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.

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, bow or ribbon

Instructions:

Make the Feet

• take a toilet paper roll, flatten it and fold it in half
• tape it so it doesn't unfold
• do this with 8 rolls.
• Tape together the rolls to form bird feet shapes (three toes with one back toe).
• The back toe helps to stabilize the bird so it doesn't fall over
• Make 2 feet
• Tape half a gift wrap roll or a paper towel roll onto each foot (I didn't have either, so just taped a few toilet paper rolls together).
• When taping toilet paper 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.
• Tape everything VERY well.

 

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.
• Blow up one balloon all the way.  Tape the legs to it.  This is the body.
• Tape a paper towel roll to the top of the body.  This is the neck.
• Stuff the neck full of newspaper, again to keep it from getting mushy.
• Blow up another balloon about 1/2 way.  Tape it to the neck.
• You can break for a day at this point if you like.
• Read the tips to paper mache for how to make paste and tricks on maching.

 

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!
• 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.
• Let the project dry completely (12 to 24 hours depending on your humidity level).
• 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).
• 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.

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.
• 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.
• We cut "petal shaped" pieces of pink construction paper and glued them in a feather like way all over the body, neck and head.
• We added purple feathers at the top of the head.  Other people have used pipecleaners, curly ribbons and bows.
• We added large google eyes.
• We added a rolled cone of yellow construction paper as a beak.