<p>If you live in a humid climate it could also be the humidity. I used to live in Miami and anything that wasn't in a frame would warp.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-19T16:57:50.833Z
2016-09-19T16:57:50.833Z
Tam Hartman
<p>I can think of a couple reasons why your paper curled like that:</p>

<ol>
<li>Vertically displayed paper has a tendency to curl more in my experience, especially when it has no support. </li>
<li>The gum/glue itself may be causing or aggravating the curling. Some adhesives and coatings draw, or shrink inward, as they dry. (You see this in nail polish, too, when some thicker top coats cause the color to pull away from the tips.)</li>
</ol>

<p>To counteract the curling, you could try a few things:</p>

<ul>
<li>Coat both sides of the paper with the gum/glue, or a varnish. The drawing affect would be lessened as it would be trying to curl in both directions at once.</li>
<li>Tape the paper down while working and allow to dry thoroughly, leaving it overnight to 'cure' before removing the tape.</li>
<li>Add a stiffer material as a backing. Thin sheets of metal or wood would be the most stable. But, chipboard or even a heavy cardstock would afford some further support.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-20T09:12:22.233Z
Mod podge might work as a gum/glue/varnish, also protects it against dust etc.
Fae
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-04T20:56:46.847Z
Since it is a kids project you could just use straws for rigidity to go with the theme!
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-04T18:17:54.343Z
2016-05-04T18:17:54.343Z
Kirasha
<p>I cut these butterflies, and hands out of paper, spread gum on them and sprinkled glitter.
Then I pasted them on these CDs with Fevicol.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RQffD.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RQffD.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><strong>I did not fold them at all. They were straight the day I made them.</strong></p>

<p>Deformation started the next day. I stuck the big hand's finger on wall with a tape
since that was the one that bent forward the next day. Now, after nearly 5 months all of 
the hands are deeply curved, so are the butterflies.</p>

<p>Sticking them to the wall has the demerit that it makes the craft immobile (I live in a 
rented house).</p>

<p><strong>Why did they deform? What all choices do I have now for such future projects?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-27T07:26:01.323Z
@CreationEdge thanks. have edited the title.
Aquarius_Girl
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-27T22:11:12.407Z
related (but not a duplicate): [How can I prevent watercolor paper from buckling?](http://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/62/)
inkista
<paper><preservation><adhesives>
Why have my paper crafts hung on the wall deformed and what can be done to prevent this?
Aquarius_Girl
# Why have my paper crafts hung on the wall deformed and what can be done to prevent this?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-27)

I cut these butterflies, and hands out of paper, spread gum on them and sprinkled glitter.
Then I pasted them on these CDs with Fevicol.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/RQffD.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/RQffD.jpg)

**I did not fold them at all. They were straight the day I made them.**

Deformation started the next day. I stuck the big hand's finger on wall with a tape
since that was the one that bent forward the next day. Now, after nearly 5 months all of
the hands are deeply curved, so are the butterflies.

Sticking them to the wall has the demerit that it makes the craft immobile (I live in a
rented house).

**Why did they deform? What all choices do I have now for such future projects?**

**Tags:** paper, preservation, adhesives

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @CreationEdge thanks. have edited the title.  
> **username_1**: related (but not a duplicate): [How can I prevent watercolor paper from buckling?](http://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/62/)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-05-04. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

I can think of a couple reasons why your paper curled like that:

1. Vertically displayed paper has a tendency to curl more in my experience, especially when it has no support.
2. The gum/glue itself may be causing or aggravating the curling. Some adhesives and coatings draw, or shrink inward, as they dry. (You see this in nail polish, too, when some thicker top coats cause the color to pull away from the tips.)

To counteract the curling, you could try a few things:

* Coat both sides of the paper with the gum/glue, or a varnish. The drawing affect would be lessened as it would be trying to curl in both directions at once.
* Tape the paper down while working and allow to dry thoroughly, leaving it overnight to 'cure' before removing the tape.
* Add a stiffer material as a backing. Thin sheets of metal or wood would be the most stable. But, chipboard or even a heavy cardstock would afford some further support.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Since it is a kids project you could just use straws for rigidity to go with the theme!  
> **username_4**: Mod podge might work as a gum/glue/varnish, also protects it against dust etc.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-19. Score: 3

If you live in a humid climate it could also be the humidity. I used to live in Miami and anything that wasn't in a frame would warp.


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