Crafts: Papier-Mache Puppet
Make a paper-mache Mini Me!
Submitted by
Kayla Chong
Kayla Chong
Did you know that papier-mache means "chewed up paper" in French? "Chewed Up Paper Puppet" ... just doesn't have the same ring to it. Why is it that everything sounds better in French?
- Papier-maché artists:You and your kid.
- A balloon:Blow one up, no helium.
- Newspaper strips:You never have time to read the paper anyway, might as well let your kid rip it up.
- All-purpose flour:Half a cup.
- Sugar:Three tablespoons.
- Salt:A pinch or two keeps the paper-maché paste from molding.
- Water:Two cups of cold water and two cups of boiling water.
- Measuring cup
- A mixing bowl:We're sure you have one lying dormant from the pre-baby days when you envisioned parenthood as a cookie-baking, hot-cocoa-sipping peaceful existence. Yeah, right!
- Stove:That thing you stare guiltily at every night as you pick up the phone to order in Chinese.
- A pot:To make the paste in.
- A shallow dish:To place the goop into.
- A pin:A straight pin or safety pin.
- Two-foot long dowel:Have one cut to size at your local hardware store.
- A few different colors of acrylic paint.
- Paintbrush:Hide your makeup brushes!
- Assorted markers
- Colored yarn:For hair.
- Masking tape
- One pair of large googly eyes (optional)
- Baseball cap or hair bow (optional)
- Fabric:Cut up some old clothes or buy scraps at the store.
To begin, help your kid make the papier-maché paste. See the "Do Note" below for recipe.
Blow up a balloon and knot the end. Keep in mind, the size of the balloon will be the approximately the size of the puppet's head.
Have your kid rip newspaper into approximately 6-inch long, 2-inch wide strips.
When the paste has cooled, pour it into a shallow dish. Don't leave it hanging around the breakfast table or your partner might mistake it for oatmeal and if he gets a taste of it, he might really think your cooking skills have deteriorated.
Your kid can now begin to papier-maché his puppet. Have him dip the strips of newspaper into the paste, thoroughly coating them in goop.
Get him to squeeze off the excess using his thumb and forefinger. If he tries to paper-maché with strips that are too saturated in paste, he'll end up with a lumpy, goopy mess.
Next, help him cover the balloon with the paste-soaked newspaper strips, leaving a small opening around the knot at the bottom of the balloon.
Let the first layer dry completely before adding more strips. This should take about 12 hours, so unless you started the project at 5 AM let it dry overnight and come back to it in the morning.
When the first layer is dry, have your kid add two more layers of pasty newspaper strips.
To create a nose, have him mold small strips of newspaper into a little mound in the middle of the "head." If he does a spectacular job, maybe he's found his niche. He could be a future plastic surgeon to the stars!- Next, help your kid insert the wooden dowel into the opening in the bottom of the puppet head and tape it in place with masking tape.
- Secure the dowel with a few strips of paper-maché and let dry. It should hold. Papier-maché is like cement when it's fully dry. They should build highway ramps out of the stuff.
- When everything is dry, invite your kid to paint the puppet. Have him decide who he wants it to look like. Does he want to make a puppet twin of himself, a Daddy puppet or perhaps he wants to make one that looks like Paris Hilton. (Who are we to judge?) Or he can make a puppet that doesn't look like anyone in particular or anyone at all—like an alien puppet.
- Once he's decided on his design concept, have him paint the entire puppet any color. Then help him add eyes and a mouth with the markers and assorted acrylic paints.
- Glue on googly eyes and some yarn for hair. You can have him add a baseball cap or a "scrunchie."
- For a finishing touch, have him paint the dowel or drape with the fabric to create clothing.
- Let it all dry and voilà! He's got a bona fide, homemade Muppet! Watch out Kermit!
- Finally, have him put on a little show for you and your partner. Sit back, pop your feet up and enjoy. It may not be as thrilling as an episode of Real Housewives, but it'll be a lot cuter!
- Paper-Maché Paste
- Bring two cups of water to a boil.
- Combine ½ cup of all-purpose flour with two cups of cold water in a mixing bowl.
- Add the flour/water mixture to the boiling water.
- Bring to a boil again.
- Remove the mixture from the stove.
- Stir in the three tablespoons of sugar and a dash of salt.
- Congratulations! You actually made something on the stove besides mac 'n' cheese!
Submit!
