Gently press sections onto the base, working into the shape of the mask. Be sure to smooth all sections together well or cracking may occur where two sections meet. Allow sections to go past the edge of the mask and when completely finish with your base layer of clay use an Exacto-knife to cut off the extra. Now that you have a smooth layer of clay covering the entire newspaper base, you are ready to attach pieces and add texture. To attach, simply create pieces with moist clay, score both the piece and the place on the clay mask where you are putting it, and then attach using a thin layer of slip as cement.
Slip is clay that has been watered down to the consistency of cake icing.
Then go back and clean up around the piece and press the edges of the attached piece together with the clay mask. Students can also press into the clay mask to create textures. Allow masks to dry slowly. For about 2 days leave masks in plastic bags without moist paper towels. Then open plastic bags for about 2 days until clay is just about leather hard.