Tips & Tricks Friday - DIY Paper Mache Clay

I'm not sure if this counts as a tip or a trick but I felt like the luckiest person on the planet when I found this recipe, Paper Mache Clay from Ultimate Paper Mache, and hopefully it'll come in handy for you, too. I mean, let's face it, the store bought stuff can get quite expensive and there's just never enough of it. Plus, it's always more impressive when you can say, 'I made it. From scratch.' Right?!

Paper mache clay is perfect for creating art dolls, animal sculptures and even the latest design craze - antlers and faux taxidermy.

Make Your Own Paper Mache Clay

Ingredients:

1 roll of toilet paper
3/4 cup of white glue (Elmer’s glue-All)
1 cup of joint compound

*Due to recent changes in joint compound formula, Dap brand in particular, not all joint compounds will work for this recipe. If your clay is rubbery instead of creamy you'll need to use a different brand*

1/2 cup white flour
2 tablespoons linseed oil***

MAKES APPROX 1 QUART OF CLAY

Tools:

A large bowl with high sides to reduce splatter, an electric mixer, a measuring cup and a tablespoon. An airtight containter to store clay.

Note about Toilet Paper:

Your toilet paper should contain about 1 1/4 cups of paper per roll. Measure by lightly wetting paper and measuring. Angel Soft, or any 2-ply paper should do.

Step 1. Fill a high-sided bowl with warm water. Remove the toilet paper from the roll and throw it into the water. Push down on the paper to make sure all of it gets wet.

Step 2. Then pick up the paper and squeeze out as much water as you can. Pour the water out of the bowl and put your paper mass back in.

Step 3. You will want to break the paper into chunks about 1? across. This will allow your mixer to move around the pieces and break them apart.

Step 4. Add all the ingredients to the bowl and mix, using an electric mixer. The mixer will pull the fibers of the toilet paper apart and turn it into pulp. Continue to mix for at least 3 minutes to make sure all the paper has been mixed in with the other ingredients. If you still see some lumps, use a fork or your fingers (with the mixer turned off!) to break them apart, and then mix some more. The consistency should be like that of cookie dough.

Place any unused clay in an airtight container. Keeping it covered it should store 5 or more days.

***As linseed oil is drying, such as on a rag or brush, it can ignite if it gets too hot. Don't store any materials soiled with linseed oil in hot places, such as your garage - especially during hot months, to dry.