We usually use a glue stick for collage as they are quick and easy to get out and pack up, don’t need a brush and easy for small hands to manage. But for some collage materials you need something with a bit more sticking power, that’s when we make corn flour paste.
Corn Flour Paste Recipe
1 part corn flour – 1/3 cup
3 parts water – 1 hot cup
In a saucepan, mix the cornflour with a little cold water to form a paste. Then add the hot water (the hotter it is the less time it will take to ‘cook’ the paste) a little at a time, stirring vigorously to get rid of any lumps. Once all the water is added cook the paste, stirring continuously, over a medium heat until it thickens and becomes opaque.
This paste is thick and gloopy so it doesn’t drip off brushes or run down pages. If you require even more sticking power, add some pva glue to the mix.
The above amounts make up enough paste for four kids to paste and paste until the collage materials run out. Add a few drops of tea tree oil and left overs will keep in the fridge for ages.
This paste also makes excellent finger paint. Increase the quantities to 1 cup of corn flour and 3 cups of water and add food colouring or paint after you have cooked the paste.
We are enjoying lots of gluey activities around here at the moment. I will posting some more collage ideas and activities soon, but check out some of the gluey activities we’ve done in the past…
From left to right : Autumn Leaf Collage, Simple Paper Mosaics, Paper Covered Lanterns, Personal Letterboxes.
Sounds like a lovely, gloppy fun time. I assume that corn flour is what we call corn starch in the U.S. (a fine, white powder often used as a thickener in foods)?
yep corn flour is the same as corn starch…. I might add that in somewhere for all my US readers :)
I made a similar recipe recently, but used it in ziplock bags with food colouring for some squidgy fun (it had sugar in the mix as well). But, I’ll have to make this – our glue sticks have dried up and our clag has gone walkabout.
It is quite lovely and squishy isn’t it. I am tempted to make up a big batch and just use it for sensory play!
Hi There
Just wondering if this paste will work for paper mache.
Loving you blog!
Kyla
Yes it should work perfectly for paper mache! If you want it runnier you could stop cooking it a little sooner or add more water, but it should work fine as is, and being thick it is less drippy and messy for little hands to use.
just like the stuff we used to make papier mache with… covering balloons, trying to make planets :)
Fun :) I reckon Annie would love the gluey gloopy play.
oh this sounds like a great idea – i am going to try it :) thanks.
That is awesome – thanks so much for sharing.
This is awesome Kate. We ran out of Paste ages ago, and our glue sticks get used up in one sitting. This was easy and quick to make, and sticks wonderfully well. I am curious to see if things stay stuck when dry, and how long it stores for.
Both kids had a ball sticking things today, thanks to you!
Just wondering how long the homemade clag takes to dry. We have just made some for our paper mâché and curios as to how long before we can do our next layer. Thank you
Like any paste, drying time will depend on how much you put on and how thick you make it. I hope your project is a success!