paper weaving. this seems such a silly question

[iesha]

Hi everyone.
I have just started paper weaving with a machine I got for my birthday. I'm working my way up to making a bag and am wondering if there is any way of water proofing it so it can be used outside in our oh so predictable british weather. It seems such a silly thing to wantt to know but can you waterproof paper? [hmmm]

Thanks in advance.

Anyone out there tonight?

OOps, just realised that you're probably all doing dinner and bedtimes. My DS is poorly and already sleeping like an angel.

Hmm, what about covering it in sticky back plastic when it's done? It would make it stronger too.

My first thought was PVA glue, but then I realised if it got very wet it'd go all sticky again

you could laminate it, but it will be stiff

use varnish?

Could you varnish it? An arts shop might be able to help you. Hobbycraft is probably a good place to start if you have one near you .

modge podge

No hobbycraft near here, but i'm going up country soon so I might drop in if I get the chance. I thought PVA too but then thought it would go sticky, how about PVA and then a vrnish, though the only varnish I counld find is for floors so would ake it very tough. I'm not sure laminates or sticky back would be practical but might be worth doing a test run. Will talk to hobbycraft first and see what they say. Thanks for the advice everyone.

you need modge podge

OK, I have googled and it didn't help. What is Modge POdge?

Modge Podge is an american thing, I've never seen it over here, some nice american girl sent me some though. It's basically a slightly watered down PVA glue so I doubt it'd work any better than normal PVA.

But if Pixiefish can correct me and tell me you can get it over here and that it is water proof I'd be a very happy girl
In fact I might go and test its waterproofness later on some of the things I've made with it.

Foundthis For an explanation, it says to add modge podge and then a waterbased varnish to waterproof. Ebay sell something called MOd Podge which sounds the same thing. Might just try PVA and a thin varnish and see what happens, since i already have PVA.

modge podge is not the same as pva. It is similar but is not the same. Off to look for some now

Quite a few scrapbook shops sell it- artbase have it here, part of the way down

Just a memory.co.uk sell it as do craft inspirations.co.uk and craft heaven.co.uk

Or if you don't think that will work you could try the glue used for decopatch here

This sets to a hard varnish type finish

but is it water proof? I'm not bothered if it's hard or not. I don't suppose it matters either way. I just need to know that my hard work isn't going to drop to bits the minute it sees a drop of rain. After all I am in good ole "sunny" cornwall!!!

Well, I'm off to try attempt no 3 at making a purse B4 DS wakes again. I really hate it when he's ill I'll check back later. Thanks to all for the advice.