Because you have more confidence in the products you make yourself, you want to use homemade papier-mâché glue. Here is the recipe and all our good advice!
If we sometimes recommend the use of wallpaper glue or glue for creative hobbies – specially designed to be used safely by children – some parents prefer to make their own glue, so as not to take any risks, using proven natural recipes. We understand them and we can only encourage this practice as the homemade recipe for eco-friendly papier-mâché glue is easy to make and, it does not spoil anything, ultra economical.
How to make glue yourself?
You will indeed only need two ingredients to develop the non-toxic and odorless glue, which will help you in all your papier mache crafts. And these two ingredients, you have to have them at home since they are water and flour. No you are not dreaming, we are talking to you about flour! Also take as material a cup, a large bowl and a pan, a little elbow grease, and you're good to go.
Step by step, here is how to make a success of the papier-mâché glue recipe:
1 / Heat 4 cups of water in a saucepan.
2 / In a bowl, mix a cup of water with a cup of flour, until you get a smooth, lump-free dough.
3 / As soon as the water begins to simmer, add the flour-water mixture.
4 / Stir with a spoon for a few minutes.
5 / When the mixture turns out to be thick enough, with a slightly viscous appearance, remove the pan from the heat.
Do not hesitate to play with the proportions a little to get the right consistency of glue: if the dough seems liquid, add a little flour. If the preparation seems too thick, then add a little water.
You will then obviously have to wait for the dough to cool before you can use it, since it will be used with your fingers. It will therefore be best to go a little early to prepare it, especially if your creative hobbies are in the company of children who are necessarily impatient! You can make it the day before or even before, because this DIY glue will keep for a few days in the refrigerator, in an airtight container. To use it again, heat it for a few minutes to soften it, possibly adding a little water.
It may take several tries to get the perfect texture, especially if you used to use commercially available glue before, but don't despair, you will, even if you are not not particularly good at DIY.
How to use papier-mâché glue?
Now that your preparation is ready, it's going to be about using it properly to make real works of art that last over time.
1 / First prepare your creative ground by protecting, for example, the dining table with a plasticized tablecloth that no longer fears anything.
2 / Then take a good quantity of newspapers and tear strips of about 5 cm wide and 10 cm long on each page, for better maneuverability. Do not hesitate to measure these pieces first to make sure they are the right size, then do it without measurement, visibly.
3 / Pour your DIY glue in a small bowl then dip each strip completely in the glue with a fairly rapid movement. Remove the excess by passing the strip between your fingers.
If your child is still a little small, you can let him sort the newspapers page after page and then carry out all these steps for him, before giving him the strips of newspaper ready to be placed on the chosen support. Otherwise, helped by your advice and tips, he should quickly find the right technique and appreciate this manual and artistic activity.
Some tips for applying newspaper strips correctly
For paper mache DIY successful every time, be sure to follow these few easy tips:
- Glue the strips on the support or the shape of your choice so that they overlap each other, over the entire surface of the support.
- Smooth as much as possible the newspaper thus glued by pressing delicately on the folds with the fingers, without ever creating tears.
- You can of course apply several layers of paper to completely cover the surface of the support first and then to correct any defects or obtain the desired shape. For a solid creation, know that it is recommended to apply at least two layers.
- Do not forget a complete drying time before possibly painting the whole if you wish. Drying for about a day is recommended so as not to have any unpleasant surprises, and perhaps even more if the weather is humid. Yes, it may seem long for children who are in a hurry to finish their masterpiece, but warn them beforehand that a papier mache activity takes time and plan other activities or games in the meantime.
> DIY: Homemade recipes for successful papier-mâché <
What object to create with papier mache?
We can create almost everything with papier mache! Of course, all you need is a structure on which to lay out the pieces of newspaper. For that, you don't necessarily need to invest in expensive equipment: you can simply look around and choose objects that surround you at home such as a simple wooden box, cardboard, paper towel rolls. or toilet paper, chicken wire arranged in a specific shape, a bottle, a mold, a tray, a basin … Everything is possible! You just need to cover the chosen structure with aluminum foil before putting the papier mache on it to remove it without leaving any traces, once it is dry.
Don't want to take the risk of damaging your decorative items? Then go to a creative leisure shop where you will be sure to find your happiness and even more! Cardboard supports in the shape of letters, animals, nest, decorations for Christmas or other, boxes, frames … Inspiration guaranteed!
You can also choose to stick papier mache on a balloon to create rounded shapes. For this, you will need to inflate and tie a balloon, apply at least two layers of newspaper on top, avoiding the knot, so that you no longer see the color of the balloon. Let dry completely before cutting the knot of the balloon.
Some decorative ideas for a papier mache object
The different ways to decorate your papier mache creations are activities in themselves, so let your imagination and that of your children speak. Apply a coat of white paint first (acrylic paint for best results) if you no longer want to see the words and images on the newsprint, then just paint with the colors you want next.
Add stickers, glitter, tassels, feathers according to the desired effect. There is no shortage of ideas for a successful decor! You will certainly find inspiration on Pinterest or on a creative blog dedicated to this type of DIY.