Repsol YPF

 
The most reliable proof of this, are the well-known papier mâché sculptures or Fallas, made using this technique. Here are a few simple, fun suggestions, although you can make almost anything, you just need some imagination and a willingness to work.
 
A colourful flower in a pot
 
- Cardboard
- A large plastic cup
- A wooden or paper stick
- Newspaper
- Plaster
- White glue
- Temperas
- Paintbrushes
- Varnish
 
You can make any kind of flower; a daisy, an iris, an orchid or any other plant. Firstly, you draw two large leaves, a flower and a circle the size of the neck of the vase on the cardboard. Stick the different pieces together using the glue, so that the flower is assembled.
 
In order to ensure that the plant is stuck well to the pot and to give it stability you can put a blob of clay or plasticine at the bottom of the cup, or even some small stones. Nevertheless, the round cardboard base will be stuck to the pot with glue. The base of the stick will also be covered in glue and then you make a groove in the cardboard base in order to attach it firmly. If the stick is longer, you can push it to the bottom of the pot, so that it will be more stable.
 
Once you have made the skeleton of the plant, you let the glue dry and then you can add layers of paper strips covered in paste. You will need at least two layers. When the first layer is completely dry, you apply the second. The bigger the pieces of paper, the rougher the work will look.
 
For a smoother finish, you will use smaller pieces. To ensure that you do not lose the shape of the flower and leaves, you press the paper firmly around the edges. The mixture of glue and water should not be too thin. In order to make the finished product more solid, it is advisable to alternate the direction of the paper strips, putting some perpendicular to the others. The more layers of paper there are, the more solid and harder it will be. Once the strips of newspaper have dried, they will be hard thanks to the glue.
 
This is when you apply the primer, in this case, acrylic plaster which will give it a uniform, white finish, ideal for painting on. Once the layers of plaster have dried, the design can be painted. In this case, it can be done with temperas. They are paints which are very easy to use since they dissolve in water.
 
The right paintbrushes are those used for painting with watercolours. Once the flower has been painted, it is left to dry and then you add shading, or different tones of colour. You leave it to dry once again and finally add a layer of transparent varnish.
 
A horse, a cow or a little pig made out of papier mâché
 
- Oasis
- Plaster
- Newspaper
- White glue
- Temperas
- Paintbrushes
- Varnish
- Asphalt
 
In order to make a suit of armour you can either use wire or metal rods. However, in this case we are going to make it with a light, soft material, and then cover it with papier mâché.
 
This material is sponge of the sort used for flower arrangements. It can be found easily, in florists or in handicraft shops. You draw the shape of a horse on it and then cut it out. The first layer of plaster is applied to this base, as the sponge will not hold the paper without this initial priming.
 
Then you apply the paper soaked in paste to the horse shape and leave it to dry. Once it is dry, you add several layers of paper. As you add the strips of paper, you attach the legs, and support them with paper soaked in glue paste. The details, the ears and the tail, are cut out of cardboard and then covered with paper and glue. Once it is dry, you must add two coats of plaster, leaving it to dry between coats.
 
Finally, you sketch the main lines which will act as a guide in order to add the eyes, the mane and the mouth, and you paint it.  You can paint with temperas or add the details with permanent marker pens. If you want to obtain a distressed finish, so it looks like an old toy, you apply asphalt mixed with a little turpentine to tone down the colour. Once it is dry, you apply varnish to protect the colours.
 
On this occasion we have made a horse, but the technique is the same for any other animal, or any other kind of figure.