So I did my first layer of paper mache and think I made my glue too thin. Some of the newspaper isn’t sticking together. Second question, I already taped my large balloons together using a very sticky pressure sensitive tape, before apply my first layer of paper mache. The vertical paper mache isnt laying flat and is gaping. Will using a new flour recipe for additional layers still be ok and keep me from starting over? And additional layers vertical/horizontal be strong enough to hold? Any suggestions are welcome. Awesome page! I am making a snowman. My first try was small and worked great..I made a ghost!
Answer from Piñata Boy
Yes, you can just add another layer of papier mâché strips on top of the faulty first one, and the new wet layer will soak into the current layer and help it to sit flatter. You might still end up with a bumpy surface, but hopefully you can hide that in the decorating. It’s also fine to tape the balloons together before applying any papier mâché, because when you pop the balloons to remove them the tape will come out with the balloons. I do that sometimes myself.
The only difference taping the balloons together first will make is that the entire snowman will be one candy compartment. When I want more than one compartment in a piñata I’ll cover each section separately with papier mâché and then attach them.
I can’t say how many horizontal and vertical layers you’ll need to reach the proper thickness for your players, you’ll just have to judge that as you go along. Just make sure it’s completely dry before you decide you’re done, because if it’s even just a little bit wet under the surface the papier mâché skin will be flexible and feel too thin, which might trick you into adding another layer when it’s not necessary. You can only really tell for sure when it’s fully dry.
Love the ghost!
Thankyou for your response. Now my snowman paper Mâché is 5 layers. I had to pop my balloons after only 3 due to balloon expansion. I heat w/wood stove and the fluctuation in home heat was too much. I have taped and applied 2 more layers. Waiting for complete drying. But I feel like the bottom of the 3.5ft snowman still feels a bit soft for all the goodies going on. My shapes is still pretty good, but definitely had some collapsing due to early balloon popping. Had No Choice. We will have to bring a portable engine hoist to our venue to have it hanging..as there is no way to hang from ceiling. Thank goodness for the hubby and his tools. Any more advice on beefing up areas. The top/bottom are only weak points.
If the bottom feels weak there are a couple ways you can strengthen it. One is to add more layers of papier mâché, but if it’s too late for that you could instead put some strips of masking tape over the weak area, forming an asterisk. Even if you have already decorated or started decorating, you can often remove some decorations, lay down the masking tape, and then decorate right over the tape to hide it.
Depending on how weak the bottom is, you could also strengthen it by taping a paper plate to the bottom, either on the inside or on the outside. Just cut a straight line from the edge of the plate to the center, then overlap the edges to give the paper plate some rounded shape so it will fit more snugly against the rounded bottom of the snowman. If you have a hole through which you can tape or hot glue this to the inside bottom of the piñata, then it won’t interfere with the decorations. If you have to attach it to the outside bottom of the snowman then tape or glue it in place and decorate over it. That approach is not as effective as laying down more layers of papier mâché, but it’s a quick and easy way to add some strength to the bottom of the piñata.