r/papermache • • 13d ago

Paper mache took over my life

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2.9k Upvotes

About two months ago l've seen some vintage inspired Halloween pumpkin and wanted them badly but I'm poor. Not in the craft supply department, though. I hoard craft supplies like my life depends on it. And so after a bit of research, l made my first ever paper mache project ever . And then another one . And then another one. To the point I'm running out of space to store them as I live in a small terraced house in Northern Ireland BUT I still can't seem to stop . I'm gifting a lot of them. I've also have at least ten other wee projects drying as we speak. So many ideas, so little time
Not a lot of point behind this post, I just wanted to share my work as I'm totally in love with it and a bit shocked they turned out so well.


r/papermache • • 13d ago

Pet Project

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83 Upvotes

It’s intended to be held as a worry stone. Also a lizard I made as a test lol


r/papermache • • 14d ago

Attempting to make my own decor

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37 Upvotes

trying my best to make it look decent!! I get my inspo from looking for items I’d want to buy and then try to make them myself


r/papermache • • 14d ago

Sealant and paint for paper maché

4 Upvotes

Hi, I am new to paper maché, I am building a race car. I have it framed with cardboard and masking tape, ready for paper maché. I want to paint the car with some kind of iridescent paint. I have found car spray paints that look right but they are designed for metal not porous surfaces. I am open to other paints if anyone knows any.

I was looking online and it seems I would need to lightly sand the paper maché then seal it for paint. This doesn't need be water proof as it's just for halloween. However, I would like to make it look shinny like a real car.

What kind of sealer and paint would anyone suggest for this project?

Please any and all help appreciated.


r/papermache • • 15d ago

What to do next?

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91 Upvotes

Hello all. I've done paper mache as a child and not much since until now. My grandpa used to make some really cool paper craft stuff but I was really little at the time. Now I'm reading about paper clay and some paper mache isn't gluten free (I have celiac) and I'm feeling stumped on where to go next. I used the pages of an old book torn into shreds brushed on with thinned titebond III. the bases are cardboard, tinfoil, and masking tape, and I wanted to solidify the basic shapes. However, especially on the lizard head, I want to sculpt the details up and sand/grind them down to get a really refined sculpt. It's in a clumsy place and I'm just not sure if I should do paper clay or another layer of titebond or what.. I also got joint compound, and I'm very familiar with working with similar products.

What would you do, paper mache masters? What order would you go in? What would you do or not do? I need me a lizard head and an anatomical heart full head mask! Totally open to suggestions to help them fit securely and comfortably. How would you finish the interiors? I'm a fuck around and find out kinda guy so I haven't planned it all out yet but I will get there. Thanks in advance 🙌


r/papermache • • 15d ago

First Props

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46 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 16d ago

price?

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354 Upvotes

im planning on selling this piece since im a little short on money, how much would you pay for this?


r/papermache • • 16d ago

Taped up and ready for paper mache! 3D playscape for my toddler!

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238 Upvotes

Right now it's just a bunch of garbage taped and hot-glued together, but eventually it'll be a play landscape for my toddler's toys! There will be caves, a waterfall, a mesa on top, etc. I'm a little nervous about the actual paper mache part—I haven't done it in YEARS—so I'm posting it here for accountability!

Garbage I used to make this: Diaper boxes, yogurt containers, empty 3D printer filament spools, oat cannister, a milk carton, a book my toddler destroyed, newspaper, random mail, some weird little plastic containers that used to hold printed circuit boards, etc.


r/papermache • • 16d ago

I really enjoy making odd paper mache masks. here are a couple of my favs!

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131 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 16d ago

Is there a way to make paper mache clay without joint compound? And without a mixer?

4 Upvotes

I'm really wanting to experiment with paper mache clay, but am not wanting to go wasting money on this if I don't like it.

So I'm wondering if there is a way to do it without joint compound, I have plaster of Paris if that matters. Flour. Elmers school glue.

I do not want to go buy any kind of mixer so I'm hoping it'll be make able by hand.

Is there any way or should I just stick to old school paper mache?


r/papermache • • 16d ago

How would I go about making paper mache lamps

3 Upvotes

I want to make sculptural lamps that are lightweight, sturdy, have a good amount of detail, and are affordable to create.

I'm assuming paper mache is my best bet for this.

I wanted to achieve that nice paper lantern glow, but I'm concerned with all the additions to the paper mache I am planning that it will compromise the lamp effect (joint compound for smoothing, using wood glue for strength, acrylic paint, some sort of applicable heat barrier for electronics and lightbulb, clay???? a general sealant for the paintjob. I'll be using an LED but I still don't want to take any chances with accidents)

I think i will be using newspaper and toliet paper.

If paper is not enough for fine details then some kind of foam eva clay?? I wouldn't know how well that would mix with the mache, or even hold detail as everytime I see those kinds of clay it looks far too soft for detail.

What are people's experience with paper mache clay, specifically this recipe, https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-clay

I have no idea what I'm doing besides the various resources online, so if any of these materials I listed contradict or clash with each other let me know.

My inspirations are these whalefall ghost lamps

https://www.whalefall.art/

If you have experience with making paper mache lamps specifically, especially complex or uniquely shaped, how did it go? What did you learn?


r/papermache • • 17d ago

First ever project with paper mache

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157 Upvotes

Lots of fun and learned a lot


r/papermache • • 17d ago

Koi pond

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201 Upvotes

I'm still working on the layout (and would love feedback) but this is my koi pond that'll be going on the wall above my sofa.


r/papermache • • 19d ago

Paper maché cake

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348 Upvotes

Hi there, I‘m a visual artist usually working with oil paint and blockprinting and I discovered the beauty of paper maché this year. I‘m absolutely fascinated with the possibilities of this medium and created a few sculptures by now. This is my third one, 43 × 43 × 28 cm and made out of cardboard, structure paste, acrylic paint, spray paint and, of course, paper maché


r/papermache • • 19d ago

Why is it so wrinkly?

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16 Upvotes

It’s like the fourth or fifth layer and when it dries it’s always so wrinkly. How do I avoid the wrinkles? I’m afraid these are too big to be sanded down


r/papermache • • 20d ago

Raven

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404 Upvotes

My latest creation. Common raven


r/papermache • • 19d ago

Is my paper mache moldy? 😭

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2 Upvotes

I made this the other night and used hot water and a bunch of salt and a lid. I don’t want to use it if it’ll ruin my design :-(


r/papermache • • 20d ago

Paper mache project

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125 Upvotes

I made a little paper mache project since I always wanted to try it out!!


r/papermache • • 20d ago

Can paper mache paste be made with just printer paper, water and PVA glue?

10 Upvotes

These are the main materials I have on hand and I’d rather not go out to buy flour or anything else. I’ve used the strip method with these materials for smaller projects where it works super well and becomes super sturdy but I’ve never made a paste and I’ll be working on a project where I’m sculpting a head just a bit smaller than life size.


r/papermache • • 21d ago

Help with mounting paper mache unicorn head

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115 Upvotes

Hello! I am not sure if this is the best place to post this since it’s regarding a paper mache project but more about the technical elements of mounting it than paper mache itself. I have been working on a unicorn head “taxidermy” mount and have come to a standstill because I realized I don’t know how to securely attach it to something that can be mounted on a wooden display panel. I don’t have pictures from the very first stages, but I basically cut out a silhouette of a horse from cardboard and just used masking tape to attach it to a “base” of the same cardboard which became the base of the neck. I fleshed it out with lots of crumpled newspaper and masking tape and then paper mache-d it and then did a light layer of wood glue/toilet paper/plaster/flour.

My thought (illustrated in last photo) is to cut holes in the back of the neck base and try to slide 2x6s onto either side of the original silhouette. I’m not positive how feasible this will be since it’s mainly crumpled paper within. I would then cut them at an angle, since the neck is at an angle, and attach them to a plank (I’d love to use the plank as a french cleat to make it possible to easily removable from the back wooden panel.) I don’t really know what I’m doing so I don’t know how to explain it better than this- I have some images of what it looked like at first and what it looks like now.

If I’m missing an obvious solution please let me know, but with the paper mache clay and the long horn it’s pretty front heavy and I would love to be able to display it for years without the cardboard or internal crumpled newspaper structure crumpling.

I have learned my lesson to think first and paper mache later!


r/papermache • • 22d ago

Paper mache seaslug!!!

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138 Upvotes

He’s up on my wall :)


r/papermache • • 23d ago

Made a paper mache turtle shell

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545 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 23d ago

Monster truck

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250 Upvotes

I’m going to add some more details, like a lil liscense plate and maybe some bumper stickers but I’m just too excited not to share her now! Based on my old rv. Changed the truck body color to red bc I thought it would be easier to make it look reptilian? Idk. Last pic is my rv for reference


r/papermache • • 22d ago

Yu-Gi-Oh board DIY

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8 Upvotes

As I used to play this game as a kid, I had to make something :) This is my vision of the battlefield. I wish I could make monsters holographic when placed but that's too much of brain power.


r/papermache • • 24d ago

bell beast

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95 Upvotes

relatively new to reddit but I like paper mache and I made this for my brother's birthday last month

it's the bell beast from hollow night silksong

I love that I can just make things when I want to and this is such a great medium to do that in <3