homemade recipes for successful papier-mâché

You know, the more your child grows, the more you become an expert in manual work! Today, it is papier mache that reveals all its secrets … Mask, snowmen and even Christmas decor: get ready to let your creative fiber speak while having fun.

If everyone knows the term "papier mache", sometimes you don't know exactly how you can get it and most importantly, what you can really do with it. It is however very simple, papier mache, these are layers of glued newspaper that will harden as they dry, and which can then be painted, allowing you to make a whole bunch of objects, decorative or playful for the most small. You can let your imagination speak because with a little practice, you will become familiar with the technique and will be able to make creations of all colors and have fun at the same time with your children. Promised, papier mache will become one of your favorite activities!

How to make papier mache?

But let's start by giving you the papier mache recipe. If we used to recommend the use of wallpaper glue, we now prefer a more ecological and less toxic glue, especially for children, based on flour – yes, you read that right, flour!

The ingredients for a successful papier-mâché glue:

  • 1 cup of flour
  • 5 cups of water

And that's all !

1 / First heat 4 cups of water.
2 / Meanwhile, mix the remaining cup of water with the cup of flour, until you get a smooth, lump-free mixture.
3 / When the heated water starts to simmer, add the flour-water mixture, stirring with a spoon for a few minutes
4 / Stop cooking as soon as the mixture is thick enough, with a slightly sticky appearance.

If the dough remains too runny, add flour. If on the contrary it seems too thick, add a little water.
You will then have to wait for this dough to cool before you can use it, as you will have to handle it with your fingers. Note that it can be kept for a few days in the refrigerator.

Make your papier mache

5 / Then tear strips of newspaper about 5 cm wide and 10 cm long.
6 / Dip these strips entirely in the glue that you have poured into a bowl.
7 / Remove the excess by passing each strip between your fingers.
8 / Apply the strips on the shape or support of your choice so that they overlap one another.
9 / Steam as much as possible by making a few light presses with your fingers.
10 / Overlay several layers of paper.
11 / Let dry before using any paint to cover them.

Which support to choose for papier-mâché?

You can choose from several supports depending on the object you want to design. We think of cardboard, a box, rolls of toilet paper or paper towels, wire mesh, bottles, molds, but also trays, plastic baskets … Once you start, nothing will stop you, you'll want to cover everything with papier mache at home!

Note that by covering the chosen support with aluminum foil, you can, once the papier mache is dry, remove it without damaging the support, whether it is a wooden box, a glass, a salad bowl …

But if you are afraid for your decorative items, you can also go to a hobby shop, or on a site like Decopatch for example, and find supports of all shapes, such as polystyrene heart boxes, a letter giant cardboard, etc., all ready to be covered with papier-mâché and then with paint. On the Decopatch site, you will also find various articles and accessories to help you in your works of art such as specially adapted paint, but also many papers, as well as ready-made kits for adults and children.

Some ideas for papier mache objects

Some good ideas seen on Pinterest:



© jackandkate

As long as you do not completely master the papier mache technique, instead make small objects at the beginning, which will encourage you to continue and to see yourself growing bigger, up to the sculpture if you wish! Here is a list of papier mache ideas to inspire you.

Homemade musical instruments

Create easily a rain stick by covering a paper towel roll with 2 layers of papier mache, leaving one end open.
Let dry then pour rice or semolina in the roll, before covering this end with papier mache.
Let it dry again and decorate with paint if you wish.

To make a maracas, inflate a balloon, tie the end, then cover it with 4 layers of papier mache avoiding the knot.
Let dry, cut the knot and remove the balloon.
Pour a little rice or semolina in the ball thus created then insert a roll of toilet paper in the hole and cover it with 2 layers of papier mache. Make sure the roller is well attached to the ball, and add a layer of papier mache if necessary.
Let dry and use paint to decorate.

A mask for a disguise

To make a mask, you will also need to inflate a balloon and cover the entire surface with papier mache, except the knot.
When completely dry, cut the knot from the balloon and remove it.
Cut the mask in half lengthways using scissors, then cut holes for the mouth, nose and eyes, which you will have previously identified on the inside of the mask.
Drill smaller holes on the sides to insert an elastic wire.
Then paint to decorate it according to your child's wishes.

A funny guy

Stick a polystyrene egg on the top of a bottle.
Cover the entire surface of the bottle with 3 layers of papier mache, avoiding the bottom of the bottle, and allow to dry.
Shape the arms by twisting pieces of papier mache and stick them on the bottle when dry.
With paint, “dress” the guy with lines and flowers for example, and make him a face.
Make the feet and any accessories with thick drawing paper.

An original Christmas decor

To decorate the Christmas tree in an original way, nothing better than original figurines in papier mache.
To do this, cover a roll of toilet paper with papier mache, leaving one end open.
Let dry then use paint of different colors as well as star stickers to give them eyes and a mouth, and decorate them.
Drill holes on the sides of the roller with the tip of a pencil and pass a piece of scoubidou wire to create the arms.
Drill a hole on the top and slide a piece of scoubidou wire folded in half, which will be used to hang on the tree. Tie this thread down to create two legs.

And for other ideas in papier mache creations, do not hesitate to search on Pinterest to find decorative or other objects that you might not even have thought of. Also do a search in English by typing “paper mache” for inspiration without borders!