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Paper Mache Craft Ideas

April 15, 2008

Paper MacheDoes anyone know how to make large paper mache statues with wood, wire sheets and paste? A lady who lived in my neighborhood when I was a kid made a whole night before Christmas scene in her yard. I'd like to do it but don't know what was used or if it was just a freelance thing.

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Denise from Mcrae, GA

Answers

By londa (Guest Post)
April 15, 20080 found this helpful

How large is large to you?

My Grandmother in the 1060's made a whole nativity scene that was about a foot high. I'm pretty sure she started with sturdy wire stick-figure like people. Added smashed Styrofoam to be the head, then draped them in cotton outfits that were soaked in 1/2 white glue and water. The hands were rolled paper towel and glue made finger by finger then glued on. Glue soaked yarn hair can be added.

The figures were then painted with acrylic paint. Then decorated further with bits of metal, etc. I think if you added real sturdy wood bases and frames to this you could make bigger ones. They will not be water proof! Do not under-estimate how messy and time consuming this is.

I've built puppets for the theater in a similar fashion, and there were only small pathways thru my kitchen for months. Good luck!

Londa

 
By denise w (Guest Post)
April 15, 20080 found this helpful

This sounds so much like it. Thank you for answering.

 
By londa (Guest Post)
April 19, 20080 found this helpful

Are you going to try to make some? I'd love to see what you make! My grandmother loved the ones she made so much, she kept them on display all year long, and then took them to the nursing home with her. They were at her bedside.

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They are now in my attic, rather beat up, and no longer after all this time good for display. I remember my mother-in-law also had photos of an angel somebody else had made. So I figure this was a project in a craft publication at the time.

Londa, NY

 
By denise w (Guest Post)
April 19, 20080 found this helpful

I am I just have allot on my plate right now. I own a store and we are moving it so I'll have to put this project on hold for now. Hopefully by xmas I will have 2 little elves made as I want to put them on our atvs in the xmas parade here. I will take pics and post them when I do it. Again thank you so much for the info. Sometimes we just need a little boost to get us moving ya know.

 
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11 More Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

May 20, 2007

I am wondering if anyone has ever made over-sized paper mache "food" before. We have a Chicken BBQ here every year and I want to make a huge plate of the food for a parade entry. I haven't done paper mache since I was a kid... lol.



Chris from Oshkosh, WI

Answers

May 20, 20070 found this helpful

That sounds like a tremendous amount of fun!! We made paper mache items for a float in college. The guys nailed 2x2s for a structural frame and then tacked chicken wire to hold the shape. We then did paper mache over the wire. Drying, painting and then shellac or varnish. A cone could become a carrot, a ball a tomato, an oval a potato...the possibilities are endless.

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There are lots of free publications - ads and newspapers that you could use for the paper part. We raid the stands when we need to lay down newspapers for the garden and mulching.

 
May 20, 20070 found this helpful

That sounds like a tremendous amount of fun!! We made paper mache items for a float in college. The guys nailed 2x2s for a structural frame and then tacked chicken wire to hold the shape. We then did paper mache over the wire. Drying, painting and then shellac or varnish. A cone could become a carrot, a ball a tomato, an oval a potato...the possibilities are endless. There are lots of free publications - ads and newspapers that you could use for the paper part. We raid the stands when we need to lay down newspapers for the garden and mulching.

 
By catchdmc@aol.com (Guest Post)
May 23, 20070 found this helpful

I would suggest using balloons that are shaped somewhat like the foods you desire, eg: small round for apples, peaches, oranges, Use tubular balloons for a banana, or carrot. And pear shaped for, well, a pear of course, or maybe an eggplant. Big rounds could be a watermelon, and tiny rounds a grape, or potato. Various shapes can be bread, pineapple etc. And, two halves of a very large balloon can make 2 baskets or bowls of peper mache.

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Next, tear 1 inch strips of newspaper, tearing is formal enough. Dip them in Sta-Puff laundry starch. Do they still make Sta-Puff? When saturated with starch, wrap them around the balloon. Cover all areas of the balloon trying to shape and smooth the wet newspaper and starch.

Allow your projects to dry overnight. Prick the balloons through the paper surface with a pin, if you want to fill the insides, like pinatas, or with weight like beans or sand. They can be painted, and/or decorated with silk leaves, sequins, trying not to get them too wet.

Good Luck!

 
By (Guest Post)
October 9, 20080 found this helpful

Do not raid newspaper boxes for free newspaper. Even though it costs you nothing to do so, it's costing someone else. Waste paper is plentiful enough around your own home. Get any kind of paper you like, tear it into 1"/2.5cm squares and soak in water for a week or two.

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Add your glue medium (flour, wallpaper paste, PVA or whatever) and now you have a perfectly moldable composite that cost you next to nothing, cost others nothing at all, and helped reduce the waste stream.

 
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February 27, 2012

How do I make a paper mache piggy bank?

By Dorty

Answers


Silver Post Medal for All Time! 277 Posts
February 28, 20120 found this helpful

Here's a link to a tutorial on how to make one
ultimatepapermache.com/.../paper-mache-piggy-bank
Good luck!

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 121 Feedbacks
March 5, 20120 found this helpful

To make a Papier Mache Piggy bank:
Make your armiture:
Start with a balloon the size of the bank you want. Add ears with thick cardboard. For feet I use a very think cardboard tube. Dollar Generals brand of plastic wrap ios usually very strong. Cut the length ou want then tape in place. Make sure the pig will stand straight. Use two cardboard egg cups from an egg carton. Turn upside down and tape in place. I like to use marbles for the eye balls. A pipe cleaner makes a good curly tail.

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After the base is done, mix flour and water until you have a gravy consistency. Tear strip of news paper and dip into the flour paste. Squeegee of the excess pastse then start covering the shape. Make sure every surface is covered. Let dry tne add another layer. I like to have at least 4 layers of paper dry between each layer. The more layers, the stronger the finished piece will be. When it is all dry. Paint with gesso. This makes sure the newsprint doesn't show through the paint. Then paint the color or colors you want.

After the paint is dry you can then cut a slot for coins. You can also cut a hole in the bottom to remove the money when you want. You can save the plug you cut out and add a flat rubber stopper. The kind that is about6 inches in diameter. Glue it to the plug. Then you can fold it a bit to get it in the hole and when it straightens out again it will stay in place.

 
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Bronze Request Medal for All Time! 65 Requests
July 15, 2010

Does anyone know how to make papier mache beads for bracelets to make with my granddaughter? Many thanks.

By helen from UK

Answers


Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 290 Feedbacks
July 15, 20100 found this helpful

www.astorybooklife.com/.../

 
July 21, 20100 found this helpful

These make great kid beads pretty and cheap. Get some wrapping paper with a pretty design or any colored, pretty paper that is heavy weight, but not so heavy you can't roll it up small. On the back side in pencil draw a very, very elongate triangle-height 6" to 8" but just bead length of about 1/2 inch or 1/3 inch wide (8-10" high by 1/2" base). Goop up back with a clear drying glue and roll carefully from base to tip leaving a hole large enough to pass your cording through. Beads dry in about an hour or less. Use a fan or hair dryer set to cool for faster drying time. Experiment with cutting off the tip of the triangle before rolling up so there's more design showing. You can also make a cylindrical bead by just rolling up a 1/2" by 8" strip of decorative paper. This is a fun and cheap craft project to do. Good luck

 
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July 17, 2009

I would like to find paper mache projects.

By Tina from Raymondville, TX

Answers

July 17, 20090 found this helpful

I belong to a Halloween Group and in this group is 1 of the greatest papier-mâché artist I've ever seen, he gives you detailed Instructions and recipes, I have made a pumpkin head for my scarecrow, large rocks to hide my lights and I am working on a huge spider.
What I like about his recipe is when they're dry their extremely hard, I tried some in the past and they never become very stiff. Heres a link to his Web site www.stolloween.com/

 
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April 8, 2008

How to make an owl with paper mache?

Nikkita

Answers

Anonymous
April 11, 20080 found this helpful

Coat an inflated balloon with strips of newspaper dipped in plaster of paris. Do a few layers and let dry overnight. Repeat until you have the desired strength. Try to keep everything smooth. Then pop the balloon and pull out near the tie. Sculpt ears and beak out of the paper and plaster too. You can sand down any rough spots and paint with water based tempera and top with a coat of lacquer if desired. Good Luck!

 
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October 22, 2006

I wondering how to make a paper mache dog?

Kelsey from Lincolnton, NC

Answers

By (Guest Post)
October 25, 20060 found this helpful

Go to a Burger King on balloon day and have them make you a balloon dog, then bring it home and paper mache it, like you would do anything else. Ot go to a dollar store and buy a stuffed dog and paper mache that!

 
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August 24, 2006

Does anyone know how to make paper mache plaques for painting? They are usually used for welcome signs and such, and the wooden plaques can be very expensive.



Jan from Cotati, CA

Answers

By LRP (Guest Post)
August 27, 20060 found this helpful

YEARS BACK WHEN I MADE SOME WE WENT TO WHERE THEY SELL WOOD FOR FIRE PLACES. SEE IF YOU CAN GET SOME THIN PIECES OF A LOG.

 
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April 16, 2019

If you are looking for a homemade Christmas ornament project, this might be just the one. Cover inflated balloons with papier-mâché, allow to dry and then paint and decorate as desired. This is a page about making paper mache ball Christmas ornaments.

Putting glue on paper mache ball.

December 14, 2015

This page is about making a paper mache hot air balloon. You can make a cute little paper mache hot air balloon with just newspaper strips, flour, water, paints, and an inflated balloon.

Making a Paper Mache Hot Air Balloon

September 5, 2013

Paper mache lanterns are an easy and beautiful craft. This page contains instructions for making your own paper mache lantern at home.

Paper Mache Lanterns

October 5, 2022

Does anyone have any ideas on how to make a paper mache (sp?) pumpkin for Halloween? Instead of buying a pumpkin I'd like to make some that I can keep and reuse. Any ideas would be welcome.

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