How to Create Papier Mâché

Co-authored by Amy Guerrero

Last Updated: March 2, 2024 Approved

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Looking to make your own paper mâché craft? Papier-mâché (pap-yay mash-ay) or paper mâché (paper mash-ay) is an easy to make, hard material that can be used to cover various surfaces. You can use it in arts and crafts to make various sculptures, fruit bowls, puppets, dolls, and much more. The surface is easy to paint, allowing you to add patterns, bright colors, and interesting designs to your finished product. We've put together a tutorial on how to make paper mâché that can be used for any project that you have in mind.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making Papier Mâché

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1
Clear an area and gather the materials you'll need to do papier-mâché. Papier-mâché can get a bit messy (like any DIY worth your time), so to protect your grandma's beloved dining table, lay down a few newspapers or other scrap material to keep clean up at a minimum. While you are grabbing newspaper, also get a hold of:
- A bowl or large container
- Flour, wallpaper powder/paste, or white glue^{[1]
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- Water
- Your base structure
- Paintbrush
- Newspaper (for your project -- not for clean-up duty)
2
Tear the newspaper into long strips.^{[2]
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Research source} The ideal width would be around one inch (2.5 cm) thick, but each project requires different shapes and sizes. In addition, you will want to go around your project three times, so tear quite a pile. Don't opt for the scissors -- a torn edge blends better than a cut edge.
- There is no wrong size your strips could be. In fact, if you want to add volume to your structure by molding the strips, you will need different sizes. So tear away freely.
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3
Choose your method to make papier mâché. A few slight variations will result in the same product. Use what you have at your disposal.
- Glue mixture: Pour 2 parts white glue and one part water into a mixing bowl. These quantities can be changed to suit the size of your project. Or, if you have a stronger bonding glue, 1 part white glue and 1 part water will do the trick.^{[3]
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- Flour mixture: Combine 1 part flour with 1 part water. Easy as pie! (But also liable to mold. Use caution!) ^{[4]
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  - For super large and intense projects, you may want to substitute white glue for the water.
- Wallpaper powder: Pour 2 parts wallpaper powder and one part water into a mixing bowl. This method is good if you're thinking seriously long-term -- it can last years.^{[5]
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4
Blend your choice of mixture. Do this using a paintbrush, a mixing spoon or mixing stick. Blend until it forms a smooth consistency.
- If it's too thin or thick, adjust accordingly. Add more adhesive base if it's too thin, water if it's too thick.
5
Find a surface you want to papier-mâché. Examples include a balloon, cardboard or a molded figure.^{[6]
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Research source} In addition, you can papier-mâché two objects together to form a creation! The mixture will take to anything.
- If you're using a balloon, consider painting it with cooking oil beforehand -- that way, when it's dry, you can slide it out easily.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Creating Papier Mâché Crafts

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You're going to get your fingers messy! The messier you get, the better job you're doing.^{[7]
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Do this by lightly sliding two fingers from the top to the bottom of the strip of paper. Hold it over the bowl so it drips back into the container.^{[8]
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3
Lay the strip over the surface or figure. Smooth it out, using either your fingers or a paintbrush. Be sure to get as many of the creases and bumps out as you can. You are aiming to get a very smooth surface for painting and decorating.^{[9]
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- If you'd like to create a shape (a face, say), bunch the strip into the form you want, place it on your surface, and then layer another strip on top to smooth it out. This can create volume, texture, and detail quite easily.
4
Repeat laying strips. Do this until the entire surface or figure is covered three times over. This is especially important if you're removing the base when it's dry -- it needs to be sturdy and hold its own.
- Put your first layer on horizontally, the second vertically, and so forth. It will help show you where you have been before and strengthen the piece.^{[10]
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Place the object on a covered surface to dry. It will need a day or so to completely dry, depending on the size of your piece. Leave it untouched until tomorrow, then see if it's ready for painting.^{[11]
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6
Start coloring. Paint or decorate as desired.^{[12]
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Research source} Enjoy! (And be sure to tell everyone you did it yourself.)
- Some schools of thought say to start with a white primer. If you're using a light color on the piece, you may want to use this method (otherwise some print may stick out). Make sure not to cover to top part in order to take the balloon out.

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Question

After I have the solid ball, can I add things like ears and a tail and make a cat? If so, how would I do that?

Community Answer

Yes! Wait for everything to dry first, then cut cardboard into some ear shapes, and tape it onto the "body." Cover it with more paper mache, and wait for it to dry. You can do the same with the tail, or use string instead.

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How long does it take for papier mache to dry?

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Drying time depends on the thickness of the paper and paste, but most projects are dry within a few hours.

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Do we have to put salt in the flour paste?

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The salt stops mold from growing, so it's a useful ingredient.

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Tips

It will take more than 40 minutes to dry.

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The flour mixture is better for piñatas, as it breaks easier. If you're looking for a stronger hold (like for cosplay) use the glue one.

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In addition, tearing the paper roughly, as opposed to cutting with scissors, will result in a smoother final appearance.

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Leave the paper mâché to dry overnight. Check on it in the morning to see if it's completely dry. Drying time depends on the size of your project, so just make sure it's dry before you paint or decorate it.
Gather your materials before you start working, like newspaper, glue, paste, water, a paintbrush, and a structure as your base. Then, cover your work area with scrap paper.
There are lots of adhesives to choose from, like flour paste, white glue, or wallpaper paste. Just mix either adhesive with water until it has a smooth consistency.
Dip the strips into the adhesive mixture and smooth them onto your structure in layers. Aim for 3 layers of strips.
Tear newspaper into long, 1 inch wide strips. Tearing creates a better edge than cutting.
Use a hairdryer to speed up drying time. Just don't hold it too close or use high heat.
Smooth any rough parts with sandpaper when the paper mâché is completely dry.

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Warnings

The glue mixture may be hard to clean off your work surface once it is set. If you are worried about getting glue on your work surface, put some newspaper down before you get started.

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If you're making a piñata using a balloon, make sure you use enough layers (at least 3 or more) or replace the newspaper with thicker paper (like normal white paper) and be sure to let it dry completely before removing the balloon. If not, the balloon may drag the paper inward and create dents when it's popped.

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