What is Papier Mache, or Paper Mache?
Papier Mache is French for chewed paper as that is the appearance that the papier mache pulp has before it is worked with. Papier Mache is a form of construction or sculpture where bits of paper are stuck together with paste. When the paste dries the construction is hard and can be painted or varnished. Newspaper is commonly used for papier mache sculpture as it is readily available and works well with the paste, able to be molded readily. Although any adhesive can be used, wallpaper paste or home-made paste are most suitable as they are easy to work with and are not too expensive. There are two papier mache methods – layering and papier mache pulp. Papier Mache Layering This technique involves layering strips of paper with paste to build up the layers. It is often used over a mold such as a bowl to form the initial shape. The basic steps are below or follow the Papier Mache Layers Tutorial. • In this case the first step is to cover the mold with clingwrap plastic or waterproof gel so
