'Speriments

I'm learning as I go, so everything is an experiment

to me. As of May 2008, I've never even been in the same

room with someone else doing papier mache so who

knows if I'm doing it right or re-inventing the wheel.

click on images to see larger ones

Landscape

Plaster Added. Rumor has it that it will dry faster. I'm interested in that plus seeing if it's more sturdy or takes paint better.

Update: You can tell the ones that have plaster as they are much whiter than the others. They are also much stronger.

Folger's Crystals added (dry) to pulp, then kneaded. The color was spread pretty evenly throughout when the skull was formed, but as it's drying, I'm seeing darker and lighter patches. Next time I think I'll let it set for awhile for the coffee crystals to completely dissolve, then knead some more. I kinda like the patchy look here, but that may not work for all projects.

Update: As it dried, the coffee spread out more and the color is more uniform. I can't tell any difference in strength.

A bag of moss bought at a dollar store. Cut up into small pieces and stuck into shaped wet pulp. A big wad was pressed against the pulp and this was all that stuck. Poking the ends in didn't work well. It looks like gluing on after pulp is dry is going to work best.

Update: It just didn't stick when pushed into the wet pulp. Maybe because it's so dry. Hot melt glue or super glue seems to work.

I love fantasy type dragons. I could easily wear only jewelry with them. This is my first attempt to sculpt one out of papier mache pulp. Knowing it would shrink some, the features were overdone, but it's looking like that still wasn't enough. All kinda sinking into itself. The texture of pm seems to me to be a perfect medium for the scaly creatures. He's 1 3/4" wide and 2 1/2" long.

Update: Once all of the drying was done, it had shrunk more evenly than expected. Guess it dries in patches?

Someone said it's very easy to sculpt with TP pulp, so I'm trying it out. The cheaper the TP, the better as it will shred more easily than the expensive brands.

More in the works.

Also see

Spooky Town Lights