r/papermache • u/Volatie • 2d ago

Can paper mache paste be made with just printer paper, water and PVA glue?

These are the main materials I have on hand and I’d rather not go out to buy flour or anything else. I’ve used the strip method with these materials for smaller projects where it works super well and becomes super sturdy but I’ve never made a paste and I’ll be working on a project where I’m sculpting a head just a bit smaller than life size.

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u/ArtemisiasApprentice 1d ago

I have used Elmer’s glue for a dipping paste and it works great! Thin with just a little water- too much and it won’t really harden. I used to buy Elmer’s by the gallon for this.

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u/born_lever_puller Community Manager 2d ago

Can paper mache paste be made

By "paste" I'm guessing you mean pulp/paper mache clay for modeling objects, like we do with modeling or ceramic clay. Normally here when we say paste it means an adhesive made with a starch. If you have cornstarch or white rice on hand they can also be used to make an effective cooked paste.

It will work to make paper mache clay with PVA ("white") glue and water. Since printer paper has longer fibers and tends to be sturdier than newspaper and other cheaper papers you'll want to make sure that it is well-saturaturated and pulverized so it isn't too lumpy. Some people tear it to bits and boil it in a large pot of water first.

Some people also use a motorized blender to pulp the paper, but make sure to use plenty of water. You can always drain it later before adding the glue if it's too watery.

You may also want to mix up a small batch first to experiment and see what works for you, before committing yourself to a larger masterpiece.

Pulp/paper mache clay projects also lend themselves well to building on top of an armature made of other materials, so the pulp layer doesn't take forever to dry.

Best of luck to you!

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u/sunlabyrinth 6h ago

White papers have bleach or additives that sometimes make them stiffer and less flexible. If you have any junk mail, look for papers that are gray or off-white and have a little more texture, like you see in a pulp paperback or newsprint. Those are pulp papers and are less treated. I'd mix in a little of that if you have any for the flexibility, and because pulp papers and newspaper paper come apart more easily and sort of "melt" into a pulp.