How much glue for paper mache

Stir together. NOTE: Humidity really does play a factor! I live in a very dry area. NOTE: if you add a couple tablespoons of salt to your paper mache it will not mold.

Thanks to Marg for this tip! Cover your project with no more than 4 layers of paper mache. Once again cover with no more than 4 layers. Tape the paper clip onto the frame of the pinata before you start maching. I usually use around a ratio. Stir thoroughly until the glue and water are mixed together.

There are a few variations in technique for applying paper strips to a project. You can experiment to see which method works best for you. When you are working with a solid armature like the dishes we are using here, a good method is to first dip your hands in the paste and spread paste all over the base.

Then apply dry strips onto this wet surface, smearing more paste over the top of each strip as you add them, and adding more strips overlapping the first. Or, you can try dipping your paper in the glue mixture and then applying it.

You can even dip several layers of strips at once, separating the layers a little in the mixture so they all get covered in glue. Then apply the strip or stack of strips to your surface, angling the strips so they contour to the shape of the form. Smooth them down as you go to create an even surface. Apply one layer of overlapping strips over your entire project before you start adding another layer.

Glue strips can be slightly more slippery than flour strips, so it sometimes takes a little finesse to get them to stick to each other smoothly. If the multi-layer method isn't working for you, you can always just use single layers. When you add the second layer, you can give your project more strength by applying these strips perpendicular to the ones below, and switching back and forth with each layer.

If you are using stacked strips, you can build up a thick shell of paper fairly fast, about layers of paper total so about stacked layers will give you a strong structure.

When you create your last layer though, you should go back to using only a single layer so the outside of your shape is smooth. When you've finished covering your project in paper strips, you'll need to let it dry at least overnight before you can keep working on it.

To help this happen, put it in a place with good air circulation, like next to a fan or even near a heat vent. If you can, rotate it every few hours so it dries evenly. After about hours it should be dry, but you can test this just by touching the surface. If it feels cool or soft to the touch then it's still wet, and needs more time. The more layers you've added to your project the longer it will take to dry, and if you are creating a complex shape some areas may dry more slowly than others.

Because some projects require more than one round of drying and paper mache, you need to plan accordingly and give yourself enough time to work. If you think about the cost of clay, wood and other crafting supplies, using glue for paper mache is still very budget friendly! This is so simple, you only need to stick to a basic ratio of mixing up the glue and the water. Of course, you can use more water for thinner paste and more glue for thicker paste.

Really, it is THIS easy to make a strong and relatively mess-free paper mache paste! If you want it thicker, or you want it runnier, just adjust how much water you mix in. I like to make it as I need it and use it. From here you can either dip strips of newspaper into the glue mixture, or you can stir it in with tissue paper pulp if you want to make something that is more of a paper mache clay texture. This will make it easier to add some more glue to the paper mache mixture both during the molding phase and after when you are patching up any mistakes.

You can also make up some paper mache glue batches to keep for a few projects. Mix up your preferred ratio of water and glue into a latch bail jar which can close tight. Make sure to keep the jar somewhere cool and dark, and closed tight, to avoid it clumping up and drying out. You can make a decent size amount of the glue mixture to keep over a few projects, saving you some time hauling everything out and mixing it all together over again. You can make your own paper mache glue at home using some simple ingredients.

You can mix up flour and water to a ratio. For example, mix one cup of flour and one cup of water and mix together well until you get a thick, gluey consistency. You might need to add in a bit more water if it is too thick, or a little more flour if it is runny. Make sure to get rid of any lumps , as these might cause bumps and lifts in the dried paper mache project. Wallpaper paste works well when used for paper mache, but you will have to dilute it down until it has a thin consistency.

You will also need to add in a little bit of salt to prevent the mixture from spoiling. You can then dip the paper strips into the paste and apply them to your mold. For fun projects, it is fine to use a flour and water mix, but for projects that need to be durable, you should use PVA glues which will double the strength of the paper mache product.

You can thin the glue down slightly with some water, but not too much to take away any strength. The glues you can use for paper mache, white glue, carpenters glue, and weldbond, can all be found at your local crafting store, and you can usually buy them all in bulk to be able to do a wide range of paper mache projects. Be sure to know which glues you should dilute with water, and which are water-resistant.