Papier Mache & other free hobbies for all ages

headoutthesand wrote: »

mine has started with great intentions but OMG - what a mess.

Maybe mine isn't right.

My paste is all lumpy, my balloon is moving all over the place and my paper kept breaking in the paste.

is this normal?

thank god i tried it first time when DS was in bed.

I can just imagine the giggles from the kitchen in the middle of the night!! If you are using the flour and water paste then it can be watered down a little - like wallpaper paste. I tear the paper into strips and then use a pastry brush to coat the strips one at a time. Before even starting with the balloon, I sellotape the legs (bits of egg carton/toilet roll tube/small yoghurt pots whatever) onto the balloon and make sure it stands up alright. If it gets top heavy or off balance then I know where to add more weight next layer. I find it easiest to start at the bottom (umm... not literally :rotfl: ) I mean start at the base with the paper strips and cover the underneath parts, sticking the pasted paper strips over and around the legs. This gives it a bit extra weight and helps it to stay in the one place rather than rolling all over the table or floor. Be careful not to burst the balloon with the cellotape or edges of the cartons at this stage.

Lumpy paste - I'd just get the mixer into it and beat the lumps out Perhaps do this before DS goes to bed, though. Good luck and have fun :T

Herewegoagain wrote: »

This looks very interesting, I must have a go, how strong are the pigs once their dry, and are they good pressies for anyone?

The strength of these depends on how many layers of paper, how well 'glued' they are and how dry they are kept. The pig in my avatar is almost a year old and is doing fine, but he'll be subjected to surgical incision on 1st December for removal of all spare change. :rotfl: And yes, these make great presents

I've just decided that we're going to go with the 'snake draught excluder' idea as this year's 'speciality' after reading about them here. If anyone else fancies joining me (apparently you can save £30 on energy bills over a year by excluding door draughts) then feel free to start stitching and stuffing then show off your masterpieces here.