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Hey,
First off, thank you to Jackie, I think, the lady who does this site. It's helped me so much!
My project is a "innovative design" for a school fashion parade. The idea is to use odd materials. I've decided to try papier mache (newspaper and tissue paper) for the skirt.
I thought I'd get some bendy chicken wire, mould it into the skirt's shape and then layer on the papier mache. I was wondering whether anyone had any tips, they can be really basic! on any part of the process.
Oh, and I want the newpaper print showing, so does anyone know what I should seal it with?
Thanks, Fallyn
Email: fallyn_angell@yahoo.com
sorry, my email is fallyn_angell@yahoo.com.au
Thanks Fallyn,
I'm no expert on making costumes out of papier mache so I think there are others that could advise you better here, though I would have thought that chicken wire might make your skirt a bit heavy and sticky outy. I think I would use some wire to form the outline of the skirt and then make a frame out of lots of strips of thin card, taped togther with masking tape and then papier mached over.
If you want the newsprint to stay, a great sealer would be good old pva (white) glue. Water it down a bit and brush it on. This will protect and strenghen it at the same time.
I hope someone can give you some more help.
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I think you're on the right track with the chicken wire. If you can bend it into a cone shape with the top approximately the diameter of your waist, you can use it for an armature(frame). Glue about 6 or 8 layers of newspaper over it with your favorite glue(I like Elmer's or Ross' art paste). When dry, you can snip the chicken wire with a wire cutters, and pull it off the paper(more comfortable to wear). You can seal it with the PVA as Jackie said, or any number of varnishes-keep in mind the newspaper will yellow in a few weeks no matter what you use...AND be careful when wearing the skirt in the parade, if you trip, you may find yourself saying: "I've Fallyn and I can't get up!"
lol, actually the modelling involves standing on a box for over an hour... but nevermind that.
Thanks for the tips! I'll remember them! I'm still open to new ones though 
bye