by Carole Meisenhelter

Created on: December 10, 2010

Making anything crafty for the very first time can be a little daunting, but not so much, if someone can show you the way through the various steps.  As for paper mache, it is a relatively simple paper craft that can be totally absorbing, and children as well as adults can readily produce useful items.  Some of these can be used also, for gift-giving.  

Coming up, is a grand assortment of websites with fantastic visual steps showing the way through to specific finished paper mache items.  Take your pick from decorative bowls, to beads and ornamental birds, included within the following sites. 

Enjoy viewing a paper mache item in the making.  A paper mache bowl is clearly demonstrated in this u-tube video by MonkeySee Videos.

A two-page tutorial on this site, by Jackie Hall at Papiermache.com showing all items needed to get started, including how to make the paste etc.  Learn of the differing molds that can be used, also products for releasing the paper mache from the mold.  There is a section on layered paper mache for adding handles and other attachments to your creation.  Ideas are to be had as to how to ‘sculpt’ by using various easy to find items at home, such as boxes, packaging, and wire netting etc.  Jackie finishes her tutorial with paint application finishing touches. 

On Molly Chicken’s blog, Molly has dedicated this post for showing children how to make paper mache bowls.  It’s a delightful post, with a beautiful bowl resulting from layers of tissue paper.  A little different from the conventional newspaper paper mache product, and it shows, with a more delicate-looking finished bowl.  Pressed flowers have been included in the final layer to give this bowl a “summer meadow” look. 

This blog entry is found on A Storybook Life (Creative Home and Garden Ideas From Our Cottage in The Woods).  Learn through wonderful photos, how this blog-author made fabulously creative, and colorful beads, from a paper-mache idea passed on by a friend.

From Ultimate Paper Mache, savor this sweet project for a pair of paper mache bluebirds.  The author has been “playing around with paper mache for fifty years” and has a wonderful site full of various tutorials, “recipes” and photos from readers.  Seems like everything you wanted to know about paper mache can be found on this site.

See how easy it is to make Fairy Toadstools, on Lily Chic’s website. These quaint decorations are created with differing-sized plastic bowls.  Many clear and simple instructions with wonderful images and instant ‘fairy toadstool’ appeal.

Are you keen to create with paper mache now?  According to Jackie Hall (noted above at Papiermache.co), paper mache originated in China, with the making of helmets.  The helmets were toughened with many layers of lacquer, examples of which have been found dating back to the Han Dynasty (BC 202 - AD 220).  Enjoy making and creating with paper, a most wonderful resource for arts and crafts alike.

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