Paper Mâché Paste & Clay

'CAUSE ONCE A YEAR OR SO, YOU JUST HAVE TO WHACK SOMETHING IN THE HOPES OF BREAKING IT AND GETTING SOMETHING SWEET OUT OF THE DEAL. Workshop of: Stolloween.com

PASTE INGREDIENTS: This makes a lot! Most projects would only need half or even less.

• 6 C flour

• 1 C liquid starch (1 C boiling water + 2 tsp cornstarch premixed with a little water to keep from clumping) - or buy some liquid starch.

• 1 C white glue

• warm tap water to make runny pancake batter consistency

PASTE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Make liquid starch if making your own

2. Mix flour, starch, and glue with a hand mixer

3. Add warm tap water until thin pancake batter consistency (about 5-6 C)

4. Ready to use with the paper of your choice.

5. Do a few layers at a time and let dry. This recipe dries pretty quickly - and it pretty tough (I only do a base of three layers for pumpkins, more for pinatas).

CLAY INGREDIENTS:

• 6 C Paste (see above)

• 1 C drywall joint compound

• Cellulose Insulation

CLAY INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix paste and joint compound with electric mixer (I'm using a paint mixer attachment for a drill)

2. Add insulation until clay is firm but workable (should form a ball without cracking but still hold its shape). 

3. If too wet, add more insulation. If too dry, add more paste.