PAPIER-MÂCHÉ

One of the most versatile craft-making materials, papier-mâché has been around as long as there has been paper. This paper-molding technique can be used to make small items like beads or to skim the surface of giant sculptures. Practically anything you can dream up can be made out of papier-mâché.

Supplies

Newspaper

Masking tape

Bowl

Water

Flour

Paint and/or other decorating materials

Balloons or cardboard box, optional

Directions

1 Create a base for your papier-mâché sculpture. An easy base can be made by balling up newspaper and sticking the balls together with masking tape in the basic shape of your finished piece. For very large pieces, bent chicken wire can be used. You don’t need to be precise with the base shape now; it can be refined as you go.

2 Pour a small amount of water in a large bowl and mix in flour until it makes a thick, creamlike paste. You can make more as you go along, so don’t make a large amount, as it can dry quickly.

3 Tear newspaper into long strips and run them through the paste. Use two of your fingers to skim off the excess paste on either side of the strip so there’s just enough to make the piece sticky. Place it onto your base and continue this process until the entire thing is covered.

4 Switch to smaller torn pieces of newspaper to create finer details and to smooth out the overall surface.

5 Let the piece dry entirely (which can take several hours) before painting or adding additional layers of finishing paper, such as colored tissue paper.

Tips

• Once dry, you can decorate it or glue other materials to it. You can even continue to change the shape by adding more papier-mâché.

• For a hollow base, use an inflated balloon or a cardboard box.

QUILLING

The traditional craft of quilling has had a resurgence in recent years. Quillers use rolled strips of paper to create everything from simple decorations to highly complex sculptures. It’s an extremely easy craft to learn and probably one of the most inexpensive.

312. Quilled Skull

Supplies

Paper

Scissors or paper shredder

Improvised or purchased quilling tool, optional

Glue

Directions

1 Using a paper shredder or a pair of scissors, cut several long strips of paper that are the same width. Generally 1/8 to ¼ inch (.6 to .3 cm) is sufficient.

2 Roll each strip of paper so that you end up with a small, tight coil. Quilling tools are available to make this easier, but a hairpin or thin chopstick with a slit cut in the tapered end can be used just as easily.

3 Allow each coil to unroll slightly so that a spiral shape is visible when it is viewed from the side.

4 Close the coils with a small dot of glue—or leave them open if you want to attach two together to create other shapes. Coils that have been glued closed can then be pinched to create a variety of shapes (eye, teardrop, paisley, etc.).

5 Glue your coils together to create large shapes or patterns. Use different colors to distinguish different areas. Use unrolled coils to create lines or connect different pieces.

Tips

• There really are no steadfast rules with quilling—once you’ve made your coils, just experiment and see what happens. You can even incorporate other kinds of paper arts or nonpaper items.

• You can glue your finished creation to a board, have it be a freestanding item, or even make it on top of a dimensional base.

POP-UPS

Paper engineering is a complicated art form that requires a lot of skill to master. But there are lots of simple pop-up forms that can be created with just a few cuts and folds. And with a bit of decoration, they can seem far more complex than they actually are.

343. Pop-up Skull

Supplies

Paper (any size will work)

Scissors

Decorating materials

Directions

BEAKED MOUTH

1 Fold piece of paper in half.

2 Cut a small perpendicular slit in the center of the fold. Don’t cut more than halfway to the edge.

3 Starting at the corners of the cut part, fold the paper on either side of the slit against the main piece of paper so that it creates two triangular shapes. Fold them in the other direction to crease the triangles further.

4 Unfold the sheet of paper and then pull the triangle shapes toward you while simultaneously refolding the paper. This may take a bit of wiggling to get it to work; they can be done one at a time if need be. The end result will look like an open bird beak, which will close and open as the card is opened and closed.

Tips

• Use sturdier paper for larger or more complex pieces.

• Try cutting into the shapes you’ve made or attaching other pieces of paper to them to create variations on the pattern.

• To hide the pop-ups inside a card, fold a piece of paper in quarters and use only the interior two panels for your pop-up; the exterior two will give you a solid exterior to decorate as well. Or you can glue your pop-up panel onto another piece of folded paper or cardboard.

PIÑATA

The piñata is a traditional Mexican party decoration that has been a staple of children’s birthdays for years. The festive container is filled with treats, hung from a tree, and broken open with a stick. Piñatas can be created as unfilled decorative items—but it is a lot of fun to break them!

286. Piñata Skull

Supplies

Cardboard box or balloon

Newspaper

Masking tape

Bowl

Water

Flour

Paint and/or other decorating materials

Scissors or hobby knife

String

Tissue paper, optional

Candy or other nonbreakable items for filling, optional

Directions

1 Start with an inflated balloon or cardboard box as a base. (You don’t need to prefill your piñata, just don’t forget to make a door or opening so you can fill it later.) Add balled newspaper, paper tubes, and the like with masking tape to make the shape you want.

2 Use the simple papier-mâché instructions from page 234 to cover the entire structure.

3 Let dry and then pop the balloon, if you used one.

4 Use whatever art materials you like, such as tissue paper, to decorate the exterior.

5 Add a couple of holes and run a string through them so the piñata can be hung up.

6 Fill with candy or treats, close up any doors with a bit of tape and cover with more of your decorating materials, and it’s ready to use.

Tip

• Rather than using candy, try filling the piñata with other nonbreakable items for a real surprise when it’s opened.

BAKER’S CLAY

Clay is a fantastically versatile medium that can be made with just a few kitchen ingredients. This simple recipe is completely nontoxic, so it’s a great project to do with small kids. Baker’s clay is definitely not a precision material, so have fun and experiment when you use it!

Supplies

4 c flour

1 c salt

1½ c water

Measuring cups

Mixing bowls

Cookie sheet

Oven

Paint or other decorating materials

Food coloring, optional

Directions:

1 Put 4 cups of flour in a large bowl.

2 Mix in 1 cup of salt.

3 Slowly add 1½ cups of water (add more if the dough is too dry and crumbly).

4 Knead with your hands until smooth.

5 Create things that are under 1½ inches (3.8 cm) thick or they won’t dry properly.

6 Bake on a cookie sheet at 300°F (150°C) for 30–60 minutes to harden (just don’t let it get brown).

Tips

• If you want colored clay, you can add food coloring to the water before mixing it with the flour, or you can pull off chunks of finished clay and mix in a small amount of coloring (though be aware that it may stain your hands).

• You can paint or decorate the end result with most common art materials and even seal it with a varnish.

• This clay is not water resistant, so it may degrade over time if it is not fully sealed after it is baked, and very wet paints may cause it to soften.

• Keep the unused clay in a closed container, and it will stay soft for a few days.