what is the best paper mache' recipe that you have tried. Also what are some cool links to use it? ideas?

Try this one.

No - mod podge won't hold plastic together - it has to soak in.

Hi:

Here are some paper mache recipes with my favorite listed first:

Paste

1 cup cold water

1 cup flour

2 1/2 cups boiling water

1 T. powdered alum

3/4 tsp. oil of wintergreen

Mix the cold water and flour together, stirring until smooth.

Add the boiling water and mix well. Pour the mixture into the top of a double boiler.

Cook over low heat until smooth. Add the alum and stir.

Remove from heat. When the mixture is cool, add the oil of wintergreen.

===========================================================

Paper Mache Recipes:

Use one of these 3 Paper Mache Recipes:

Recipe 1/ Ingredients: Flour,water,paper

Stir three parts water into one part flour until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

To make the paste last longer, add a few drops of oil of Wintergreen. (optional) You can buy this oil at a drugstore.

Stir well and the paste is ready to use.

Now you need paper- newspaper works well!

Dip each piece of paper in the liquid mixture and apply it one piece at a time to form your shapes.

Recipe 2/ Ingredients: Wallpaper paste,water,paper

Buy some wallpaper paste at a hardware store.

Mix one part wallpaper paste with three parts water.

Stir well and the paste is ready to use.

Now you need paper- newspaper works well!

Dip each piece of paper in the liquid mixture and apply it one piece at a time to form your shapes.

Recipe 3/ Ingredients: Glue,water,paper

Mix two parts white glue with one part warm water.

Stir well and the Paste is ready to use.

Now you need paper-newspaper works well!

Dip each piece of paper in the liquid mixture and apply it one piece at a time to form your shapes.

===========================================================================================

To make the paste:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups cold water

2 cups boiling water

3 tbsp. sugar

Mix together flour and cold water in a bowl. Add this mixture to the boiling water and allow it to return to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar. As the mixture cools it will thicken as it does.

You can also just make a quicky paste by putting flour in a bowl and adding water until you have kind of a soupy paste.

If you're planning to make something you want to last for years and years, be aware that flour paste can get moldy, especially in humid environments. You might want to try using powdered wall paper non-pourous adhesive (Note: please read waring on carton) mixed with water. It comes in milk carton type containers and you can find it anywhere wallpaper is sold.

Be sure to cover your work area with lots of newspaper or wax paper - papier mache can get very messy!

To make your shape:

Tear (don't cut) narrow strips of newspaper or newsprint. Narrower strips work best when using a rounded mold... for flat or rectangular surfaces, larger strips are ok. Dip the strips into the paste, coating completely. As you lift the strip out, run it between your thumb and forefinger to squeeze out excess paste. Then drape the strip across your mold. Overlap strips slightly as you go - the torn edges will blend together and your final product will have a smoother finish. You may need more than one layer of paper. It's best to allow each layer to dry before putting another on - this means some projects could take several days!

Here are some websites :

http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Visual_Arts/Sculpture/Pa...

http://www.geocities.com/toddlermoms/pap...

http://home.eol.ca/~props/recipes.html...

http://kids.creativity-portal.com/d/reci...

http://www.make-stuff.com/kids/papier_ma...

http://www.planetpals.com/papermache.htm...

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/paperma...

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/...

http://www.homeschoolzone.com/pp/crafts/...

http://www.recipestogo.com/childsticky/c...

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,pa...

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/recipes-for-k...

http://www.kinderart.com/kitchen/machepu...

.

http://www.geocities.com/toddlermoms/pap...

http://www.planetpals.com/papermache.htm...

http://www.make-stuff.com/kids/papier_ma...

http://www.abcteach.com/babysit/joann/pa...

familycrafts.about.com/od/pape...

www.fakefruit.com/Projects/Fre...

www.papiermache.co.uk

www.kidsturncentral.com/crafts...

www.fakefruit.com

www.avesstudio.com/Products/Pa...

www.creativepapermache.com/pro...

www.princetonol.com/groups/iad...

www.dltk-kids.com/animals/pape...

www.kids-fun-and-games.com/pap...

deltacrafts.com/Projects/Craft...

www.michaels.com/art/online/pr...

www.creativepapermache.com

www.craftbits.com/viewArticle....

for tv craft website that got this :

http://www.hgtv.com/ - type paper mache in there search box

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/crafts... tpe paper mache in the search box

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/paperma..

Here one I got off the net:

Paste

1 cup cold water

1 cup flour

2 1/2 cups boiling water

1 T. powdered alum

3/4 tsp. oil of wintergreen

Mix the cold water and flour together, stirring until smooth.

Add the boiling water and mix well. Pour the mixture into the top of a double boiler.

Cook over low heat until smooth. Add the alum and stir.

Remove from heat. When the mixture is cool, add the oil of wintergreen.

Here some books on it that you can pick up at any bookstore or library:

Papier Mache

by Deri Robins

Papel Mache

by Juliet Bawden, Diane James, Juliet Bawden, Jon Barnes (Photographer), Diane James

Paper Crafts: 50 Extraordinary Gifts and Projects, Step by Step

by Gillian Souter, Gillian Souter

Creating with Papier-Mache

by Victoria Seix, Victoria Seix, Victoria Seix

Papier Mache: An Introduction to the Art of Modeling in Paper

by Peter Rush

The Papier Mache

by Ray Gibson, Cheryl Evans (Editor), Fiona Watt (Editor)

Papercraft: Paper-Making and Paper-Mache

by Lynette Silver

Paper Mache

by Dorling Kindersley Publishing

Dollmaking with Papier MâChé and Paper Clay

by Doris Rockwell Rockwell Gottilly

Contemporary Craft of Paper Mache: Techniques - Projects - Inspirations

by Helga Meyer, Carol Taylor (Editor)

Paper and Fabric Mache: 100 Imaginative and Ingeneous Projects to Make

by Dawn Cusick

Paper Mache

by Miranda Innes - An execellent book on the subject

Papier Mache Fun

by Irene Lassus, Marie-Anne Voituriez

Papier-Mache

by Renee F. Schwarz, Renee F. Schwarz (Illustrator)

The Complete Book of Papercrafts: 26 Step-by-Step Projects to Make from Paper

by Susan Penny, Martin Penny (Editor), Martin Penny

Fanciful Paper Projects: Making Your Own Posh Little Follies

by Sandra Evertson

Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Paper Casting

by Arnold Grummer, Mabel Grummer

Paper Mache

by Alex

125 Papercrafts Projects: Step-by-Step Papier Mache, Decoupage, Paper Cutting, Collage, Decorative Effects and Paper Construction

by Lucy Painter (Editor)

Papier Mache

by Judy Balchin

Papier-Mache (Let's Create! Series)

by Dorothy L. Gibbs (Editor), Parramon's Editorial Team Staff (Photographer)

Crafts from Papier-Mache

by Violaine Lamerand

The Michaels Book of Paper Crafts

by Lark Books, Megan Kirby (Editor), Lark Books (Manufactured by)

Papier-Mache for Kids

by Sheila McGraw

ideas :

A 144 scale medevil castle, a Doll house, a pinata,waste paper basket, a chest of drawers, a candy dish, a flowerpot( if you a plastic sack for a inside liner before you add the soil), A cd holder , a Recipe box, a friendship braclet or ring, a piggy bank just to name a few thing off the top of head.

Hope this helps