Paper Mâché
What is papier mâché (paper mâché)?
Paper mâché is a fun activity to do with your class. It’s a material made from paper pulp or shreds of paper mixed with glue or paste, that can be molded into various shapes (i.e. balloons) when wet and becomes hard and suitable for painting and varnishing when dry.
Materials:
Elmer Glue
Newspaper cut into strips and to put on your desk (to avoid mess)
Balloons
A container that can hold your shape
Paint
Safety:
– Avoid instant paper mâché, which can contain toxic substances that are easily inhaled. Make paper mâché using black and white newspaper or white paste (Elmer glue)
-Do not eat or drink while using the paper mâché materials.
– Always thoroughly clean after use–wash the children’s hands, your own hands, and your supplies. The clean up area should not be used for food preparation.
-Provide appropriate supervision when children are using materials that are sharp or that could be ingested.
Process:
1. You will need to tear newspaper into strips. You will want your strips to be about 1-to-2- inches wide. Have your glue ready to go.
2. Dip one piece of newspaper at a time into the glue bowl. You want the newspaper strips to be saturated.
3. Hold the saturated strip over the paste and run it through your fingers to squeeze off any excess paste.
4. Stick the newspaper strip over your balloon and smooth it down with your fingers.
5. Completely cover your balloon with a layer of the saturated newspaper strips.They should all be over-lapping and running in different directions.
6. Add a couple of more layers of the saturated newspaper strip to your balloon.
7. Let the balloon dry completely. This can take up to 24 hours.
8. Once all of the paper mâché layers are applied and dried, you are ready to paint, decorate, and proudly display your work of art.
Tips:
– Tear the newspaper into strips. Torn slips lay smoother than cut slips.
– Be generous when dipping the newspaper strips into the paste — you want each piece thoroughly saturated.