How can you store paper mache Christmas ornaments so they’ll still be beautiful next year? Your suggestions are welcome.
Hi Everyone. A reader sent me a question I can’t answer, and I’m hoping you can help her out. She lives in Texas, and she wants to know the best way to protect a pair of paper mache snowmen she just found,. She normally puts her Christmas decorations in the attic, but she worries that the paper mache won’t survive the heat (or the humidity).
I live on the edge of a desert, so I am not the expert here. If you have any ideas at all, please post them below. I know Mary Jane will appreciate any help you can offer.
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The only thing I can think of is to use silica gel beads. You can buy them or go to any shoe store and get the small packets that come with the shoes. Best of luck.
I was wondering where you get those little packets. That sounds like a good idea–but I suppose you would need to carefully wrap the snowmen and the silica gel packets together in an airtight container or plastic bag. Would the heat in her attic cause any damage? I don’t think it should, but I haven’t had an opportunity to find out.
If there not really big-store them in the refrigerator-or find some place in the home a closet or something the heat would melt you before it did the sculpture. Ive had paper mache destroyed by the hot sun-not a good idea to exhibit them at fairs with the meanacing sun shining down
Nick, when you say the paper mache was destroyed by the sun, do you mean that the painted surface was damaged, or that the paper mache itself was damaged? I’m sure the paint would fade, and perhaps even peel, since most fine artwork should be kept out of direct sunlight. But if the paper mache was completely dry I can’t see why the sun would hurt it. Can you explain?
Also, if you sell paper mache items at art shows, we’d all love to see some of your work. Do you have a website or a photo you could share?
I live in south Texas where we not only get searing heat, but there’s those occasional pesky hurricanes which can also wreck havoc on our homes…so anything that’s stored up in the attic is fair game, and more often than not, takes a terrible beating. Simple as it may sound, my only suggestion is to store whatever you don’t want to risk getting ruined somewhere in the house…like in the back of a closet.
I think Calamity Anne is right. I live in south Texas as well, and attic heat can warp plastic ornaments. You don’t want to see a plastic Santa yard ornament I had stored in the attic, he is now looks like something from a Tim Burton movie, LOL.
If it is something that you want to keep forever, I would suggest storing it a climate controlled environment.
Another note. I use PVA glue, rather than flour. With the bugs and humidity we have down here, I am afraid of using anthing that might be remotely edible or might invite mold, even sealed.
I have a couple of my “second string” pumpkins stored in the attic this year, so I will be able to see how the heat affects them. I’m not entirely pleased with their design so they will be good for an experiment. I’ll let you know!
I wouldn’t put something like that in an airtight container or even in plastic. It actually should be able to breathe or the moisture will cause condensation, warping and peeling with weather and humidity changes. Wrapping the items in acid-free tissue paper and putting them in an acid-free storage box in a closet is the best possible solution. Attic and basement should be the last alternative unless they are climate controlled.
PS I’ve lived in humid conditions my whole life.
Thank you Jennifer. Excellent suggestions!