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HI
I am so relieved to find this site. Firstly because i didnt even know how to make a papier mache paste ....which thankfully i do now!
But my big issue is i need to help my little girl make an iceburg!! for a school homework project. What could i use as a mould to get the shape???? any ideas pls pls pls help...the pressure is on from my 6yr old!!
Louise
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Louise, you might try carving a large chunk of styrofoam. You could also cut a cardboard box into a more angular, iceburgy shape and use masking tape to get the shape you want. Good Luck.
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Alternatively, a similar idea is to take half pages of newspaper; screw them up; pile them into the rough overall shape; cut pieces of cardboard into irregular shapes and tape them together around the mound.
Once you are reasonably happy with the overall structure, laminate with four or five layers of paper to bond it all. If you use two layers of office or printing paper (bond) followed by a layer of brown envelope or paper bag (kraft) and finish with white bond again, it should be very strong.
That's in case you don't have styrofoam (which would probably be the easiest method).
DavidO 
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what and where do i get styrofoam???
Louise
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Go to your local building supply and ask them where the sheet insulation is. It isn't true styrofoam, but it's very similar and is easier to cut and carve into shape with a serrated knife (a long one from a thrift shop is fine). It usually comes in 1", 2" and 3" thicknesses, and is two to four feet wide and six to eight feet long.
Sue
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Styro foam would be way too expensive, in my opinion. I would just use wads of newspaper and masking tape to get the shape you want. Them use wide strips (6-10 inches wide) to mache over the form. And don;t put the paper into the paste. Wet your hands thouroughly with paste and smeer it and massage it over the paper. Don't move on to the next layer until the previous layer is completely wet. By doing it this way you will avoid air-bubbles and chunks of flour which eventually rot and begin to smell bad. Putting the strips in the paste is usually a bad idea. Plus it's more fun to get your hands wet!! 
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I think Sebrink may mean 'until the previous layer is completely dry' (??)
I agree about the wads of paper rather than styrofoam, though the insulating material mentioned is very good AND much cheaper.
For the paste, if you use flour (mixed to a very smooth thin cream and brought to near boil, stirring continuously) you shouldn't get any lumps. Most workers will use roughly two thirds wallpaper paste (methyl cellulose) and one third PVA (white glue).
Rather than get a lot on your hands, you can lay torn pieces of paper on a sheet of glass (or taped plastic) and brush a thin thin coating of paste on them. Then brush another smear when you have laid them on the structure.
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No. I meant completely WET. If you wait until each layer dries it will take forever to make your piece. And by making each layer wet it ensures that no air bubbles will form. I use this technique when using flour/water paste. I wouldn't use it for glue pastes because they are so sticky.
When using white glue or wall paper paste I use a paintbrush to apply paste to both the form/mold and the paper. But I thought the "victim" here was only using flour and water!
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:shock: Duuuuuuh - OK. Understood. :oops:
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My two penneth regards the finish -
paste sheets of toilet tissue onto the iceberg. Brushing them down creates some excellent textures. Paint white. Some pale blue and the odd pale yellow wash followed by drybrushing in white until satisfied should create a pretty realistic effect.
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