Molding Burlap?

[SethJohnson]

Hey there,
I want to mold burlap into a fixed shape for a mask, but I'm not sure how to do this exactly.

When I googled things about it, some teacher said her students dipped burlap into modge podge shite and molded it however. Would this work? Anything better?

Thanks
-Seth

[WesScog]

Modge Podge is a brand of glue that is commonly used in paper mache.

There are many paper mache recipes available, and all of them have different strength, but the most common usually share the ingredients of a little flour flour, white glue, and water.

If I was going to use it to form a mask, I would shape the mask out of clay, get a tray of white glue and water, dip some news paper in it then just lay it onto the shape I formed.

You don't have to use burlap, most common, cheaper materials like newspaper are very common to use in mache'ing, so check that out, might save you some money.

[gryphern]

Half white glue and half water mix applied and worked in a little to the back of the burlap. (this is also the recipe for killer mohawks a foot tall or taller.)
Take newspaper, wad it up into balls.
Tape a bunch of newspaper balls together until you have a rough shape of your mask.
Set the burlap over the newspaper form to dry out over night. It will dry in the same shape you lay it out as. Because the glue is water based you can spritz the burlap with water and reposition it if it dries with a crinkle you don't want or something.

One thing I've done to shape canvas fabric is to dip it in starch powder, or spray the heck out of it with starch spray. Starch, as in laundry starch for stiff collars and well-pressed pants. It won't give you the same control as white glue, and you can't get it wet, but is an option for controlling fabrics.

Why I don't use flour for paper mache anymore: Years later you discover moths are eating your creation.

[klick123]

You can use chicken wire, or armature wire if you want.

I've seen for halloween people using Monster Mudd. After you put it on the burlap it dries to look like stone. This is for statues, though, so it probably won't help unless you want that look.

[SethJohnson]

Cool, Thanks for the help guys