This will be a quick post this morning. First, I received a question from a reader that I can’t answer, but if someone else out there has some experience and can shed some light on this issue, I would like to know, too. Here’s the email:

Hello from Cape Town, South Africa Jonni!

I just wanted to thank you for a fantastic website.  Yours is by far the nicest papier mache sites I’ve found to date and I’m very excited about trying out your paper clay recipe.  I was hoping you might have some tips for me on getting papier mache to adhere to polystyrene/styrofoam.  I’ve found it to be a great material to shape for a base structure, but my paper always wants to peel away from it.  I use a standard wallpaper glue, though I mix it to a slightly stronger concentrate.  Any advice will be most appreciated J

Kind regards,

Mieke

Suggestions, anyone?

"How to Make Masks!" Cover Image

Next, it’s time to show you the working draft of my new mask book’s cover. I don’t believe anyone voted for the duck, but he does add some nice color. The other masks were high on the list of responses I received on previous posts – I want to thank everyone who offered their ideas and input. And now, what do you think about the cover? (I made the image small because that’s the size it will be seen in Amazon.com’s search results).

And finally, I wanted to share my very first “review.” I sent the first few chapters out to a few friends, and Sharon Moreno sent back the following comment. I got such a kick out of it, I just had to share it with you. (I love it when people get my jokes!)

Page 12 from How to Make Masks

Hi Jonni,
Your book is GREAT. I must tell you my favorite images are on page 12. When I came to the picture of your face covered in foil…I started chuckling. When I got to the picture of you taking the mask off that was stuck to your hair…I was roaring with laughter. Had to step away from the computer a bit to get myself under control. That was awhile ago and writing this brings it all back and I can’t stop laughing. I want you to know I love having fun with our artistic endeavors. Thank you….for the fun and the honor of your trust in forwarding on to me these portions of your up-coming, sure to be best seller, paper mache book.

The page Sharon referred to is this one, where I show how to make a simple mask form using aluminum foil and duct tape. That was a fun page to write, but, for obvious reasons, I felt a bit weird doing it in my living room in front of my picture window (the best light in the house for pictures). Some of my neighbors probably think I’m getting a bit old for such foolishness…

That’s all for today. Anyone have an answer for Mieke?

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