Make super strong and durable paper mache, and create fun (and inexpensive!) decorations like paper mache bowls, paper mache pumpkins, or even a paper mache pinata! It’s a really fun kids craft, and a great art activity for school or summer camp.
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Helpful Tips:
Is paper mache better with glue or flour?
We like using flour to make our paper mache mixture. It’s a classic method that works well, and it’s less expensive than using glue to make paper mache paste. Plus flour is natural and biodegradable. Glue creates a strong paper mache recipe, but it’s also a lot more messy and sticky to work with. The clean-up with glue is also a bit more difficult.
What materials do I need for paper mache?
You only need 2 simple ingredients — flour and water — to make the paper mache paste. You’ll also need newspaper (or another type of paper) to form your paper mache object. Other than the main ingredients, you’ll need a mixing bowl and a whisk to make the glue. And then some kind of form to make your paper mache object. We used a bowl here, but you can also use a balloon, water bottles, cardboard, etc.
How to make paper mache without newspaper?
Newspaper is the most commonly used paper for paper mache, but a lot of newspapers are only online these days. We used newsprint flyers that were delivered to our house, but if you don’t have newsprint, there are other options. Some alternative types of paper are: paper towel, construction paper, lined school paper, tissue paper, or even blue shop towels.
How many layers for strong paper mache?
We generally recommend using 3 to 4 layers of paper mache. This will give you a strong and durable object without requiring a whole week of dry time. The exact number of layers will depend on how thick your paper is. Thinner paper, like tissue paper, will require more layers than newspaper.
What type of paint is best for covering paper mache?
You’ll get the best coverage on the newsprint if you use a primer or even thick white wall paint. Cheap dollar store paint tends to need a lot of coats to get good coverage. You can find primer at the craft or hardware store. You can also use a good quality multi-surface acrylic paint from the craft store. The better quality the paint, the fewer coats you’ll need to cover the newsprint. We used leftover white wall paint to paint our bowls white. And then regular acrylic paint from the craft store to paint the colours and designs.
What types of things can I make with paper mache?
The possibilities of what you can make with paper mache are almost endless! The bowls we made are super cute, but you can also make:
Pinata Paper mache volcano Pumpkin Masks Birds or other animals Solar system planets Hot air balloon
And more!
Learn how to make paper mache items that will last for years to come! Making paper mache does take quite a bit of drying time, but it’s a really simple and fun process. Plus it’s easy enough for kids to make themselves!
Here’s even more fun craft ideas:
Paper Mache Pinata
How to Make a Bouncy Ball
How to Make Clay Mushrooms
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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