Does 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.
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
This sounds so much like it. Thank you for answering.
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.
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
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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
How do I make a paper mache piggy bank?
By Dorty
Here's a link to a tutorial on how to make one
ultimatepapermache.com/
Good luck!
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.
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.
Does anyone know how to make papier mache beads for bracelets to make with my granddaughter? Many thanks.
By helen from UK
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
I would like to find paper mache projects.
By Tina from Raymondville, TX
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/
How to make an owl with paper mache?
Nikkita
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!
I wondering how to make a paper mache dog?
Kelsey from Lincolnton, NC
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Paper mache lanterns are an easy and beautiful craft. This page contains instructions for making your own paper mache lantern at home.
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.
