Papier Mache Materials

Papier Mache Materials.

We have been making rattles using different shaped containers like the empty salt box (cylinder) and the empty gelatin box (rectangular container).

Strips of newspaper and wheat paste are the only materials besides these forms to make these hand-held rattles--oh, and a little dry rice to make the sound inside the containers!

The wheat paste I use takes a handful of flour--the regular baking kind--and about three cups of water. I use a whisk to stir the flour and the water over a stove burner until the mixture starts to boil--and when it is cool it is the consistency of thick cream--I just dip the strips of newspaper into the paste--wipe of the drippy excess between my fingers and apply the paste-soaked strips to the form.

The more layers of paper the sturdier the construction.

Tomasito, 2009


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