Papier Mache Projects Techniques Pull-Out Designs
Forget the cold, wet, eeeuw; the glue; the black-smudged strips of newspaper; the mummified ballons.
In Papier Mache, Juliet Bawden, a student of textile art and author of three other crafts books, conjures up fantastic fruit platters, stunning gold vases, mobiles, mosaics, brooches and birds—all crafted from paper and glue. All sorts of papers. All sorts of glues. Pretty tissues for translucent colors. Brown craft paper for strength. Wallpaper paste for sturdiness and a fistful of sawdust for texture.
Bawden shows how to finish these blank canvases of chickens and urns with gold leaf, sea shells, and most beautifully of all, vibrant paints. The techniques are simple, designed for beginners, and templates are included in the back to make the process even easier.
Bawden is British, and some of her terms may confuse American readers who might have to think twice before realizing a “liquidizer” is a “blender,” and “white emulsion” is, well, I’m still not certain. But that doesn’t get in the way of executing any of these delightful projects. The artwork is gorgeous and inspiring. And the craft goes so far beyond what we all learned in third grade. I had no idea what you could do with yesterday’s news and a little glue.
Bawden includes step-by-step procedures for 16 projects, and the tools, techniques and ideas to keep on going.
Reviewed by
Paige St. John
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
