5 Simple Paper Mache Craft Ideas for Kids

Parents everywhere know crafting is a great way to keep kids occupied and foster creativity. If you're looking for a new material that can easily be turned into a wide variety of cool crafts, look no further than paper mache.

This is an excellent craft that offers an ooey-gooey, messy experience for kids, young and old. Believe it or not, clean-up is a breeze, and the best part is that paper mache can easily eat up an hour or more, which is perfect for those rainy days when you're stuck inside.

Basic Paper Mache Recipe

To get started, all you need is a simple recipe for paper mache paste; we have one flour-based and one glue-based. Both work great; you can choose the recipe based on what you have on hand.

Here is what you'll need for a flour-based paste:

• A large bowl for mixing
• One part water
• One part flour—or white glue
• Strips of newspaper

Instructions:

1. Step One: Pour your flour or white glue into the bowl and add an equal amount of water. For example, if you use 2 cups of flour or glue, add 2 cups of water.
2. Step Two: Mix with a whisk until smooth.
3. Step Three: To do a paper mache project, dip scraps of newsprint into the slurry and coat both sides before layering it onto your project.

Read on for 5 awesome paper mache projects your kids will love.

Paper Mache Piñata

Score both a fun crafternoon and a rowdy family activity by letting kids create a traditional piñata from paper mache. Check out KiwiCo's cute tutorial for a radiant sunshine piñata (complete with photos for each step).

Not ready to add candy and throw a party? No problem! These beautiful creations make wonderful art decor to hang in your child's room.

Paper Mache Sculptures

Paper mache can be used to create a sculpture of just about anything. To create a sculpture, you must first make paper mache clay, which is very similar to the slurry recipe above.

Paper mache clay recipe

To make paper mache clay, you first make a slurry, but instead of slipping newspaper into the slurry to coat it before applying it to a project, you add the newspaper directly to the slurry to create a paste-like material that you can sculpt by hand.

Here is what you need:

• A large mixing bowl
• 3 Cups ripped up, wet newspaper (wring it out before placing in the bowl)
• 1 Cup white glue if you use flour, add 1-2 tablespoons vinegar or salt)
• 1-2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions:

• Mix everything together with your hands
• If the dough feels too wet, add a little more flour or newspaper
• If the dough feels too dry, add a little more water

Use the paper mache clay like you would play dough or regular clay to create fun sculptures. When your craft is done, let it dry fro 24-48 hours before painting it. Once your child has painted their sculpture, you can coat it with a glossy Modge Podge to help seal the final piece.

Paper Mache Earth

Have a grade-schooler learning geography at home? We love this paper mache Earth craft that you can decorate with cut-out continents.

Paper Mache Masks

STARTOON shows kids how to create their very own paper mache mask with a popped balloon in the tutorial. Children can paint their masks however they like, transforming into anything from a bee to a superhero.

Paper Mache Piggy Banks

Spending time on a craft that can be used to urge kids to save their pennies is a win-win. Enter these cute paper mache piggy bank crafts dreamed up by the DIY Crafts channel on YouTube. This project has lots of wiggle room for personalizing each piggy bank, which is perfect for little kids to express their creativity. Grab some stickers, paint, or markers, and let them go wild.

Get Creative

Paper mache is such a fun, inexpensive medium to play with, making it perfect for creating many wildly imaginative projects. It's also pretty fun for grown-ups, so don't be afraid to get your hands dirty!