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.

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.

Paper Mache Clay Recipe

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 Frog

Paper Mache Clay Frog

Paper Mache Clay Butterflies:

Paper Mache Clay Butterflies

Paper Mache Clay Butterflies

Paper Mache Clay Snowman:

Paper Mache Clay Snowman

Paper Mache Clay Snowman

Traditional Paper Mache Tutorials:

Life-Sized Baby Elephant Sculpture:

Large Paper Mache Baby Indian Elephant

Large Paper Mache Baby Indian Elephant

Good Starting Projects

Paper Mache Bluebirds:

Paper Mache Bluebirds

Paper Mache Bluebirds

Paper Mache Piggy Bank

Paper Mache Piggy Bank

Paper Mache Piggy Bank

Paper Mache Baby Sperm Whale Wall Hanging

Paper Mache Whale Wall Hanging

Paper Mache Whale Wall Hanging

Paper Mache Orangutan Mask

Paper Mache Orangutan Mask

Paper Mache Orangutan Mask

African Ceremonial Mask

African Ceremonial Mask

African Ceremonial Mask

Paper Mache Dragon

Paper Mache Dragon

Paper Mache Dragon

Paper Mache Lop-Eared Bunny

Paper Mache Lop-Eared Bunny

Paper Mache Lop-Eared Bunny

Paper Mache Rabbit Sculpture

Paper Mache Rabbit Sculpture

Paper Mache Rabbit Sculpture

Paper Mache Panda Sculpture

Paper Mache Panda Sculpture

Paper Mache Panda Sculpture

Paper Mache Long-Beaked Echidna Sculpture

Paper Mache Long-Beaked Echidna Sculpture

Paper Mache Long-Beaked Echidna Sculpture

Paper Mache Horse Sculpture (see links below)

Paper Mache Horse Sculpture

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:

Seasonal Decorations:

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Valentines Day Bouquet

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.

18 comments

  1. Brad says:

    This is an incredable sight, very inspiring. I can’t wait to start the piggy bank with the kids.

    [Reply]

  2. juju says:

    can you sand finished paper mache to make it smooth

    [Reply]

    Jonni Reply:

    Yes, you can.

    [Reply]

  3. BARBARA LYNN says:

    NICE SITE. LOVE YOUR RABBITS AND YOUR SHARING.

    [Reply]

  4. Marcelo says:

    Parabéns pelos turorial, seus trabalhos são lindos mesmo. Sou do Brasil. Forte abraço !

    [Reply]

  5. Ruth says:

    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

    [Reply]

    Jonni Reply:

    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.

    [Reply]

  6. Cab says:

    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!

    [Reply]

    Jonni Reply:

    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.

    [Reply]

    Cab Reply:

    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.

    [Reply]

    Jonni Reply:

    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…

  7. MICHELE says:

    HI, I NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE PASS YOUR FOR NUMBER .YOURS PIECES FOR SALE, I NEED THE PRICE THE BABY ELEPHANT.THANKS

    [Reply]

    Jonni Reply:

    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.

    [Reply]

  8. Brooke says:

    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!

    [Reply]

    Jonni Reply:

    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.

    [Reply]

    Brooke Reply:

    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!

    [Reply]

    Jonni Reply:

    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.

  9. Tory says:

    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!

    [Reply]

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