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Painting Paper Mache

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Always looking for new surfaces to paint on, paper mache offers a wide variety of shape and sizes at a very reasonable price. Paper mache to paint can be found in your local craft stores…it can even be easily bought on the internet. These various shapes can be painted for holiday use and for home decor.

Paper mache has a very porous texture. It is easy to paint with the paint adhering quickly and drying in a short time, this drying process can even be made faster with a fan or hair dryer. I have found that acrylic paints work best with paper mache and applies best with a expensive sponge brush. The most prevalent problem with paper mache is getting it too wet, this will make the piece lose it's shape.

Paint should be applied in smooth even coats and let dry thoroughly. If the paint does not dry completely, the next coat may become lumpy or pull off. Be sure to sand lightly between each coat, I like to use a brown paper grocery bag just be sure there is no print on it. Always wipe your piece with a tack cloth after sanding to remove residue.

If you only wish for the piece to have a tinted look, just water down your acrylic paint with water and follow the same steps.

After you are finished with your piece and it is completely dry use a good sealant to protect it, this can either be a brush or varnish type.

Have fun painting paper mache and experiment with a variety of faux painting finishes, stenciling, tole painting to achieve different effects. It’s an inexpensive way to make wonderful decorative items for yourself, to sell, or give as gifts.

~Debbie - Two Old Crows

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Comments

28 Jul, 2008 | dee4707

"Be sure to sand lightly between each coat, I like to use a brown paper grocery bag just be sure there is no print on it."
Are the directions saying to use the brown grocery bag to sand the piece??

02 Oct, 2007 | pi ling

hi---i use colored tissue paper to do my designs with all my papier mache pieces--it's a lot more time cosuming but i can add texture and 3d to any piece--also with the added glue your piece gets even stronger-i have yet to use paint--good crafting to all out there--peace

04 Apr, 2007 | Kristal

Hi Janie, when she said "expensive sponge brush" she probably meant to just stay away from the dollar store sponge brushes, or those ones that you get at the craft store in a pack for really cheap. I've tried using one of those before, and it practically disintegrated as I painted with it! lol
As for the 5th paragraph, it says use a brush on sealant, or a varnish to help protect the finish.

03 Apr, 2007 | Janie

On painting paper mache--Could you please check the instructions. In particular, 2nd paragraph, "apply with an EXPENSIVE SPONGE BRUSH". And Paragraph 5--"this can either be a brush or varnish type"---of What? Could you write me directly about corrections so I can get started? Thanks so much for the instructions on everything. You have the BEST SITE in the world!
Regards, Janie Parsons

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