Sticky Business

 Every year about this time I begin to get crafty and design an outdoor Halloween project. This year I am repurposing cardboard shipping boxes into paper mâché monster masks. Origami folding techniques can transform cardboard into 3-D forms. Instead of folding paper, scoring with a sharp mat knife along pre-determined pencil lines helps to bend the cardboard into a creative form.

An old method of making paper mâché was a goopy mixture of flour and water and shredded newspapers. Getting your hands on old newspapers today is problematic. At the hardware store I was hoping to purchase a box of methyl cellulose which I have used in the past. This is no longer available but I was shown a new product, a pre mixed sticky solution of water and glycerol. Great.

To replace the newspapers, I purchased a roll of craft masking paper which I sliced vertically to make strips of paper. This item can be bought at the hardware store as well. Other supplies needed were masking tape, hot glue gun and a four inch brush. I had in storage Styrofoam balls and a 12" ring for creating interesting details

So here are my cardboard designs. All scored lines in cardboard have been re-enforced with masking tape and a few areas were held together with hot glue.

For the next few days, I worked covering the cardboard forms with adhesive and paper strips.  Work in sections brushing the glue in a small area, then place the paper strip onto the glued surface reworking with the brush. Continue working in other small areas until the form is completely covered. Leave to dry for a couple of days before painting them with a white base.

In a few days, I will begin designing the patterns and choosing colors to finish the creatures. Stay tuned.