aka papier-mâché
I’ve been experimenting with it for a few months now and by experimenting I mean jumping in with both feet with a project holding such sentimental value that failure would, quite literally, crush me.
I lost my beloved Midge on May 20, 2022 (around a month after my father’s sudden death, note). I’m fundamentally a different person on a cellular level after the year 2022 but that is a story for another time.
Miriam “Midge” Fuquea was the ultimate dog. A rescue Whippet who was equal parts tooth achingly sweet and perplexingly unpredictable. She was the kind of dog that appeared scared or very sensitive, and she could be, but that girl always, and I mean always made herself at home.
A true explorer’s heart, before I got her, she once ran off from home, traveled several miles (chasing a squirrel or some other small game, no doubt), even crossing a highway to eventually be picked up by a long haul trucker who fell in love immediately, wanting to make her his driving companion. The guy had good taste. Midge initially hated car rides, not being exposed to them early in life, so I think the extreme trembling was likely the culprit of him dropping her off at a random vet office in my hometown. My gut tells me she was at least part cat because the girl had multiple lives. If there was one thing she was going to do, it was enjoy herself.
We had a special connection. Maybe it sounds silly, but I knew what she wanted or needed simply by interacting with her and paying attention. She understood what I was communicating with her with a simple hand gesture or head nod. I could alert her to a fly swarming the window with a point from across the room and off the Fly Annihilator would go. Expertly catching and disposing of the fly with the jerk of her head. On the beach at night, her favorite activity was chasing crabs. I’d attach a light to her collar so she could see a bit better while I used a flashlight to find the crabs. All I would have to do is point in their direction and BAM.
I could go on and on, and I will. But for now, back to the project. I wanted a special place to hold her ashes. A centerpiece meant for the darling she was.
Paper mache interests me because of its economic availability. News paper, cardboard, watered down glue, some tape, maybe. You’ve got an afternoon!
Before starting, I needed a refresher on the paper mache process and best practices. I wanted this sculpture to be made to last. Corrie Beth Hogg (of CorrieBethMakes) is my go-to paper mache expert and by using her templates on Etsy, I practiced by making these wall sconces first.
I sketched out some shapes and ended up with a type of altar/ memorial shelf where I could add a light or candle component. Next, I started mapping it on cardboard and the final shape came together pretty fast at the point.
From my practice with the sconces, I learned about layering to achieve difference thicknesses, interlocking perpendicular pieces together, and how to create curved shapes with hard cardboard.
One thing I didn’t photograph but I’ve found to be crucial is layering the finished cardboard piece with masking tape before adding the paper mache. This works WONDERS for adding strength and ensuring no moisture damages the cardboard. We want these pieces to last a long time, after all! I can’t say enough about creating one of Corrie Beth’s projects first. I learned this tip and so much more.
After the cardboard structure above, I layered with masking tape, then a coat of Mod Podge and let it dry for around 3 days. I put my old copies of the NYT to work with 3 layers of paper mache. I know some use a flour mixture for the paste but I prefer to use watered down PVC glue as it withstands mold better. Finished with another layer of Mod Podge, some light sanding and it was ready for paint.
No exaggeration, it took me months to decide on a color palette and design for the finished piece. I painted and repainted it no less than 8 times. The background color kept coming out too dark or too yellow.
I used matte acrylic paint and Posca paint markers for the painting and design.
For the light component, I added battery powered candle sticks similar to my wall sconces. Mine are set to a timer so they come on at the same time each evening and turn off after around 6 hours. I love the dim twinkling light they give off in the evenings.
I also created a resin cast of the clay paw print token we were given after her cremation. This was the scariest part for me because I didn’t want to ruin the original but also wanted something transparent for the altar. To make the mold I used some silicone from Smooth On and then cast a test version with basic plaster. Everything worked the way I wanted so I then cast it in resin.
I’m so happy with the final product.
“I will endure a lifetime of missing you for the privilege of loving you.”