Paper Mash

Recently, my mom and I spent two thriving weeks in Italy, more specifically in Venice, Rome and Florence (with a small stop in the beautiful town of Pisa).
I say "thriving" because I was constantly on the move; seeing sights, walking through crowded narrow streets, window shopping, hunting for food stuffs, bribing dinosaurs, confronting Santa Claus, fighting off a Zerg rush.
Well, I didn't do all of those things, but I certainly did go sightseeing! I didn't go windsurfing on any gondolas and I didn't eat a €20 plate of spaghetti and meatballs (I'm not that adventurous), but one thing during my stay in Italy certainly has a special place in my mind.
Of course, several things I had witnessed during my stay in Italy have special places in my mind, like my first visit to the opera and... my first visit to the opera, but this thing which I'm referring to is something temporarily very special.

"Rigoletto" by Giuseppe Verdi. Did I mention it was my first visit to the opera? It was.

After seeing all the delightful masks in Venice, I made a firm promise to myself to try my own hand at making a mask out of Paper Mache. Does it sound expensive? Certainly not. Does it sound fun? Yes, it sure does. Does it sound like I haven't the foggiest notion how to make one? Absolutely.

Pshaw. Piece of cake.

After returning home from Italy, I nestled in front of my computer screen the next few days - correction, weeks - playing new flash games, watching movies and reading the latest news. BUT, I also remembered the promise I had made in Italy and I looked up some info on Paper Mache and how to make masks using it. Masks like the Venetian masks from, well, Venice. My first thoughts were making elemental masks - a bright orange fire mask that looks like fire, for instance. Then I realized that that's a stupid and complex idea. I thought of making a mask like some famous super hero or character. Then I realized that that's an unoriginal...act of copying something. I also considered making a cute or perhaps realistic animal mask. Then I realized that I don't want that. So, I settled on the next best thing, namely, making a Venetian mask that resembles a Venetian mask. Crazy, right?

Yes, I actually saw Na'vi masks in Venice. What's with the Avatar craze?!
You people should be crazed by Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World :)

I bookmarked a few interesting sites, and then completely ignored the entire project and classified it under 'failed', thus wasting my time doing time-wasting stuff on the internet and in Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Like following people around and then reporting to some crazy dude. In Oblivion, I mean; not on the internet. ¹
On the 7th of September, however, I solemnly vowed to start crafting the next day. As today is the 8th of August, I've actually started crafting. And guess what? It's easier than I thought it would be! Yayhahaha!

Technically, I haven't really started honest-to-goodness crafting yet. But whatever I've done today resulted in huge success. It's hard to overstate my satisfaction!


The adventure begins. First things first, I clean the table upon which I plan to create my godly Paper Mache mask. It happens to be the island counter in my kitchen; ergo I throw all the kitcheny stuff off of it, except for a cutting board,some knives, bowls and some other stuff I doubt I will need but am too lazy to clear from the counter. After sponging it thoroughly (read: once) and then wiping it, I place all the things I think I'll need to begin my quest.

From Left to Right: A bottle of white non-toxic glue, a pair of scissors, a glue-brush, an empty pitcher, a pitcher with water, an odd object of curiosity, a white sheet of paper, slightly old newspaper (one careful owner), box of aluminum foil.

As you may have noticed in the above photo, somewhat in the center of the table lies an odd object of curiosity. Namely, an aluminum foil mold of my face. How did I do that? I took a long sheet of aluminum foil and pressed it against my face.² Oh, the wonders of simplicity.

It's easier when another person is helping you with the aluminum mold of your face. For a thicker mold, use a double layer of aluminum foil (using the same sheet).
You're probably wondering as to why you simply can't glue the paper straight onto your face. Okay, you're probably not wondering that; but I sure was. After browsing various Paper Mache DIY-guides, I came to the logical conclusion that gluing paper onto your face, even with non-toxic glue or flour paste, is all kinds of stupid, not to mention uncomfortable (unless you apply some sort of cream or something onto your face, like HeadOn or white Vaseline or Bacon grease or something). Some people, however, avoid putting anything onto their face whilst making a Paper Mache mask. They use - instead of their faces - balloons, plates, bowls, and other such objects and simply mold a face onto them. You can do that if you want to, but I've seen some of those balloon-like masks and they subtly remind me of balloons. Unless you are a skilled sculptor or a person more talented than I am, I don't recommend using anything other than a person's face (or something that strongly resembles a person's face) as a base to put your aluminum foil and/or glued paper strips on. If you have a ready-made plaster mold, chances are you don't even have to bother reading any of this. And you can probably use that plaster mold to directly apply the Paper Mache. Statues work great too. If you already have a mask and want to use that as a base/mold, it's up to you; if you manage to harmlessly press aluminum foil against it, that's awesome. Frankly, I'm not an expert (in anything) and my fingers are like a nervous, ignorant filibuster - they take a long time to get anything done, regardless how badly, and they usually end up worsening another person's financial situation. In other words, I'm clumsy like heck. But, like Ms. Frizzle always said: "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"

I can't believe I just quoted from that show...


Still on the first level of 'Life: The Game: Paper Mache edition", I proceed to put on a plastic apron in order to protect my beautiful clothing and a hairnet to protect my beautiful hair from falling into any glue. That would be terrible. Nay, that would be disastrous. Truly.
If you are wearing longe sleeves whilst creating a mask, I advise you to roll up those sleeves of yours. Unless, of course, you wish to see how much of a mess your tidy little fingers can create. I sure did see mine. Ahem.
Moving on, I prepare the white glue and water mixture. I was very close to making a flour paste, but then I learned that Paper Mache ...um...stuff...made with Flour Paste may actually attract bugs. And there are already plenty of bugs hiding in corners as it is. And I hate bugs. However, I have no aversion to white glue.

One part glue, two parts water. Or something.

Just mix glue and water, and act according to your senses. That's what I did, and it worked out fine. Only, I don't recommend making too much at once. It's better to simply add more glue or water (or both) later than only once in the beginning of the project. Why? That's a good question.

Anyways, I then took a large sheet of plain, white paper and ripped it up in strips and small shreds. I brushed glue onto them (I work quite neatly, as a matter - oh who am I kidding...) and placed them onto the aluminum "mold" of my face. This took some time for me, as it was my first time of... experiencing this sort of enriching process of creation.

I used the little wooden stick to mix the glue, and the paper towel to dry my brush and stick. By the way, I just love Oxford commas.

You may be thinking as to why the mask doesn't have any eye, nostrils or mouth holes and seems pretty...bumpy and uneven, to say the least. That's because I'm planning on smoothing it out later, once I've applied a few newspaper layers onto it, and I'll cut out all the necessary holes and cut off all unnecessary paper later on. I'll add small but important features like slightly wider nostrils and lips, among other things, using toilet paper later on as well, as one of the last Paper Mache-involved steps. Firstly, you need this white layer. One is sufficient (apparently).
After applying all this stuff onto the aluminum foil, I faint from exhaustion.
Just kidding ³! I let it dry for an hour or thereabouts. After dinner (for I started this whole project rather late in the afternoon), I take up the first part of my mask and examine it.

Yep

That's a mask. It's a mask if I ever saw one. Yessiree-bob, that sure is some mask. I bet it will look gorgeous once I put 15 layers of newspaper, two layers of white paper and a coating or two of paint on it.
For some reason a wave of apathy and discouragement came over me and I sat for the rest of the evening in front of my computer, watching QI, The Two Ronnies and Tommy Cooper clips on Youtube.

And that concludes day 1 of my Paper Mache project. Tune in for day 2, which I will post in the near future (within the following few days, hopefully), for my adventures with sticky newspaper and more apathy. Don't worry. I promise you will a happy ending :)

I hope I'll have one...



¹ I've decided about half a year ago to pick up Oblivion and start playing it. I'm a late gamer. 'Late' as in 'I play games usually a few years after they come out' late.

² Caution! If you're following the steps I've taken into creating a mask, remember that I'm quite inept and have a wise adult to help me when the going gets tough. If you're going to press aluminum foil against your face, please go about it safely and make sure that you can breathe fine (through your mouth; the foil will likely block your nostrils). I wouldn't want you to suffocate under all that metal.

³ No, really, I am.