I do a lot of papier-mache, and I noted this blogger uses wheat paste. I used to also use wheat paste, but with kids with wheat allergies, and the nasty way it dries on your skin, and the fact that you can't store it without it going BAD, I no longer use it.
Instead I use:
This stuff is GREAT. The kids love it; it's inexpensive, one box makes 4 quarts, it can be stored INDEFINITELY (for YEARS!) when mixed, and it does not feel so nasty when it dries on your skin. Plus it's non-toxic and fairly strong. I'll be talking more about this product when I post an unusual project we are currently doing in the 4th grade.
Thanks for posting. I know my students would love paper mache, but so far I've been afraid to try it. I may be asking more questions when I actually get around to it!
ReplyDeleteMeglet (cool name!) -
ReplyDeletePapier-mache, with the right materials and a little know-how is easy and NOT TOO MESSY. I'd rather clean up papier-mache than oil pastels! Check back in the coming weeks; at some point with some time I'll post a few other (very)successful papier-mache projects with some step-by-step tutorial about my process that is very user-friendly. There will be no masses of dripping, oozing newspaper that take weeks to dry, I promise, and you will wonder why you were ever afraid.
I personally love to use liquid starch! It is not all that messy...not that expensive..and works very well!!
ReplyDeleteI do use liquid starch for tissue collage, but I didn't think it would be strong enough for papier-mache - I suppose it depends on your structure? Mostl I like that the Art Paste is REALLY inexpensive: a box makes 4 quarts for approx $2.50
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