Making paper mache

[Booldawg]

Got to knock up a 'bird' outfit for my daughters school play. I thought about inflating a balloon and wrapping it in paper mache to do for the head.

Whats the best glue to use for the paper mached? I thought about a sachet of wallpaper paste - would that be ok?

[jomifl]

Wallpaper paste contains a fungicide which is a mercury compound, not a good idea! Use PVA available almost everywhere, might need to dilute it a bit with water, say 50%. Paper based cat litter makes good papier mache, my wife won gold and 1st place for a mask made from cat litter at the New Fores Show.

[RATTER15]

As a child, we made our own glue by mixing a little flour with the water.

[Canary42]

I must endorse jomifl's post - wallpaper paste these days is dangerous stuff (unless you can get non-fungicide paste which isn't easy). Flour and water is good enough IMO.

[Booldawg]

thanks all, maybe ditch the paper mache one. Rowans link on how to make a mask looks fairly easy. Just hope they sell all that stuff at our local craft shop!