Craft Recipe: Paper Mache Mash

This is a craft recipe to make paper mache mash. Paper mache mash is a cooked paper mache recipe which turns the pulp into a very soft and smooth consistency. This paper mache mash dries to a very hard and durable finish and is excellent for large paper mache projects such as parade float figures. You can even make furniture with this paper mache mash recipe by covering boxes with the mash and letting it dry! You can also use the paper mache mash with molds to make masks. It dries so hard that you can actually sand your mask or any creation to a super smooth finish.

Step 1: Gather the following ingredients and supplies to make paper mache mash: a 2 quart bowl or saucepan, old newspapers, 1/2 gallon of water, a 1 gallon pot for boiling, a slotted spoon, an electric mixer, a wire strainer, 1 cup of wheat flour (not self rising), 1 tablespoon of antiseptic mouthwash like Listerine (for preservative), sandpaper (optional), poster paints (optional), shellac or varnish (optional).

Step 2: Tear the newspaper into very small pieces or run it through a paper shredder.

Step 3: Fill the 2 quart bowl with the pieces of newspaper.

Step 4: Add the 1/2 gallon of water to the 1 gallon pot and bring to a boil.

Step 5: Add the newspaper pieces a bit at a time to the boiling water. Stir constantly so the paper does not turn into a big lump.

Step 6: Cook the paper over medium heat for about 20 minutes or until the paper fibers are broken down. Stir occasionally while cooking.

Step 7: Remove the pot from heat and let it cool until you can touch the pot.

Step 8: Beat the cooled mixture with an electric mixer until it is smooth.

Step 9: Pour the mixture into the wire strainer to strain out the excess water but do not squeeze the paper pulp.

Step 10: Return the paper pulp to the pot.

Step 11: Add the cup of flour and mix well.

Step 12: Return the pot to to stove and cook at low heat until it is stiff enough to stand in piles.

Step 13: Remove from heat and add the cinnamon oil or the Listerine and mix until well blended.

Step 14: Plop the mash onto a thick pad of newspapers and let it cool.

Step 15: Mold or model the paper mache mash as you would any modeling clay. You can use mask molds to make a mask. You can use tile molds to make tiles. You can cover jars or bottles to make vases. You can cover cardboard boxes to make furniture.

Step 16: Let your creations air dry for several days. Drying time will depend on the thickness of your creation. You can speed the drying time of small objects by drying them in the oven at 200 degrees, checking often for dryness.

Step 17: Sand your creations with sandpaper if you want a smooth finish. The you can paint if desired. You can also preserve your works of art with shellac or waterproof varnish.

Step 18: Store any leftover paper mache mash in the refrigerator in a covered container. It will keep for a long time.

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