Papier-mache egg - an original and exclusive gift for Easter

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

There are many moments in life when the question arises: "What to give a friend for the holiday?". For example, Easter. A wonderful, bright holiday, on which it is customary to present purely symbolic small souvenirs. Or the situation when a very definite theatrical mask, already drawn by the imagination, asks for a wall. But, unfortunately, the industry does not keep up with the flight of your imagination. In these and many other cases, the ancient technique of papier mâché, which originated in France at the beginning of the 16th century, and was originally used in the manufacture of dolls, can help. She came to Russia during the reign of Peter the Great, who supported crafts at the state level. In those days, even furniture was made from papier mache: chairs, beds, wardrobes and much more.

French papier mâché means chewed or torn paper. There are three basic mold making techniques:

1. Layered pasting with pieces of wet paper of a pre-selected shape. In the classical version, from several to 100 layers were performed to achieve the desired thickness and strength of the product. Used as gluestarch paste.
2. Work is carried out using prepared paper pulp. Paper torn into small pieces is soaked in hot water for a day, then boiled, squeezed out the water, dried and crushed. The resulting mixture is mixed with chalk until smooth. Then, with constant stirring, an adhesive mixture of starch paste and wood glue is introduced. The mass is poured into molds or applied in an even layer over the workpiece and left to dry completely. Depending on the thickness of the layer - from 1 to 5 days at room temperature.
3. Flat products are glued under pressure from cardboard plates.

The rest of the techniques used by masters today are derivatives of the three listed above.

The workpiece obtained by any of the described methods is puttied, then sanded with fine sandpaper or carefully cut off the irregularities with a sharp knife. After that, they must be primed with two layers of ordinary emulsion, allowing each to dry well. And decorate.

Papier-mâché Easter egg

The product can be made using the technique of layer-by-layer gluing, and also formed from paper pulp. In the latter case, the drying time will increase significantly. Today, handmade lovers often use cardboard trays from eggs to obtain mass using the second technology. Souvenir Easter eggs can be decorated using different decor techniques: decoupage, painting, quilling or any other method suggested by your imagination.

Papier-mâché egg is not limited in size, it can,for example, participate in decorating the interior, as in the photo below.

And this work is able to maintain the spirit of antiquity in any home, it is made in the technique of layer-by-layer pasting and decorated with Petrykivka painting. Here, the papier-mâché egg is varnished for extra glossy sheen. Install it on a suitable openwork tiller - and you can start collecting.

The papier-mâché egg decorated using the quilling technique looks good.

Today, any wall decoration can be made in this way, for example, such an elephant.

Of course, the technique of making papier-mâché decor items described above requires patience, perseverance and perseverance. Technology must be strictly adhered to. It would be a pity if, because of the impatient "faster", the work of the whole day was lost. But if everything went well, you had enough patience and inspiration, then the result will bring joy to you and those around you for more than one year.