A few questions about ingredients?

15 years ago

I have read the 'recipes' for making both hypertufa and papercrete. They are similar. Now the questions.

1. Can papercrete projects be left outside like hypertufa? Should I do anything extra to protect it from the weather?

2. At work, I use a envelope opening machine. It leaves behind billions of small paper shavings, about the length of an eyelash, and as thick as the lead in a mechanical pencil. Can I use that in papercrete projects?

3. Must all paper be throughly soaked water and blended up?

4. In the recipe, instead of using the peat moss, would I be able to use Spanish moss in its place?

5. Has anyone ever used concrete colorant in their projects, like browns and greens?

6. What are some creative ways to add designs inside the molds so that it 'imprints' the outside of the troughs?

I appreciate any help, as I have never done this before, but have always admired them.

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Comments (8)

marcia7439
15 years ago
Hardin,
I use paper insulation in my papercrete. I made a 'boulder 2 years ago. I didn't color it, I did seal it, and it is sitting outside thru Wisconsin winters and in direct sunlight all summer. It hasn't cracked, or chipped. I suspect, I may just reseal it again...but it was a test piece, and outside of getting 'dirty' and old looking, it has weathered fine.
You have to soak the paper. I would think if you added your 'envelope' snibbles, you would be fine. Paper is paper, but don't use any 'glossy' type paper. It doesn't work nice.
Color with brown powder dyes works nice. I haven't tried green. I have made batches, and then split the batch in half. Add color to one aprt, and leave the other plain. Then add the mix in handfulls alternating between the two batched. Makes a marbley effect.
You can use leaves stuck on the side of your mold with a tiny 'roll of tape'. Make sure the vein side of the leaf is on the mix side, or you won't have details...
I have used silicon caulk and VERY lightly stuck small glass stones and shells to the mold. (let them dry a bit before you put mix over them!) It's a little harder removing the mold, but use care and it will work. You will need to wire brush to get your stones cleaned up.....
Spanish moss...never tried it.......maybe someone else will step in and help with that!
Marcia
hardin
Original Author
15 years ago
Marcia, thank you, for your ideas and tips, they were great, especially the one on mixing up two colors on one project. I also now have a new word for the co-workers, "snibbles". Love it.
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billie_ann
15 years ago
OMG, now I'm going to be trying to find ways to use the word "snibbles". Did I spell it correctly??!!! I'm having a hard time typing because my laptop keeps shaking from the laughter! OMG, too funny!!!!!
I would assume if you dry the Spanish Moss (you are talking about the stuff that hangs out of trees and not snibbles, right?) you could use it in place of peat moss. Peat moss is used so that when it deteriorates you're left with little nooks and crannies in the surface. If Spanish moss will react in the same way, go for it.
Regarding imprinting leaves or embedding stone or glass: I fill the bottom of my mold and then start working up the sides of the mold. When I reach the height where I want the leaves (I usually put them from the center of the mold and up to the rim because if their lower you usually can't see them.), I place a leaf against the mold wall and slap a hypertufa patty on it to hold it in place. You can also put a little water on the front of the leaf, if you are using a plastic mold, and it will stick. Only a little water. I've only done a few embedded stone and marble pieces. I use a clear or frosted plastic mold so I can see thorough the sides if I'm doing a pattern. I fill the bottom and start up the sides. When I reach the height where I want the design I make sure the wall is packed tight. I roll out the hypertufa in hotdog lengths and place the stones or marbles behind the "dogs" and tamp to blend the hotdogs. Don't work too much or the stones will be pushed too far into the "dogs". If that happens you may have to use your snibbler to expose the stones. I don't have a snibbler yet so I use my wire brush and an old screw driver.
OMG, long live SNIBBLES!!!
I'm off to school, have a great night and a great weekend. Billie p.s. I'm still laughing!!!!!
marcia7439
15 years ago
Ok, Laugh is on me, but 'Snibbles' has been in our family's vocabulary for years! My mom hated us cutting paper, and leaving snibbles all over the floor, or as my gramma put it, all her sewing snibbles were in her basket she used for patching stuff or making patch quilts.
Billie, I do hope you drove carefully....I won't want you laughing and driving too!
Laughing too.....Marcia
billie_ann
15 years ago
Marcia, The laugh is on us that we didn't have that wonderful word in our vocabulary! It sure makes me laugh and isn't that a great thing, to laugh and smile.
Unfortunately, I'm a speed demon but I smiled all the way to school!
Have a great weekend! Billie
hardin
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh, snibbles. Now you guys have me laughing. The girls at work looked at me like I was nuts, when I said I was taking the snibbles home. Wait til they see what snibbles can do for you.
billie_ann
15 years ago
I've been working on a recycled paper jewelry project for school and they always ask for a name for your display piece. I always put down #1,2 or 3 cause I think naming your jewelry is kind of strange. I'm going to use "SNIBBLES"!
hardin, I don't think we're plain old nuts. We're creative, fun-loving nuts! Billie
hardin
Original Author
15 years ago
I shall happily admit to the "creative, fun-loving nuts" part. Happy snibbling, ya'll.

A few questions about ingredients?

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A few questions about ingredients?

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