Craft Recipe: Salt Paper Mache

This is a craft recipe to make salt paper mache (papier mache). Salt paper mache is a paper mache that can be molded like clay. This is a very easy paper mache mixture to make and it can be used to cover any base such as a blown up balloon or scrunched up paper or any armature like molded chicken wire or twisted wire hangers. This is a great way to recycle newspaper and turn them into works of art! Children love working with paper mache so make a batch of salt paper mache and let them get creative!

Step 1: Gather the following ingredients to make salt paper mache: old newspapers, warm water, a bucket, an electric mixer, wheat flour or white flour (not self rising), table salt, clove oil or Listerine, poster paints (optional), shellac or varnish (optional).

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

Step 3: Fill a bucket with warm water.

Step 4: Add the paper pieces to the bucket a little at a time. Stir while adding the paper so it does not form a big lump. Make sure there is enough water in the bucket to cover all the paper.

Step 5: Set the bucket aside and let it sit overnight.

Step 6: Beat the newspaper in the water with an electric mixer until it turns into a smooth pulp.

Step 7: Drain the excess water from the bucket using a strainer or cheese cloth.

Step 8: Squeeze the pulp until it is just moist. Do not squeeze it totally dry.

Step 9: Mix 1 cup of flour and 1/3 cup of salt in a bowl.

Step 10: Add 3 cups of pulp to the flour and salt mixture and mix until it is smooth and has a claylike texture. If it is too moist, you can add more flour.

Step 11: Add a drop of clove oil or Listerine to your paper mache mixture and mix well. The clove oil or Listerine will prevent the pulp from growing mold while drying.

Step 12: Make more paper mache pulp as in steps 9 through 11 until all your wet newspaper is used up.

Step 13: Use the paper mache pulp as you would any clay or use it to cover objects as you would with any paper mache project.

Step 14: Let your paper mache work of art air dry until it is completely dry and hard. This may take 3 to 5 days depending on the size of your object.

Step 15: Paint your paper mache creation with poster paint or any other paint after it is dry (optional).

Step 16: Preserve your paper mache creation by adding a coat of shellac or waterproof varnish (optional).

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