How to make Paper Mache Paste

 With Halloween right around the corner, I have paper mache projects coming out of my ears! There is something about this playful holiday that just brings out the folk-art in me. In the next so many weeks I will be sharing various tutorials but thought that I would share two different recipes that it takes to get started. Most of you have done some sort of paper mache during your time, but here is the paste recipe that I use to make basic forms:

Paste Recipe

2 Cups Cold Water

3/4 Cup flour

2 Tbsp. Sugar

Step 1: Boil 1 cup of water in sauce pan. While that is heating up, mix remaining cup of cold water with flour.

 When water comes to a boil, pour in the flour mixture. Turn heat to medium-high and stir occasionally until it comes to a rolling boil. After boiling, mix constantly for 1-2 minutes, or until it thickens and turns a slightly translucent white.

 Paste should be thick but still drip slowly from whisk (it will thicken more as it cools). Turn off heat and mix in the sugar. Let it stand until it cools enough to work with. 

 This paste can be used in many ways, but generally, it is used to make basic mache forms that can be either left alone or used as a base for other projects. Like you may remember from grade school, you take strips of newspaper, cover them with paste, and cover your form with several layers of paper mache fun. Hot dog!!!

 Stay posted for another recipe before we get the Halloween projects started!!!!!
Linked to: Southern Lovely, Yesterday on Tuesday, Tatertots and Jello