Tutorials
Learn to make the following paper mache animal sculptures (and a few seasonal trinkets) with the tutorial posts on this blog. You can follow the instructions exactly to produce a sculpture that looks just like mine, or get creative and use the techniques to build unique artwork that’s yours alone.
Some of the tutorials are shown below – but there are many more on this site. (At last count, there were 53 tutorials, with more coming all the time). To see all the paper mache tutorials on the blog, click here. And to see all of the other posts on this site (over 200 and counting) click here. You can also download the free Practical Paper Mache ebook, which was created by readers of this blog, here.
If you have a particular project in mind, we may have it – to find out, use the search bar on the sidebar.
If you make any of these projects, please let us know – and we’d all love to see your finished work.
Note: Most of these tutorials use traditional paper strips and white flour paste. However, you can use the instructions along with the new paper mache clay, if you prefer. I now use the clay for almost all of my paper mache sculptures.
To reach the tutorial of your choice, just click on one of the images below.
Paper Mache Clay Tutorials
Paper Mache Clay Frog
Paper Mache Clay Butterflies
Paper Mache Clay Snowman
Traditional Paper Mache Tutorials:
Life-Sized Baby Elephant Sculpture:
Large Paper Mache Baby Indian Elephant
Good Starting Projects
Paper Mache Bluebirds
Paper Mache Piggy Bank
Paper Mache Baby Sperm Whale Wall Hanging
Paper Mache Whale Wall Hanging
Paper Mache Orangutan Mask
African Ceremonial Mask
Paper Mache Dragon
Paper Mache Lop-Eared Bunny
Paper Mache Rabbit Sculpture
Paper Mache Panda Sculpture
Paper Mache Long-Beaked Echidna Sculpture
Paper Mache Long-Beaked Echidna Sculpture
Paper Mache Horse Sculpture (see links below)
Paper Mache Horse Sculpture
This last tutorial is a series of posts showing my progress with a fairly complicated and advanced animal sculpture that took two weeks to complete. To read the posts from first to last, follow these links:
- Horse Sculpture Post #1
- Horse Sculpture Post #2
- Horse Sculpture Post #3
- Horse Sculpture Post #4
- Horse Sculpture Post #5
- Horse Sculpture Post #6
- Final Post
Seasonal Decorations:
Christmas Tree Ornaments
Valentines Day Bouquet
Be sure to also check out the many other tutorials and posts on this site.
If you have any questions about any of the tutorials, or just want to sound off, please remember to leave a comment. Your comments make this blog much more fun for me to create.
- My favorite online bookstore.
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Hello, Jonni,
I was looking up the link you give to ‘Activa Li-Qua-Ché Pourable Papier Maché’ – for making paper mâché ornaments and Dionysus, but found there is a page/link error. Blick ask to report it to you in case you are unaware of it. Also, when you paste the substance name at Blick, it registers as not known.
I have Googled ‘Activa Li-Qua-Ché Pourable Papier Maché’ and found other references to ‘Celluclay’, etc.
Sorry to have to be ‘the messenger’ but I hope this helps you.
Elizabeth
Thanks, Elizabeth. I’ll try to fix the link tomorrow. The Activa company might not be making that product any more.
I want to make molds but do not know where to start.
Whenever I try to learn something about molds (or re-learn it, since I don’t do it very often) I watch the videos on the Smooth-On site, and then do a search for more home-made videos on YouTube. It isn’t a difficult process, but depending on the kind of material you’re using, there are usually some important steps to follow.
Good luck – and be sure to let us see what you make with your molds!
hi joni i ove all the work because its fun easy and chea ive been doing paper mache masks for about 4 months now and currently making one for halloween
i was wondering if you knew any other way to make paper mache clay because i cant find any borax thank you
Hi Callum. The paper mache clay recipe on this site doesn’t use borax – in fact, adding borax would ruin it.
Be sure to show us your mask when it’s done. We’re in the middle of an online mask party, and we’d love to see how your mask turns out.
Dear Jonni, What an inspiration you are! I shall be making your bluebirds for my Christmas tree this year. Many thanks,
Best regards, Sally
Dear Jonni, I wanted to share with you an idea that I have for Christmas gifts this year..we are from Texas but most of my extended family lives back in Georgia..all of my little great nieces and nephews are fascinated with Texas…so this year I am going to attempt to sculpt a little Longhorn..with a Texas flag painted on it’s side…using your paper mache technique..I was able to make a passable Georgia bulldog so this will be my next attempt…I’m thinking of making a mold so that I can reproduce the sculpture instead of making all new ones…havent tried that..but nothing ventured nothing gained…thanks for your website…Ive learned so much from you..nonna
What a great project. I hope you’ll let us see the beast when it’s done.
Hi Jonni
I like making monsters out of paper mache myself. But your bunny sculpture actually made me go ” awwww, so cute.” Thanks for helping us realize there’s more to paper mache than balloons and newspaper stripes. Bloody good job!
Hi!
I’m preparing to start my first paper mache project. I’ve been thinking and planning for some time, but I’m not sure of a few things and was wondering if you could shed some light for me.
I wanted to build a computer. So I’m wondering… how much heat can paper mache withstand?
I also would need to “build” it in parts and assemble them, but always being able to unassemble and reassemble them easily (hinges?). What is best to use to fasten two paper mache objects together? Or is there a way to use regular screws?
Any thoughts, ideas comments are greatly appreciated.
Great site, keep up the good work!
Squalle
Squalle, I have no experience at all in making a paper mache computer-holding box. It sounds like you really want something like particle board or Masonite, but you are trying to get paper mache to act like one of those materials, instead. Computers do get really hot, and paper burns – so does plywood, or any other carbon-based material. I have to say that I have real doubts about the feasibility of this project. I really don’t want you to burn down your house.
Hi there Jonni,
My name is Jacquie and I recently saw your elephant tutorial on youtube! Great job!! It looks amazing! I was wondering if you would have some tips for me. At my job we have an incentive to go to california at the end of the year if we reach our sales goals. As a keyholder I was thinking that I would create a somewhat light weight airplane out of paper mache, or perhaps some other product, that I would be able to make somewhat realistic to put the associates goals and pictures on the windows. What do you think, would paper mache be a good product? I noticed your elephant had a lot of weight to it and I was kind of thinking of something not so heavy, is there a way to do that?
Thank you:) Jacquie
Hi Jacquie. You can certainly use paper mache for your airplane. I would suggest that you make the form out of Styrofoam instead of the plywood and crumpled paper that I used for the elephant – I’m sure your coworkers aren’t going to try to sit on the airplane. Use glue and tape to put together a foam airplane shape, and then cover it with paper mache, and paint it. It should look great, and it would be light enough to move around when you need to.
I’m working on a window display for a bookstore and need some advice. The concept is a “forest of stories.” I’ve collected 7 nine foot branches that I plan to display like tree trunks in the window but I want them completely covered in torn out pages of old novels. So the look like trees made up of stories. Can any one recomend a way to go about doing this? It needs to be cost effective.
I just now found a tutorial that shows how to add book pages to a bottle – not quite what you’re looking for, but she seems to be having no problems with the pages turning transparent and showing the letters from the reverse side. She uses Mod Podge for her paste. It’s a bit expensive, I think, so you might experiment with diluted Elmer’s to see if it works. The dampened paper should easily conform to the shape of your branches if you tear the paper into small enough pieces.
Good luck with your project. We’d love to see it when it’s done.
I have two antique paper mache Christmas Angels (approximately 30″ X 14″). One has a wing that is separating from the body, and I need to find a way to repair it, or to find a professional who can repair it. Any ideas?? I can submit a photo if it woill help.
Is the crack wide enough to get some carpenter’s or Elmer’s glue into it? If so, and if the shape allows you to clamp it together until the glue is dry, that might hold it. Gorilla glue would work, too. You would still have a line showing the original problem, though. If your angels are important, either for sentimental or financial reasons, you might want to call the closest art museum to see if they can recommend someone who specializes in restoring art.
Hi,
I’m in the midst of a project restoration and I have several older and newer paper mache rabbits that have lost their glass eyes. Can you tell me the best way to insert the glass eye so it doesn’t fall out?
Thank you.
I’ve never done any restorations, but a two-part epoxy cement should do the trick.
I am going to make a life size American Bison head and chest, using your mache clay. I think I will use wire for the base upon which I will put the clay. Because of its large size, how thick should the sides be to be stable and yet still be light enough to hang on a wall?
I will send photos and let you all know how it gos. Thanks for the help.
Michael, the clay is really strong, so 1/4 inch should be plenty. You may even be able to get away with less. Do a small experimental piece first, perhaps just a flat disk spread over plastic wrap, so you can get a feel for it.
Also, check out this comment we also got today on another page. Dixie makes grandfather clocks with the clay, so she may have a more accurate answer for you. I haven’t made any large wall pieces with the material myself.
Hi,
We bought a large paper mache sea turtle. It is beautiful and we’d like to hang it on our screen porch, however it needs another hanger added to it to hang correctly. The only way to hang this now is from its tail straight down. We’d like to add the hanger to its chest so we can angle it on the wall. Is there anyway to attach an extra loop or wall hanger on it?
It’s length is 30″; the width of its flippers is 46″ and it weighs about 5 lbs.
Thanks for you advice.
Julie
Julie, would it be possible to add a metal hanger with epoxy glue? This is not my area of expertise – perhaps a local picture frame store would have a good idea for you.
Yes, I think we could add a hanger with epoxy glue…I was just worried it might damage the paper mache’. We want to angle the turtle and I was concerned that the weight might eventually pull a chunk out of the piece.
I also thought about drilling a small hole into the chest/neck area, putting a screw-type of small hanger in there and filling that up with glue.
It seems very well made and I may be anxious for no good reason, just not familiar with this type of art. We paid quite a bit of money for it (and now seeing your tutorials, I think I could do this…nonetheless) I don’t want to damage it.
Please let me know what you think. I am ever so grateful for this forum!
Julie
Is the turtle hollow? If so, is there a way to put a piece of wood or a metal strap inside that you could attach a cord to, so all the weight wasn’t on two holes? The wider the area that is affected by the hangers, the less likely anything will break or crack. Of course, paper mache is quite strong and light. so you may have no problem with cracking. If the paper mache is thick enough, your screw-in hangers might work just fine.
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