A papier-mâché egg is an original and exclusive Easter gift.

There are many moments in life when arisesquestion: "What to give to a friend for the holiday?". For example, Easter. A wonderful, bright holiday, on which it is customary to present purely symbolic small souvenirs. Or a situation when a completely definite theatrical mask drawn by the imagination asks for the wall. But, unfortunately, the industry does not have time for the flight of your imagination. In these and in many other cases, the old papier mâché technique, originated at the beginning of the 16th century in France and 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, papier mache even made furniture: chairs, beds, wardrobes, and more.

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

1. Layer wrapping with pieces of wet paperpre-selected form. In the classic version, to achieve the desired thickness and strength of the product, from several to 100 layers were performed. Starch paste was used as glue.
2. The work is carried out using preparedpaper pulp. The paper torn into small pieces is soaked with hot water for a day, then boiled, squeezed out 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 evenly over the workpiece and left to dry completely. Depending on the layer thickness - from 1 to 5 days at room temperature.
3. Flat products are glued under pressure from cardboard plates.

The remaining techniques used by the masters today are derived from the three listed above.

The blank obtained by any of the describedmethods, shpatlyuyut, then grind with fine sandpaper or carefully cut off the irregularities with a sharp knife. After that, be sure to ground two layers of the usual emulsion, allowing each to dry well. And decorate.

Papier Mache Easter Egg

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

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

А это произведение способно поддержать дух antiquities in any house, it is made in the technique of layer-by-layer pasting and decorated with Petrikov painting. Here the papier-mâché egg for extra glossy shine is covered with a layer of varnish. Install it on a suitable openwork poacher - and you can begin to collect the collection.

It looks good papier-mâché egg, decorated in the technique of quilling.

Today, such methods can make any wall decoration, for example, such an elephant.

Of course, the above manufacturing techniquePapier mache décor requires patience, perseverance and perseverance. To withstand technology must be strictly. It will be a pity if the whole day’s work is lost due to the impatient “faster”. But if everything turned out well, there was enough patience and inspiration, then the result will bring joy to you and those around you for more than one year.