Papier Mache

Of French origin, the word “papier mache” literally means chewed-up paper; in fact, the naming can be credited to the unusual appearances of the products of this art. The art involves creating structures out of paper pieces (seldom strengthened using textiles), which are stuck together using a wet paste like glue, starch or wallpaper adhesive. The crafted object solidifies after the paste dries up.

For centuries, a similar art has existed in China. It is used to make miniature dolls and extremely-detailed sculptures. The papier mache art craft was first filed as a patent by Henry Clay of Birmingham, England, in 1702. As of today, papier mache is quite a popular form of children’s entertainment. Enthusiasts of this art, whether children or adults, use papier mache to build complex structures and sculptures that appear quite similar to their original counterparts.

One of the first composite materials, papier mâché proves to be a pretty strong base to build objects such as an actual usable paper canoe. A papier mâché canoe can easily be built using multiple layers of paper, intermittent layers of cloth and loads of glue. Additional strips of wood and gunwales can be used to give the canoe a rigid structure. This canoe should be absolutely water-proofed before venturing out into the “sea”. Several other structures like papier mache mummy, papier mâché aeroplanes or gliders, etc., can be built quite easily. There are several guides and how-to books that explain the art of making papier mache. These are also available on popular online stores.