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.
If you finish one of these projects, please let us know – and we’d all love to see your finished work. If you have a Flicker account or a website of your own, please link to it in the comment section under the tutorial posts.
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 all 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
The photos above show the complete paper mache project tutorials on this site. If you browse through the archives you’ll also find other projects I’ve done using techniques shown in these tutorials, plus additional ideas you can use in your own paper mache projects.
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.
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When you purchase through one of the links shown above the small commission I receive helps to support this website. Thanks!
This is an incredable sight, very inspiring. I can’t wait to start the piggy bank with the kids.
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can you sand finished paper mache to make it smooth
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Jonni Reply:
December 19th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Yes, you can.
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NICE SITE. LOVE YOUR RABBITS AND YOUR SHARING.
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Parabéns pelos turorial, seus trabalhos são lindos mesmo. Sou do Brasil. Forte abraço !
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wow, you are trully an artist thanks for sharing your art with others, they are all so beautiful and impressive, it’s hard to believe they are made out of paper mache.
My son has to do a science project and wants to step out side the box, he wants to try and replicate a Gamma Ray Burst out of paper mache. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Ruth
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Jonni Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I’m afraid I don’t even know what a gamma ray burst is. Your son might want to join the paper mache rt group on Yahoo. Some of the members are quite creative and always willing to help with their advice.
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Hey. These are really amazing! I have been interested in paper mache for quite some time but I never really had a reason to make anything until now.
You see, I’m in a production group that’s going to be present a stageplay of Aladdin this May, and I’ve been looking for a puppet of Iago (the parrot) everywhere. After hours of searching, I stumbled upon this website and it sort of inspired me to attempt to build my own puppet using paper mache.
If you could give me any tips or hints on my endeavor it would be greatly appreciated! Do you think paper mache is a good route to go for this? Thanks in advance!
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Jonni Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Yes, paper mache would be a perfect material for your puppet. I’ve never made a puppet, so I don’t know anything about the mechanics of it. Perhaps someone else will see your comment and offer some advice.
Have fun with it. We’d love to see it when it’s done.
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Cab Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
What would be the sturdiest way to fasten cloth to the body parts? If I end up doing what I have in mind I will make the body parts separately (3-4) and keep them held together with a piece of burlap or something similar so they will be able to move freely while covering the puppeteers arm. One more thing, how many layers of paper should be applied to the surface of the piece?
Thanks for the quick response! I will be sure to post up pictures if/when I finish the puppet.
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Jonni Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Since I’ve never made a puppet, you should take any advice I give with a grain of salt. I’m sure a better source for information about this particular project would be Dan Reeder, the Monster Man. I’m pretty sure I’ve read that he’s made some puppets. But, now that you’ve been warned, here’s how I would do it:
First, I’d use paper mache clay instead of paper strips and paste, just because it’s so much easier to get fine details. Plus, it’s faster. You can even make things like feathers that are very thin, but strong. (See photos of the paper mache clay chicken, with her tail feathers sticking out. They were made just like the wings on the butterflies.) I have not made anything hollow from the paper mache clay, but I’ll be doing some experiments soon.
For making your cloth hinges, you could put a thin layer of clay on both pieces, then embed the cloth into the clay and cover it with another layer. I have not tried this, so I don’t know if it would work. You might need to dip the edges of the cloth into some diluted glue, to make sure it sticks to the clay.
You could do the same thing with paper strips and paste, as long as the first layer was still wet and there’s lots of paste to come in contact with the cloth.
I hope this helps, at least a little. But, as I said, this is all theoretical…
HI, I NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE PASS YOUR FOR NUMBER .YOURS PIECES FOR SALE, I NEED THE PRICE THE BABY ELEPHANT.THANKS
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Jonni Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:03 am
Hello Michelle. The baby elephant is not for sale. It is much too heavy to ship. However, if you would like to commission a new one, which would be made with my new, lighter techniques, I would be glad to consider it. Please use my contact form.
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My kids and I would love to try a elephant paper mache project! Can you possible tell me how to scale it down from a garden scuplture to make a book shelf decoration? Either the Asian or african would work but since the kids are 9 and 6 I think a Asian would be easier for them to work on. Thanks!
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Jonni Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 10:13 am
Hi Brooke. You can easily scale the elephant down using the baby elephant pattern, and making smaller squares in your grid. Use cardboard instead of particle board for the pattern, and then everything else would be done the same as in the elephant video. The pattern is for an Asian elephant, which has smaller ears and a different head shape than an African elephant. If you prefer an African elephant, you would need to alter the pattern, or simply draw your own.
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Brooke Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Okay thanks for that! I would like to ask one more question. My son is in the middle of making a paper mache turtle for a book cover. I used styrafoam to make the circle , a ballon and masking tape for the rounded portion,a paper towel tube and styrafoam ball for the head and neck. We cover this with the flour and paste newspaper mix. Now my question is can I put it in the oven to dry if i keep it under 200 and to make a smooth piece would you say joint compound or the gesso mix? Thank you for the help!
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Jonni Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Hi Brooke. I’m thinking that the balloon would expand in the oven, because that’s what air does when it heats up. It might pull your paper mache apart. But it might work. I have to admit that I just don’t have the answer to this question. The paper mache itself will be just fine in the oven – it’s just the balloon I’m worried about.
This is such a generous site to share the years of knowledge and expertise so freely so we can all enjoy and experiment with paper mache. I am truly inspired and cant wait to get my hands into it, thankyou!
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