#Art Classes, #Paper Crafts, #Papier-Mâché How to Make Paper Mache Posted by jackikellum on July 22, 2025July 23, 2025 A Jonni Good Tutorial – image Credit: Jonni Good Table of Contents Step 1: Creating a Form or Armature Armatures Made with Crumpled Paper and Masking Tape: Armatures Made with Crumpled Foil and Hot Glue: Using Found Objects for a Form for Paper Mache: Paper Mache Over a Clay Model: Paper Mache Over a Wire Armature: Step 2: Make Your Paper Mache Paper mache clay: Paper mache paste: Paste with no flour (and no mold!): Make paper mache with glue: Step 3: Apply the paste or paper mache clay to your form. Applying paper mache clay: Applying paper strips and paste: Step 4: Let your paper mache get dry all the way through. Step 5: Paint it! All paper mache projects start with these basic steps: Create an armature for your sculpture, or find an object that has the shapes you want for your project. Make some paste, or mix up some paper mache clay. (I show you how to find the free recipes below). Apply the paper mache to your form. Allow the paper mache to dry all the way through. Use acrylic paint to decorate your paper mache sculpture and seal your sculpture with acrylic varnish. Step 1: Creating a Form or Armature “Wet paper stuck together with paste has no particular form of its own, so the real sculpting happens when you build your armature. Take your time with this step, because it’s important. “Many of the sculptures on my site were made using a cardboard pattern inside. I don’t go into that here, but if you’d like to try that method, you can see how the patterns are made here. “For a really fast way to make paper mache sculptures and masks, choose one of my patterns for paper mache. The downloadable templates create all the shapes for you – just add paper mache and paint!” Jonni Good Armatures Made with Crumpled Paper and Masking Tape: “For years I created my animal sculptures with crumpled paper and masking tape.” Jonni Good Armatures Made with Crumpled Foil and Hot Glue: “To get even more detail in your armature, you can use crumpled foil held together with hot glue. This method is a little more expensive, and the glue gun can burn you if you aren’t paying attention. “However, if you’re careful it can be a lot easier to make an armature with foil instead of crumpled paper. The paper tries to un-crumple itself while you’re getting the tape off the roll. The foil doesn’t do that, so it’s easier to use. “If you’re going to cover your foil form with paper strips and paste, you’ll need to cover the foil with masking tape, first. The paste doesn’t like to stick to foil. However, if you’re using paper mache clay, no masking tape is needed. Original Paper Mache Clay New, Improved Paper Mache Clay No-Glue Recipe for Paper Mache Clay For the DIY glue/paste: In a small saucepan, mix: 1/2 cup cold water 2 tablespoons white flour Whisk together thoroughly to remove any lumps. Then add: 1 teaspoon corn starch 1 teaspoon sugar 1 capful (about a teaspoon) of white vinegar. Whisk again until well mixed. Put the pan on a burner set to Medium to Medium-High heat, and stir constantly until the mixture thickens. Then stir another minute until you start to see bubbles and the mixture comes together. Put the mixture into a heat-proof container and allow to cool. Recipe for the paper mache clay: In a medium size bowl, mix: 1/2 cup wet toilet paper (24 grams dry, 110 grams wet – see video above) 1/2 cup pre-mixed drywall joint compound, any brand All of the ‘glue’ you made previously When the paper has mixed in completely and there are no lumps, add: 1/2 cup corn starch, divided Put about half of the corn starch into the bowl, and mix well. Then add the rest. If the paper mache clay starts to get too stiff for the motor on your mixer, or if it tries to ride up the beaters, you can finish mixing by hand with a spoon.To make the paper mache clay the consistency you like, add: More corn starch, a little at a time. When the mixture is too stiff to mix with a spoon, turn it onto a work table and knead by hand. When it’s very close to the way you want it, add: 1 capful (about 1 teaspoon) of mineral oil, baby oil, or linseed oil Knead the clay some more to mix in the oil. Add more corn starch if needed. Your new paper mache clay is now ready to use. Keep it in a plastic bag to keep it from drying out. If you can’t use it within a few days, store it in the refrigerator. You can use your new paper mache clay for almost any pattern or project on this site. Step 3: Apply the paste or paper mache clay to your form. Applying paper mache clay: :To use the paper mache clay, just mix it up and apply it over your armature with a knife. It’s a lot like frosting a cake, but you’ll want to use a very thin layer so it can dry quickly. The Egyptian Blue Hippo below was made with a foil armature covered with a very thin layer of paper mache clay. “A paper mache copy of the famous Egyptian Blue Hippo, made with foil and paper mache clay. “You can find many tutorials for animal sculptures made with paper mache clay on this page, and in my book Make Animal Sculptures with Paper Mache Clay Applying paper strips and paste: “You’ll want to use paper that’s soft enough to bend over the curves of your form. You also need to tear off all the cut edges, because they will show as straight lines on the finished sculpture. The torn edges kind of melt into the shapes, so they look better. “There are some tricks to getting the paper strips to lie down flay (or should I say “lay down flat?” I don’t think I ever get that right! 🙂 ) You can see some tips for applying your paper mache in the video below: Step 4: Let your paper mache get dry all the way through. “The one biggest mistake people make with paper mache is not letting it dry long enough before painting it. If you seal any moisture inside, there’s a very good chance that mold will start to grow. You’ll eventually see it as dark spots on the outside of your sculpture, and at that point there’s very little chance of saving it. “So give your sculpture plenty of time to dry! Paper mache is not an ‘instant’ sculpting material. Here’s a video that talks about how long it will take for your paper mache project to dry: Step 5: Paint it! “This is the exciting step that brings your paper mache sculpture to life. “I often use an acrylic gesso before I paint my sculptures, because it seals the paper mache and gives you a nice white surface to paint on. It seems to make the colors brighter, and you don’t need as much paint to achieve the look you want.” Jonni Good Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading... Related Discover more from Jacki Kellum Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe
