Paper Mache'?

Question

So my sister and I tried to paper mache a cardboard structure that she had made and after about an hour of our first application it has started to collapse. Is there any way to salvage this project? HELP!!!

Answer 1

You don't say how thick the cardboard of the the "cardboard structure" is, or what kind or size of structure you're referring to, and you don't say what type of liquid you used for your papier mache or how many layers you used, etc.... so it can be hard to recommend things.

First, remember that the water in the liquid you're using will soften cardboard if the porous cardboard gets *really wet*, and it can also dissolve any non-permanent glue that might have been used at the joins of the cardboard structure.  

So you might want to first reinforce the joints of the structure in some way (preferably with a strong waterproof tape or glue, or reinforce the shape by stuffing the inside with wadded newspaper, or scrunched aluminum foil, or something), and also try not to get the cardboard so wet when macheing it.  You can do that by applying just one layer of the papier mache then letting it dry before adding other layers, and/or using a *thicker* liquid on your strips (e.g. not thinning your white glue as much, or not thinning your flour-water mixture too much) and also removing as much of the liquid adhesive as possible before applying to the structure.  Once you build up a dried layer, the cardboard below will be more protected (especially if you've used a thinned *permanent* white glue, like Elmer's GlueAll, as your liquid adhesive).  

You can also just paint the original, porous cardboard structure with an acrylic paint, or with slightly thinned down permanent white glue, then let dry, either of which will seal the cardboard so that the water from the papier macheing can't reach it.

If you can, try to reshape the structure then support it with tape or with stuffing, etc., then try doing more layers of the papier mache the way I mentioned above (leaving the supports in place while drying), or you might even be able to remove the papier mache you added the first time then do the papier macheing again.

HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 2

Papier mache is best done over a metal base (wire, chicken wire, etc). If cardboard was your base, you are adding a water mixture to it and it's getting soggy and will not hold up. Perhaps wrapping the cardboard with duct tape first and then adding the papier mache to it will help. Otherwise you will have to start over with a new base, unfortunately. :(