Making A Pumpkin Mask, Pt.2 Applying The Paper

About

You Will Need (10 things)

Steps (13 steps, 480 minutes)

1. 1

   Hello! After completing part 1 you should have something similar to the form in the photo. This is the base that will be used to build the papier mache on. You will need the form and the rest of your materials. Before you start you should cover your work area with a towel or drop cloth because this will be messy. You might also prefer to wear rubber gloves. Sometimes the flour paste dries out my hands.

2. 2

   You will need lots of strips of newspaper and tissue paper. I like to use a metal ruler (in this photo though I used a small cutting mat) on top of my paper to tear even edges. I don't measure, but I usually do 1" by 5/6" strips. For some parts of the pumpkin (the stem for example) you will likely need smaller strips, but you can tear those as you need them. Have a big pile of paper strips? Okay...

3. 3

   The towel is down, I have an extra towel for wiping my hands or getting splatters. My gloves are ready, the paste bowl is there (this bowl is not mixed--mixing is very important), the strips are within reach , and the form is elevated on a plastic bowl. When I make flour paste, I like to use a shallow bowl that I can easily get my hand into. You can start with a 1:1 ratio for the paste (just flour and water) and go from there. It needs to be mixed well; no lumps. I like it to be the consistency of runny pancake batter. The other step that I like to do at this point is to rough up my paper strips. I pull them all apart from each other and crumple them in my hand. They just tend to stick together and they take the paste better after being crumpled.

4. 4

   Now you can start applying. I go from the top down. I try to go at least halfway or a little farther down the side of the pumpkin. I start in the creases (where the tape and twine are) at the base of the stem and I press the paper down. I do all the creases around the pumpkin first and then I fill in the sections (top and sides to center). I try to create an even edge around the bottom. Once I finish this part I go back up and wrap the stem. I usually need smaller pieces for the stem. It's important to overlap the paper as you apply it. You don't have to follow my process for applying the paper, but I do it so I can keep track of my layers and create an even surface.

5. 5

   Okay, You applied the paper evenly as far down as you could and then you covered the stem. Let that dry for 24 hours and then move on to the next step.

6. 6

   Now you should have this (plus a circle on the center of the bottom that you drew in part one). The pumpkin is flipped over resting in the bowl (the bowl should be large enough to accommodate the stem so it isn't smashed and the pumpkin isn't rolling around). Set up your work area and mix more flour paste. Cover this area the same as the top half, but use your circle as a guide. apply paper just past the line of the circle.

7. 7

   The guide line for the opening.

8. 8

   paper applied to the bottom of the form using the guideline. It is important to have an overlap between the upper and lower layers. This needs to dry completely. I repeat this process until I have 3 layers of newspaper. It is important for each layer to dry completely before flipping the pumpkin. You could dent the surface if you don't wait for the layers to dry completely or the entire form might stay wet.

9. 9

   This is a good time to fix any flat spot that you don't like. I look the pumpkin over and circle the areas I want to fix. Then I apply some glue to the spot and ball up some newspaper and soak it in paste. I pile it on the flat area and then cover over the mound with paper strips. Make your repairs and let them dry.

10. 10

    Finish with a solid layer of tissue paper. I like to do this to sort of clean up the surface. Allow it to dry completely and you should have something similar to the photo.

11. 11

    Imagine the pumpkin in this photo is dry because yours should be. Re-draw your bottom circle and then use a box cutter, Exacto knife, etc. to carefully cut out the bottom. I like to hold the pumpkin when I do this. Also, be patient, it will most likely take several passes to cut through the bottom. Once that part is free, pull it away. You should have a circle cut in the bottom. Maybe part of the bag is cut and maybe some of the twine is cut, maybe not. Use scissors to cut through the twine and open the bag.

12. 12

    Pull everything out. It's going to be messy. You will have dust and crumbs. The toilet paper roll will stay in place in the stem, but the bag, tape, and twine will come out. I like to shake out the crumbs too.

13. 13

    Bonus photo! My cat likes to check it out. Yes, this came out of a pumpkin form. Now you should have a solid paper pumpkin.