Paper Mache
Paper Mache
A great craft for kids that is fun and inexpensive is making paper Mache. It is a craft activity that is easy and hard to do wrong while providing fun and allowing the kids to express their creative nature.
Begin by preparing an area that can be covered with newspaper to reduce the mess.
Decide on the designs or animals to be created. Find out if the children want to make a pi?ata so they can enjoy busting the goodies from the outside later or if they would like to make one to hang in their bedroom.
Use the household materials such as pots balloons and soda cans to be the core of the paper Mache item.
Use sticky tape to hold together the item you selected for the core shape.
Tear newspaper color paper and copy paper into 1? strips as well as longer and shorter strips. Set the piles aside by length and color.
To make the paste add 1 cup of flour to 5 cups of water.
Bring mixture to a boil for 3 minutes. Stir constantly to keep lumps from forming.
Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
When cooled pour in large mixing bowl.
NOTE: the consistency should be smooth and paste-like.
Begin the project by dipping the newspaper strips in the paste. Squeeze the access paste off the strips.
Place the pasty strips on the item used as the mold and smooth out wrinkles.
Continue placing strips on the mold until it is covered with about four layers.
Allow mold to dry completely.
Add more layers to get to the thickness desired but allow drying between each new layer.
With sharp scissors carefully cut a straight line in the middle for the mold.
Carefully open the slit area if using for a pi?ata. Fill with treats and candy.
Join the opening with clear tape to seal the slit.
Paint the mold with watercolors and enjoy!
