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Tis the season of Halloween, so I will reveal one of the favored Halloween group craft projects our family loves. A group craft is especially inviting, as it involves adults as well as children and functional for any Holiday, Birthday, just for fun, etc.

Yearly we gather in the weeks before Halloween, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc. of all ages. Collecting paper articles, newspapers, junk mail, even old computer printouts for use.

We then pick a Holiday "theme", "The Munster's", "Adams Family", "Nightmare Before Christmas", etc.

With some flour and water, we begin our fun. Yes, paper mache it is, always fun for kids and the older kids even appear as its fun for them also.

We make masks depicting the different characters using air filled balloons as a mold, covering it with paper mache and when dry, cutting eyeholes, mouth hole and ear holes.

The mache mix uses around four parts of water to 1 part of flour (though you may make it thinner or thicker for workability/sturdiness). A thinner mix to start is best, moving to a thicker mix to finish. Heating the mix will make it thicker and smoother but I do not recommend this around children.

The paper, we shred into a clean trashcan (a smaller can for the smaller children).

It is inexpensive and simple.

Blow the balloon with air and tie so it holds the air. Dip a piece of shredded paper into the mix and stick it to the balloon.

When you have done the first layer, use only dry shreds of paper for the next layer (helps keep it sturdy). Tie a string to the balloon and hang it upside down to dry. It is best to make sure, for children that it is hanging low enough for them to reach. In which case you can continue your work as it is still hanging upside down, rather than taking it down and put it back up.

For hanging the balloons, a garage, basement or closet(s) will make good, out of the way, accommodations. Use a layer of newspaper on the floor to catch the drippings. Allow layers drying time or the paper mache can develop cracks.

As the paper mache dries, add more layers but stop adding any dry shred layers. Again, allow to dry and add another layer until you have a sturdy thickness. You need not take the hanging balloons down for these additions and it is best and easier to work them from the top as they hang downward.

If any of the masks need overall coloring, as green, add food coloring to the last layers of paper mache mix for that mask.

When the paper mache is completed, allow to dry, and then cut the bottom (not rounded top) to fit over the wearers head.

Especially for children, I school glue' old yarn, old shirts, etc. to the top of the mask. Avoiding, "it hurts" and a mask that sets too low. This also easily utilized for the sides of the mask. (Adult masks too).

Figure and cut the holes for eyes, mouth and ears. DO NOT CUT WITH THE MASK ON THE WEARER, though you can mark the appropriate spot for cutting with a pencil or marker.

Now you may draw added details to the mask using a marker, lipstick, etc.

Everyone gets to come over for a festive Holiday, and each has happily created his or her own costume!

You can even paper mache ghosts (a balloon with paper mache strips hanging down from it. A full Frankenstein can be made, using cardboard cutouts as molds for the body, etc. etc.

Paper mache is a great group craft for children. Inexpensive, enjoyed and a group craft which effective for the entire year.

Learn more about this author, Duane Kuehn.
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