Does anyone know how to make large paper mache statues with wood, wire sheets and paste? A lady who lived in my neighborhood when I was a kid made a whole night before Christmas scene in her yard. I'd like to do it but don't know what was used or if it was just a freelance thing.
How large is large to you?
My Grandmother in the 1060's made a whole nativity scene that was about a foot high. I'm pretty sure she started with sturdy wire stick-figure like people. Added smashed Styrofoam to be the head, then draped them in cotton outfits that were soaked in 1/2 white glue and water. The hands were rolled paper towel and glue made finger by finger then glued on. Glue soaked yarn hair can be added.
The figures were then painted with acrylic paint. Then decorated further with bits of metal, etc. I think if you added real sturdy wood bases and frames to this you could make bigger ones. They will not be water proof! Do not under-estimate how messy and time consuming this is.
I've built puppets for the theater in a similar fashion, and there were only small pathways thru my kitchen for months. Good luck!
Londa
This sounds so much like it. Thank you for answering.
Are you going to try to make some? I'd love to see what you make! My grandmother loved the ones she made so much, she kept them on display all year long, and then took them to the nursing home with her. They were at her bedside.
They are now in my attic, rather beat up, and no longer after all this time good for display. I remember my mother-in-law also had photos of an angel somebody else had made. So I figure this was a project in a craft publication at the time.
Londa, NY
I am I just have allot on my plate right now. I own a store and we are moving it so I'll have to put this project on hold for now. Hopefully by xmas I will have 2 little elves made as I want to put them on our atvs in the xmas parade here. I will take pics and post them when I do it. Again thank you so much for the info. Sometimes we just need a little boost to get us moving ya know.
If you are looking for a homemade Christmas ornament project, this might be just the one. Cover inflated balloons with papier-mâché, allow to dry and then paint and decorate as desired.
This page is about making a paper mache hot air balloon. You can make a cute little paper mache hot air balloon with just newspaper strips, flour, water, paints, and an inflated balloon.
Paper mache lanterns are an easy and beautiful craft. This page contains instructions for making your own paper mache lantern at home.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to make a paper mache (sp?) pumpkin for Halloween? Instead of buying a pumpkin I'd like to make some that I can keep and reuse. Any ideas would be welcome.
