Paper Mache'

Paper mache' doesn't really take any special art supplies and that is why most anybody can do it at home.  You will need white glue, water, flour, tape, hot glue, scissors, newspaper and a variety of throw-away type items that you can use to get a basic shape for your project.  I have chosen to make a giraffe!  It is always good if you have a picture or model to look at.  This helps you see specific detail and this will make your project look better.  I decided to do a giraffe because I had a small plastic toy giraffe.  Gather some cardboard paper towel or toilet paper rolls, some empty plastic bottles or containers and some newspaper.  Look for basic shapes and glue or tape things together to get a solid, sturdy body for your project.  I noticed that the end of a plastic water bottle had the shape I wanted for the giraffe's head.  I cut the bottle apart and used the very top and the bottom to make the head.  You may crush and crumple newspaper and tape it in place for curved places.  You can use bottle caps for bumpy knee joints or cut ears from cardboard.  Another plastic bottle makes a good neck for my giraffe.  I use lots of hot glue and masking tape to hold everything together.  Be careful with the hot glue gun!  You might need help from someone older because glue guns get very hot and it is no fun to burn your finger.

My giraffe can stand up by itself and is now ready for the paper mache'!

The next thing to do is to tear lots of newspaper into strips and make up a paste using flour, water and white glue.  I do not have a specific recipe.  Relax and have fun!  This is not rocket science.  Mix a cup or two of flour into a bowl with some white glue (maybe half of a standard size bottle like you buy for school) and enough water so that your glue is thick, but spreadable.  I use my fingers to mix with to get out all of the little 'lumpies' but you can stir with a spoon if you want to.  Cover the body of your project thoroughly so that nothing shows through.  Let it dry overnight and then put a second layer of newspaper and paste over the entire body.  You will be surprised at how hard and strong your project is!  I discovered the hard way that cardboard paper towel rolls get very flimsy when they are soaked with wet newspaper and glue.  My giraffe began to collapse one I got the legs covered the first time and I had t turn it upside down to dry.  After two coats of paper and glue I got some 'fine' sandpaper and smoothed the entire body of my giraffe so it would look its very best.  As you can tell, this project takes a while to complete.  Be patient!

It is good to paint a white base coat on your project unless you will be using dark colors that will cover the print on the newspaper.  You may use tempera paint or acrylics.  Even old paint that is left over from painting your house is okay if your parents want to let you have it.  After painting the giraffe yellow all over I took a smaller paint brush and added the detail.

A giraffe has a very pretty pattern on its body but it could take a long time to paint such a design. I decided to think of a shortcut.  I cut a sponge in the shape of a square  and dipped it in my paint.  Pressing the painted sponge to the body of the giraffe I added the pattern with a brown color, reapplying more paint as needed.

Here's my finished giraffe!  I used a piece of rope for the tail and the mane.  This project was a lot of fun!

This 6-year old student did a paper mache' project and it reminds her of a dog she once had named, "Copper".