Messing Around with PapaerClay!

[vermont2002]

I finally decided to open up my package of PaperClay and started making stones for my fireplace and chimney. It's totally a different consistency than I expected, but I like it!

I am going to have a huge chimney and fireplace and since my house is going to be kind of on the rustic side, I just started shaping stones -- large, medium and small -- to cover the outside and inside. I have a feeling that by the time I get through this one package of PaperClay that I will be quite sick of looking at it, but I will have to persevere because I think it will probably take four or more packages to get just what I need.

I might also use it as a facing on my foundation but it will be more square and flat. I have a feeling that me and PaperClay are gonna become quite well acquainted!

And I know it will be worth it in the long run. But for anyone who has bought PaperClay and has hesitated to work with it -- just go for it -- it's really cool stuff!

(I have to order more soon!)

Vermont

P.S. I also fooled around with some Fimo today. I made fern leaves and will be putting them into a wooden pot that I painted a mossy green. I have to wait for the wires that I glued to them to dry -- probably overnight -- to insert them into the pot. I used left over coffee grounds, baked in my little toaster oven for about 10 minutes for the soil in the pot -- looks great!

[treehugger]

Hi, my roof tiles are made from paper clay on my Periwinkle cottage.......it's good stuff, so is papier mache.

[vermont2002]

Anyone who has worked with Paper Clay -- how long does it take to dry? I started making stones for my chimney & fireplace but they seem to be taking forever to dry. I figure I'll have to make hundreds. Right now they are in my basement workshop and maybe it's too damp there and I should bring them upstairs to dry???

[Snowpixi]

This paperclay sounds intruiging and a different way to get a good effect. Is it lightweight like papier mache then, i've never heard of it before, do you have any pics of it and you in action using it. :confused:

[wombat]

i've never heard of it before either but it sounds like good stuff...might have to try and search for it.

[Snowpixi]

i hope its not like the clay we had at school i only managed a deformed piggy bank with that stuff :eek:

[Hollyrafe]

Hi Vicky,
Have a look here,



http://www.paperclay.co.uk/index.htm

[Hollyrafe]

And here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paperclay

This place is American but

http://www.paperclay.com/

[Snowpixi]

Thanks for the link Holly, sounds good fun and very theraputic maybe?

[wombat]

thanks holly...what would i do without you!!

[DeeGee]

Will we be seeing photos? Now you know that we like our photos.;)

[Hollyrafe]

thanks holly...what would i do without you!!

Probably have peace and quiet!:rolleyes:

[wombat]

good point holly!! and be a lot more bored!!

[vermont2002]

I hope to get photos soon. I spent a good amount of time last night and today shaping the river rocks for the chimney -- went thru almost one package of Paper Clay before my hands said "ENOUGH!"

Also, today, I started drawing up plans for the house. I've been procrastinating -- afraid to start -- but once I got going, I couldn't stop. The basement is pretty much drawn and I also worked on how I'm going to make the stairs. They will go up one half story to a landing (about 7 steps) and then reverse (180 degrees) and go up another seven stairs to the next floor. I will have to build five sets in all. Oh my, this is taxing my spacial AND math skills!

I think the chimney is going to be stunning. I THINK the next step -- after the clay dries thoroughly (it's taking forever!) is to build the chimney structure, paint it gray and start gluing the stones on. After they dry, I will paint them and seal them thoroughly and finally apply grout -- I think that's the proper sequence anyway.

If anyone knows of a problem with this please holler!

It feels good to finally doing something other than PLANNING!!

Vermont

[St.Vale]

Good luck with it all Vermont....................even though planning is boring you get far better results for it!!

[vermont2002]

It is taking forever for my paper clay to dry -- I wonder what would happen if I put the pieces in my food dehydrator?

[Polypots]

I would move the objects that you have made of paper clay to somewhere warm rather than leaving them in a damp environment. They should dry quicker in a warmer place, an airing cupboard is ideal. When they look as though the top side has touch dried ( the clay will change colour) turn them over this will quicken th drying process. I'm not sure about a food dehydrator, never used one myself. As your stones arn't that big a warm room should do it, even sit them on a tray on a radiator.... An oven could be too harsh forcing an increased expulsion of water from the clay, causing cracking and dunting to occur... this could well also happen in the dehydrator resulting in it being peppered in bits of paper clay:).

Somewhere warm it should only take hours to dry.

Good luck, It sounds like it will look great when it's done.

[vermont2002]

Photos are posted in "Home Sweet Home" under post "Northwoods." Take a look!