Going old school

When you don’t have a 3D printer but you want a 3D tree .. LOL ! Now that the form is ready, it’s time for a little paper mache. Quick question for anyone who has done paper mache in the past. I don’t even know where I would find a real newspaper anymore. Have any of you used paper towels? Do you think that they would work? Have you preferred flour and water over glue and water?

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Hahahha You got the same mindset as me! I wan’t to make a tree but I don’t have a 3D printer lol.

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I like your idea. I really can’t help you with the paper mache because I haven’t done it since I was a child. Sorry. Although, I think paper towels might work.

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Love your creativity using this sticks. You can use paper tissue or paper napkins :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Here is what I saw

I dont know why it is so light but you can click on picture and it will enlarge for you

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Hey…we gotta make do with what we have. When fall gives you sticks, you make them back into trees…LOL! @Tinybysiw

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I may give them a try. They are the cheap, thin ones and would absorb the glue well, I think. @Suzanne_Jones

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Tissue paper or paper towels would work but they fall apart easy and it’s a pain I the tuchus. Any kind of newspaper would work, penny saver paper catalog auto trader etc. you can find them at any place for free. I know you hate going out, but maybe even mailers in the mail?

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We can buy newsprint papers here in reams. But my husband would use any kind of paper as long as it is thin. Mix glue and water and apply as many coats as you can.
I might do the same thing for my customization. Good luck! You got this! :flexed_biceps:t2: :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Natural is always better lol. I have done paper mache in the past but was using newspaper that time.

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Thanks so much @jeanneL ! MASKING paper…of course! I have plenty of that LOL! Of course we just got a thunderstorm (YAY)…so I am not going to my truck to get any. I am going to try the paper towels, I guess.

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I made this little wire tree back in 2016, and your post reminded me of it! If you have some thin copper wire that bends easily, it’s actually pretty fun to twist the strands together into a trunk and then separate them out to form the limbs and smaller branches. You can spray paint the whole thing afterward, and you could even add a little clay or putty around the trunk to rough it up and give it more texture. :deciduous_tree:

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Those all sound like great ideas @Grey74 …but I have not even seen a mini-nickel, auto trader or any of those things in my area for AGES. Everything is online now. I did use the paper towels…and got the first layer done in about 40 minutes. Outside drying in 86 degree heat right now. :grin:

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Such a creative idea. I love it.

Flour & water tends to break down over time, and unless you seal it with come form of varnish, I have had the flour attract bugs when we used to make things for mum’s christmas displays. We switched to a wattery glue mixture, but I don’t recall the ratios.

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I like your idea. so reality

I have not seen a newspaper in a LONG time. That’s awesome that you can do so…but not here in the USA. @joy.licerio

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Good to know. I knew that you would know something about this. I have already done the first coat of flour/water paste. I appreciate your advice though. @chamelionboy

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You’re welcome. Happy to share any info I know :grin:

I definitely appreciate that.

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I’ve never done paper mache but I wish you the best of luck with your tree! I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

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