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Making Paper Mache is very easy to do. It has it's origins in the French words 'papier mache' which means mixed or mashed paper. The idea is to mix pieces of paper with water based glue and create different designs which you paint and varnish to finish.

You can use powder glue or wallpaper paste you mix with water which you can buy from most stationers, newsagents and arts and crafts shops. Or you can make the glue using flour and water by mixing 1 cup of flour with 5 cups of water and boiling for a few minutes until the mixture is runny. Sieve the flour first and make sure there aren't any lumps.

Thin strips of paper are best to use for your project. Just cut up old newspapers or old notebook papers and add them to your glue. Leave like this for about half an hour.

A very simple way to start is to use a blown up balloon. Let's make a small vase or bowl. Use a medium balloon. Get your strips of soaked paper and start adding them to the balloon. You have to apply about 10 layers at least or until the mould is at about 1 inch in thickness. Leave a space at the top of the balloon in a circle for the opening of the vase or bowl. Pop the balloon with a sharp object and carefully cut around the top of the vase or bowl in an even line. Then leave to dry.

Once your vase is completely dry you're ready to paint it. Of course, professional Paper Mache artists will show you different paints you can use and often use emulsion based paints or water based acrylics and always 'seal' their projects first using an emulsion or household paint. But for our purposes here just use poster paints. Color your vase or bowl how you want. Use a few different colors or just one depending on the design you want to create. To finish wait until the paint is dry and varnish with a non soluble varnish.

You can make lots of different designs with Paper Mache and use other materials and recycled goods like cardboard, wire, and other objects.

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