vision completely
Interesting indeed
Chaos knows no bounds. Good luck my friend.
Did you ever do that?
thank you, looks like a nice easy way to have a go at a sculpture project I want to try. No fancy materials. I appreciate the clear explanations Kristin. Thank you!
Who's watching this because of Art project?😁🙋🏻♀️❤️
Me🙋♀️🙋♀️
Meee. Is the flour one heavy tho?
meeee
Me
Na I wanna make funtime freddy bon bon and bonnet costume
5:56 I would show this at school but I dont want anyone snickering at the fact that it says sex on one of the paper mache slips.
I never noticed that 😂
@@HowToWithKristin 😂
"Have sex again" 😂
You pay attention to details 👍
@@annec.9282 yeah but it's mainly the "sex" part 😂😅
And at 7:40, different article!
"use a bowl you can throw away" *me using my paper mache bowl.*
Cornflour paste is my go-to, cook it until it goes slightly translucent. It's not as messy, holds very strong, keeps about a week in the fridge, dries clear, & then your project is compostable if it's a temporaary decoration you don't want to store.
We get told in school not to use throw away plates. My sister said the same thing. If you wash it after it's better for the environment.
Thank you, this is the best and easiest recipe I've found so far that actually works!
Boooooooiooooiioo
Wonderful job with this video, Kristin. You are so personally engaging and bright, it is fun to watch. I wanted to say, and you probably know - one can sand the roughness off the dried flour papier mache with very fine sandpaper.
Interesting video. I made paper mache as a child (im in my 50s) and still remember this way of doing it. I have never added salt, but good tip. Also, if you use a little larger container to mix, and use a whisk, it mixes so much faster and easier.
Thanks for the helpful video. FYI in the video it says 1 cup of water to 1 cup of glue, but as you pointed out in the video you actually used 1 cup of glue and 1/2 cup of water.
Nice work, Kristin. I have seen that a few people have used strips of paper bag to make Paper Mache, as well. I live in Canada, where large paper bags are available at our local Sobeys and Co-op grocery stores. Whenever I go there, I get paper bags for my groceries, although sometimes I like to go box shopping at the Co-op and get my stuff in boxes.
I find that paper bag strips are much stronger than newspaper. It is also easier to paint. I am going to start working on paper mache crafts and what I am going to do is put a layer or two of newspaper around the object, and then put the paper bag strips over that. It should make it work well.
Has anyone ever tried making paper mache chess pieces? Also, I saw a recipe where it said that paper mache paste can also be made with wallpaper paste, and it sticks better.
Basically, with the glue recipe, can you simply say that you just dilute glue to make paper mache paste? I think that is basically what you are doing, isn't it?
who is watching this video for a school project
Me!
No, for a home project
Me
Me 😂😂😂😂
Me lol
Great advise exactly what I needed. I always wonder about mold adding salt makes sense. Thank you
Just loved how u explained all the practical problems u faced and not just the procedure.
I've made paper mache items using a 2 to 1 ratio of water to flour & I like it better as it's less sticky & gives me longer to smooth it out. As it dries, it falls into place the way I want (hopefully). Obviously it depends on how fast you work -- quicker artists might find this method annoying but being old & slow, this works better for me. I liked your video -- lots of good info.
You say specifically to make the glue / water 2 to 1, yet the graphic on your video @ 4:12 shows 1 cup water and 1 cup glue. You might want to fix that.
So it's 1 : 2 ( water : glue ) right?
@@acertainkirakuin Yes
I had never been able to pull this off until I watched your video, thanks a bunch! 🌻
Great tutorial. I've done both & basically came up with the same results. I subscribed as soon as it was done. Waiting to see what else u can teach me.🤗🙋🏾♀️
I’m your opinion, which one would work best if I’m wanting to break it open?(sort of like a piñata) for a gender reveal
Really liked the video, thanks. My high school art teacher made us use this stuff and it was like a dream come true to be able to create anything I dreamt of. Many years later I finally remembered the name 😅 I'll be buying the material tomorrow after work
I would use the flour first for the hard consistency and finish with the glue recipe for smooth result😉🥰
This video was exactly what I needed. Thank you for such a detailed comparison
This is one of the best videos ive seen. You answered all the questions a beginner has. Well done
Wonder what would happen with a flour/glue hybrid paste? The glue itself is flexible, hence the flexibility in the finished product. While the glue finish is smoother than the flour, it's VERY difficult to sand if you want to try and make it even smoother. Flour-based paper mache is actually sandable. Thanks for the vid!
Laughed so hard at the 2nd strip she placed for glue part. "Have sex again" lmfao
Yup....didn’t notice that till after it was uploaded 😂😂😂
Hey! When do we paint ? After they have been dried and before we cut the side of the balloon ?
Absolutely fantastic video. So helpful! Thank you for taking the time to work it out before the video and sharing your experience. Excited to try!
If you add a marble inside the balloons it helps to keep it weighed down and stop it from tipping over
I enjoyed this video! I am attempting to make a large spider body with chicken wire and paper mache for Halloween. It will have fun noodle legs and red glowing eyes. Thanks to your video, I decided to use the flour rather than the glue because the flour will be stronger and I will also be using Drylock for added strength and durability. Thanks again for making this video. It was very helpful!❤
Love the helpful suggestions from the viewers. Thank you. 🙂
This video was super super helpful!! The pros and cons at the end were great!! Thanks so much!
thanks for this, I think I'm gonna use the flour method since it's more durable and I don't need a ton of papers. It's perfect for my son's project 😊
Its 5 years after this video has been posted but any if newbies or otherwise happen to see this.. I find the flour+water+salt mixture works a lot better is and is smoother (and less white-casted) if you add boiling water.
*It turns the mixture more translucent as well as helps get rid of flour clumps*
It ends up being more of a glue texture as well. I dont have a specific recipe for amounts but I recommend playing around a bit til you find what works best for the paper medium you're using :)
_(of course let it cool a bit before starting!)_
Thank you so much for this! I am making the Loki helmet for Halloween and I just couldn't get the horns right. First I used aluminum foil and wrapped it is clay to smooth it, but the clay cracked. I also tried to make them entirely out of foam, but that didnt work for me either. Then I tried the floor method to wrap aluminum foil with and it worked amazingly! Now I have light and smooth horns to use for my Halloween costume. Thank you!
I’m planning to make a mask for a original character cosplay and this help so much! Thank you!
Can this paper mache progects, wirh glue or flour, be used for outdoors, under different weather conditions or it has to be used for indoor use only?
The fabric covered bowl at the end is gorgeous! Thanx for the video :)
Cheap bowl from Dollar Tree would make mixing a lot easier.
for the glue do you do all layers at once without drying in between or one layer at a time letting it dry in between?
Did you use all your mixture to cover the balloon? And if no is it possible to store it and save it for later or will it dry out?
Maybe have a large bowl of water on the side just for dipping hands? And towel or apron on just to dry hands w?
Thank you for this! Great, straight forward info!
Great video and thank you for sharing this video and your thoughts! And, I think another bonus of the Flour over Elmers Glue, is that Flour is more Eco-Friendly. Elmers is 99.6% plant matter, which is great, but the other 0.4% contains Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA), which has some long term environmental considerations. PVA industrial practices are worth considering and comparing to the industrial practices involved in making Flour. When we consider how many kids and adult Paper Mache projects are created every day around the world, it seems worthy to consider that for every 996 gallons of Elmers that are used, there are 4 gallons of chemicals that will remain. As a parent, I have been trying to consider these topics more, as well as share the thought process about product life-span, discussing fashion, drafting, prototyping, and iteration, and appreciating the long-term impact of our creations with my 2 daughters. I feel like these two construction techniques are a great opportunity and primer for Social Empathy discussion with our children and peers, and I really appreciate that your video helped me and my family with our project. :D
Excellent video showing pros and cons. Thanks for the demo of each
I've just had a childish chuckle moment. I was gluing a plastic shape onto a stick and spilled glue onto the paper below. A phrase came out of my mouth I haven't heard or used since I was a kid in junior school. Paper mache!!!! Hahaha.......... I'm 42 and its after 11pm but I'm gonna give it a go! Happy days!
From one Kristin to another, I would like to inform you of MY favorite paper mache medium, which is liquid starch. No mixing, just pour and use.
I love your blue eyes!
Thx!
LayZ _Gaming_427 bruh
Very interested in doing this over a large styrofoam pumpkin that has crackling old paint.. i've sanded it down, removed as much chip paint as possible and am ready to paper mache it.. but am confused, you said that the recipes using 1:1 ratio of glue and water didn't work, but yet that was the recipe you mentioned in print over the video..can you clarify what you would do different.. like would you use more glue than water, like 2 parts glue to 1 part water??
so to sum this up flour better than glue
thank you kristin !
What about price and strength vs flexability?
I wonder if the flour mix can be lightly sanded afterwards to remove the coarseness. TY for the video.
This is gonna help with my halloween costume and/or cosplay! Thanks I've never done it right in my own lol
If I'm doing paper mache onto a wire sculpture should I go straight in with the mache or should I use masking tape first
Use masking tape first , cos it will provide the paper mache to hold onto something , and make sure to make the mache a bit thicker cos if its not thick it will be a bit runny and wont stick...
Thank you for this it was very useful!!
But instead of newspaper can you use string and wrap the string around the ballon.?
You can use anything that'll be able to absorb the mixture, so yes, string will work :)
OMG I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE GRUMPY/SCARY PUMPKINS AT THE END!!!!
Im in the process of making a pokeball surprise hopefully it will turn out just as nice! Someone told me to use wallpaper glue, so thats what im going with. Will also need more layers of newspaper since I want to put the actual bday presents inside, so it needs to be pretty firm. I'll have to let it dry between the different layers. Fingers crossed!
@howtowithkristin
Would it come out smoother if using a brush for the flour option?
Just wanted to add - If you are making the flour recipe put in a teaspoon of bleach. It will kill anything that could hatch later and also will keep insects from getting to your work. I've done a lot of Paper Mache through the years and this will save you some headaches. You can also use oil of clove or mint but bleach is very effective and cheap. Oh, BTW, never use wheat flour. Best Wishes - T.R.
Thank you for this
Do you have to apply anything on plastic form before putting on paper mache
Which way, flour or glue, do you suggest to make a pinata that is thicker and sturdy? Thanks!
thanks for the tutorial! i’m going to paper mache a santa as an xmas decoration outside my house. i’m excited!
Thnx Kristin.... , For the Recipes..... The Bowl looks Georgeous
Thank you. It was really frustrating making things and foe them to go mouldy. Salt preserves, excellent. Wonderful video, thanks for sharing, and fantastic Art pieces.
I had no clue how to make paper mache when I started but apparently wood glue and some water works really well
Incredibly clear and useful video, thank you so much! Was contemplating ordering some new glue today but instead I can just try the flour recipe later on. :)
Oh my gosh your eyes!! It’s like a color of an ocean!❤
Yessss!! this video was very informative and your delivery was direct and super easy to understand. Thank youuuu!!!
why do you put the salt in the glue/water mixture? what does it do?
Could you possibly use like colored tissue paper too when dry cut out like a easter egg when completely dry ??
Hi! Can I sand the flour paper mache to get a smooth surface? Or can i aplly the flour paste onto the surface so i xan sand it down into a smooth one?
to help reduce mess grab paper strip with only 2 fingers and start to dredge thru mixture and use a small throw away brush in other hand to finish. the brush helps to apply wet paper to the form very easily and very fast.
In my country we use wheat with water and put it on the inside of mini flags to hang on threads and decorate our house with them. It’s like fairy lights but substituted for mini flags of our country (buntings) at every interval.