# A Quick Craft Question (Need Glossy Shine Over Construction Paper) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362 "2012-01-13T03:05:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/1 "2012-01-13T03:05:09Z")
Hey Crafty Dopers, I’m currently working on a leisurely art project and have a quick question. I don’t really know how to google search it so I’ll try to explain it here and hope for some help. One part of my project involves making a shape. For this shape/form, I have wrinkled construction paper until it becomes soft, and then glued it to the paper. I’m doing multiple layers to give the form a nice, textured look (think crumpled dollar bill.) I was hoping to accentuate it by putting some type of shine/gloss over it but I’m at a loss as to what I could use. What type of gloss/varnish/shiney thing can I use? Anything that can be bought readily at a craft store would be great. It has to be something I can paint on or dab on as it is only part of the picture. I would like some shine to make the texture better stand out and help it look less first-grader-art-project-like. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/2 "2012-01-13T03:17:13Z")
> [@nikonikosuru](#): > > What type of gloss/varnish/shiney thing can I use? Anything that can be bought readily at a craft store would be great. It has to be something I can paint on or dab on as it is only part of the picture. I would like some shine to make the texture better stand out and help it look less first-grader-art-project-like. > > Thanks! [Mod Podge](http://www.plaidonline.com/mod-podge/brand/home.htm), maybe? You could also try just white glue (do a test swatch first) and see if that’s glossy enough. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/3 "2012-01-13T04:08:09Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > [Mod Podge](http://www.plaidonline.com/mod-podge/brand/home.htm), maybe? Mod Podge was going to be my suggestion too. It comes in several different finishes and should be available at almost any craft store. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/4 "2012-01-13T04:20:47Z")
Both sound good. I’ll try normal glue first and if that’s not good, go with the Mod Podge. Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/5 "2012-01-13T14:26:42Z")
Acrylic gloss medium. Available in various viscosities. Or, believe it or not, Future floor wax. Modelers use it all the time to add gloss. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/6 "2012-01-13T14:30:32Z")
There is, or used to be, a clear spray on gloss coat for metal miniatures. You’d probably have to make a mask so that only a portion of the work got coated with the spray. Look for it in the model car section of the store. There’s also a matte coat, for when you DON’T want the Shiny. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/7 "2012-01-13T15:01:45Z")
I wouldn’t recommend Mod Podge. My problem with it is that it never dries completely - even months later, it’s still a little bit tacky. I’ve tried to use it as a gloss coating on paper, paint, and plain wood, and always get the same result. Does anyone else experience this? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/8 "2012-01-13T16:30:48Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > There is, or used to be, a clear spray on gloss coat for metal miniatures. You’d probably have to make a mask so that only a portion of the work got coated with the spray. Look for it in the model car section of the store. There’s also a matte coat, for when you DON’T want the Shiny. Testor’s Glosscote and Dullcote are the most common brands. But over construction paper I don’t think the Glosscote would work very well; I suspect the paper would soak it up and you’d get a blotchy appearance. That’s why I originally suggested gloss medium; because it would fill the pores of the paper better. ---
**Author:** ![missouri65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@missouri65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missouri65)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quick-craft-question-need-glossy-shine-over-construction-paper/609362/9 "2012-01-16T00:35:23Z")
I’ve used a product called Triple Thick. It comes in both a spray and a brush-on. I don’t think the spray comes out quite as shiny, but it’s faster. [Acrylic Paint and Art Supplies](http://www.decoart.com/cgi-bin/Products.cgi?Triple_Thick_Gloss_Glaze) I’ve heard of people using Diamond Glaze, but I don’t have any experience with it. I haven’t been impressed with Mod Podge for this purpose.