DLTK's Crafts for Kids
BIG Paper Mache Bird
This rather large paper mache bird makes a great friend or a rather
nifty pinata.
Tasha (my eldest) and I made it -- it took Kaitlyn (my youngest)
quite awhile before she was comfortable with her new companion.
She's not used to crafts that are bigger than she is *laugh*.
This is the most difficult project on the site so far. It is
not a good "first time paper mache" project. If this is
your first time using paper mache, try one
of our other projects before attempting this one. |
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Materials:
 | 2 balloons |
| toilet paper rolls, gift wrap rolls and/or paper towel rolls |
| tape |
| newspaper ripped into strips |
| flour |
| glue |
| scissors |
| construction paper and/or tissue paper |
| OPTIONAL: feathers
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FanArt
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FanArt
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Instructions:
Make the Feet
| take a toilet paper roll, flatten it and fold it in half
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| tape it so it doesn't unfold
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| do this with 8 rolls.
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| Tape together the rolls to form bird feet shapes (three toes with
one back toe)
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| the back toe helps to stabilize the bird so it doesn't fall over
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| Make 2 feet
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| Tape half a gift wrap roll or a paper towel roll onto each foot (I
didn't have either, so just taped a few tp rolls together)
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| When taping tp rolls to the feet (and to the body later on), cut
slits about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch apart all around the
roll. Flatten the slits and use them to tape the rolls to the
feet/body.
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| Tape everything VERY well. |
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Assemble the Frame
| Stuff the roll full of newspaper. If you don't stuff it
well, the project will get too mushy when you're paper maching it,
and will start to collapse.
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| Blow up one balloon all the way. Tape the legs to it.
This is the body.
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| Tape a paper towel roll to the top of the body. This is the
neck.
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| Stuff the neck full of newspaper, again to keep it from getting
mushy.
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| Blow up another balloon about 1/2 way. Tape it to the neck.
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| You can break for a day at this point if you like.
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| Read the tips to paper
mache for how to make paste and tricks on maching. |
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Paper Mache:
| Cover the entire bird with 2 to 4 layers of paper mache. You
MUST do this in one sitting -- if you half mache a balloon it will
pop when the mache starts to dry. If the project starts
getting too mushy, just charge on -- lie it on its side if you have
to. At this point you'll be very happy with yourself if you
remembered to stuff the paper towel rolls full of newspaper -- it
really helps keep everything supported!
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| Once the project dries, you can adjust the legs or neck by
rewetting them with a damp cloth (or a second round of mache).
This is sometimes necessary if you had to lie it on its side.
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| Let the project dry completely (12 to 24 hours depending on your
humidity level)
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| If making a pinata, cut an opening in the top of the bird.
Fill with candy. Tape shut. (Use a damp cloth to soften
the mache if you have trouble cutting the opening).
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| Once dry, cover the entire bird with 2 to 4 more layers of paper
mache. I like to use scrap white paper for this layer since
it's easier to decorate. |
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Decorate the bird:
| I'm going to tell you what we did, but the sky's the limit
here! You can use feathers, paint, fake fur, tissue paper,
felt, etc, etc. Older children, especially, will enjoy a pile
of craft supplies and their imagination at this point.
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| We cut 4" x 8" strips of yellow construction paper and
fringed them. We taped these (starting at the feet) all the
way up both legs.
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| We cut "petal shaped" pieces of pink construction paper
and glued them in a feather like way all over the body, neck and
head.
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| We added purple feathers at the top of the head.
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| We added large google eyes.
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| We added a rolled cone of yellow construction paper as a beak. |
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