Paper Mache Clay Recipe for Making Tree Props

Multi-use Durable Paper Mache Clay Recipe that you can use to make Tree props and more for escape rooms

Materials:
6 cups of flour
6 tbsp of salt
1 cup liquid starch (1 tbsp corn starch + 1 cup hot water boiled)
1 cup wood glue
*2 cap Mr clean (or other scented cleaner for smell)
1 heaping cup drywall putty
**4-5 cups hot water

Combine everything above and mix with a drill mixer attachment
You want it like light pancake batter
Then start adding in a Paper/Cellulose insulation.
Do this by hand, breaking up the clumps. Start folding in the insulation to decrease the amount of dust before mixing.
Mix in for about 2 minutes.
Continue adding more insulation until the mixture doesn’t stick to your hands. It should be formable but still spreadable.
Depending on what you’re building, you may want to wrap the object with chicken wire to give the clay something to grab onto.

Apply the clay in ¼-⅓” thickness. Point a fan on the object and let it set for at least 12 hours before adding another layer. The thicker you build the clay, the longer it will take to completely dry. Once your object is complete, wait a few days until the clay is hard and no longer cool to touch before painting.

*I didn’t add any cleaner in and it lasted about 1 month in a closed container before it was questionable. May last longer with added cleaner or more salt.
**You can sub in paint for some of the water to pre-tint the clay. This will help if it gets scratched.
***Adapted from recipes by “Where the Gnomes Live” on Youtube & Stolloween blog (scottastoll on youtube). Check them out for step by step mixing instructions, tips for different methods of application, & techniques

Building your Tree
We already had a 5” wide metal support pole from floor to ceiling. We then built a wood frame around it and drilled diagonal holes into it for the branches (think like a flagpole holder). Our branches were pre-made fake trees and we just slid them into the drilled “holsters”. We cut a slit in a cardboard concrete form tube and wrapped it around the frame, securing it with screws. The next step was wrapping the tube in chicken wire. We also used some rolled segments of chicken wire to create ridges and roots. The rolled ridges and roots got filled with expanding foam to give it structure. Then we proceeded with covering the entire structure with the paper mache clay. We left ours smooth to match some other artificial trees we had in the room already.