How to Make Paper Clay

Paper clay is a cheap and convenient shaping material made from toilet paper, glue, and a few other materials. Paper clay can be used in place of strips of paper mache for a smoother, more natural finish. It only takes you 5 minutes to make paper clay, and it will dry to form a floating surface that you can paint on.

Table of Contents

Making paper clay

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Concentration of raw materials. To make paper clay, you’ll need toilet paper and some materials available at the hardware store. This recipe will create smooth, flexible clay that you can build on any ready-made model. It will dry into a hard surface that you can paint or varnish. You will need the following materials: ^{[1] X Research Source}

1 roll of single-layer toilet paper (one without lotion, fragrance, or colorant)
1 cup pre-mixed crevice sealant (buy “regular”; don’t buy powder.
3/4 cup PVA glue (craft milk glue)
2 tablespoons mineral oil
1/2 cup white flour
2 large bowls
Electric mixer
Measuring cup

Remove the toilet paper from the core. You can push the entire roll of paper out of the cardboard core to get rid of the mess instead of pulling the paper out. Put the toilet paper roll in a bowl.

Pour water into the bowl. Pour water over the roll of paper until the paper is soaked with water. Submerge the roll of paper in the water to make sure it is all wet.

Squeeze the toilet paper and put the pulp in a separate bowl. Tear the paper into smaller cubes (2 cm or smaller) so that it can be pressed as drained as possible. Place the pulp in a separate bowl to mix with the other ingredients. Keep doing this until you squeeze out all the toilet paper.

Measure out 1.5 cups of toilet paper. One roll of toilet paper is usually equivalent to 1.5 cups of paper waste. If the brand of toilet paper you use has rolls that are too small or too large, the resulting residue may be more or less. You need to add or remove enough 1.5 cups of paper pulp in the bowl.

Add remaining ingredients. Place 1 cup pre-mixed crevice plaster, 3/4 cup craft glue, 2 tbsp (30 ml) mineral oil 1/2 cup white flour.

Do not substitute these ingredients with other types. Different glues, oils, and powders can change the texture of the paper clay and may not yield the desired results.

Use paper clay

Prepare the model. Paper clay is used as an alternative to the strips of paper mache that are usually dipped in water and glued to the model with steel wire or paper tape. Paper clay is used in a similar way but will create a sharper and more professional surface. Prepare the model to make paper clay. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Use your finger or a knife to spread clay over the model. Paper clay is easy to spread as thin as cake frosting, and you can spread it directly onto the model for a smooth finish. Cover the model as you would when using mache.

If you want the clay to thicken and shape by hand, follow the instructions above – add flour to the mixture. Use your fingers, a spoon or any other tool to coat the model with paper clay.
Wait for the first layer to dry. The clay will begin to harden into a hard outer shell that you can add more layers to.

Add more layers of clay. Apply more clay where you want the model to look thicker. Continue to apply the clay layer, wait for it to dry and add more if necessary. You can add as many layers or as several layers to the model as you want. The more layers that are applied, the heavier the model is.

Create details with fingers or other tools. For example, if shaping a face, the paper clay material will help you add small details around the eyes, nose, and mouth. Continue shaping with your fingers or other tools until you are satisfied with the result. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Wait for the clay to dry completely before painting. After 1-2 days, the clay will be dry and hard as a rock. Do not color or polish if the clay is not completely dry. Paper clay goes well with any paint and varnish you want to use.

Store paper clay in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out. If stored in an airtight container, paper clay can be used for weeks.

Advice

Paper clay is best suited as a backfill material for ready-made models.
Roll the rolling pin on the dish tray, as the water will run straight down the sink as you roll on the paper. This will be more convenient than pressing paper, and also more evenly.

Warning

Remember to store the clay in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out.

Things you need

1 roll of single-layer toilet paper (one without lotion, fragrance, or colorant)
1 cup pre-mixed crevice sealant (buy “regular”; don’t buy powder.
3/4 cup PVA glue (craft milk glue)
2 tablespoons mineral oil
1/2 cup white flour
2 large bowls
Electric mixer
Measuring cup

Steps

Making paper clay

Use paper clay

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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