Things You'll Need
Old newspapers, paper towels or toilet paper
Mixing bowl
Water
Blender
Flour
Small bowl
Large mixing spoon
Soda straws (optional)
Paints
Decoupage glue or clear spray paint
Making a paper maché head is as uncomplicated as laying glue-soaked paper over a balloon and popping the balloon with a pin when everything dries. With a few household implements and basic materials, you can create a masterpiece. Adding three-dimensional features like ears and noses will give that plain egg-shape more personality and set it apart from the merely painted versions around it. Be prepared to get a bit messy, however.
Step 1
Tear old newspapers or other scrap paper into tiny pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl. Alternatively, you can use paper towels or toilet paper.
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Step 2
Pour just enough water over the paper to cover, and allow it to set overnight to soften. If using paper towels or toilet paper, you may only need to wait a few minutes.
Step 3
Drain excess water, then put the softened mixture into a blender and use short bursts to break it down into a mushy pulp.
Step 4
Unplug the blender.
Step 5
Remove the pulp from the blender and squeeze out all the water you can with your hands before putting it back into the mixing bowl.
Step 6
Mix one part water and one part flour in a small bowl and mix it into a thick creamy consistency with a large mixing spoon.
Step 7
Pour some of the flour and water paste into the original bowl with the paper pulp and knead it together with your hands to form a clay-like dough--adding it only a little at a time so as not to make it runny.
Step 8
Set the finished paper maché head "face side up" on a table, and prop it securely to keep it from rolling while you work.
Step 9
Use the paper maché dough to model a nose-shape on the face--making a sort of elongated triangle and using two short lengths of soda straw to keep nostrils open if desired.
Step 10
Keep the face upright and allow it to dry completely.
Step 11
Paint as desired, then coat with acrylic decoupage glue or spray with clear paint to finish.
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