Learning how to make paper mache is a traditional kids craft using newspaper that we love for even the youngest of crafters. This easy paper mache recipe has only 2 ingredients and is perfect for kids of all ages with a bunch of old scraps of paper!
How to make paper mache with kids
We’ll start with the simplest paper mache craft, a paper mache bowl, but this simple technique will inspire you to make more paper mache crafts!
paper mache started as a French term for chewed paper, referring to the mixture of paper pulp and paste that hardens as it dries.
Paper mache making was the first craft I remember doing. I remember the joy of taking strips of newspaper with some water and flour and turning these simple ingredients into a paper mache bowl or making paper mache balls out of balloons covered in layers of paper mache, waiting for them to dry , and pop the balloon in.
Paper mache just seems magical!
Paper mache recipe
For any paper mache craft or paper mache project, you will need paper mache paste and old newspaper strips.
Supplies needed to make paper mache paste
- 1 part water
- 1 part flour
Instructions for making paper mache paste
- In a medium-sized bowl, add 1 part water to 1 part flour
- Mix thoroughly to combine flour and water into a thick paste, about the consistency of wallpaper paste
How to make a paper mache bowl
Step 1 – Select a small bowl as a paper mache template
Start with a small bowl – preferably plastic – that you can use as a template for a paper mache bowl for your newspaper craft. If you don’t have a plastic bowl, you can use a metal or ceramic bowl, just slide a layer of plastic wrap like cling film over it first.
The easiest way is to turn the bowl upside down to use the bottom as a template.
Step 2 – Tear old newspaper into strips
Prepare a stack of old newspapers for the paper mache craft by tearing the newspaper into strips. You can also use scissors or paper cutters to cut strips.
Step 3 – Mix your paper mache paste
Grab your pre-made paper mache paste or recipe for a paper mache paste mix by combining flour and water 1:1.
Step 3 – Dip & Cover with paper mache
Paper mache making is messy, so cover your work area with extra newspaper or a plastic sheet.
Dip a newspaper strip in the paste, slide through the papier-mâché paste and gently run your fingers over the sticky newspaper strips to remove excess papier-mâché paste. Lay the paper strips on the bottom of the bowl template as the first layer of papier-mâché.
Continue to add strips covering the entire tray template and flatten to squeeze out any air bubbles from the paper mache mixture.
Top: You can place your paper mache paste in a large bowl and use the top of the bowl to scoop the excess paste out of the flour mixture.
Step 4 – Layer paper mache strips
Add more layers – second layer, third layer, fourth layer… the more the merrier. We made about 5 layers to keep the bowl stable and completely covered.
Step 4 – Drying
Let the paper mache bowl dry overnight. Drying times will vary depending on the size of your project, your temperature and humidity.
Step 5 – Remove template
After the paper mache is dry, gently push the bowl out. If you have a plastic bowl, just squeeze it a little and it will pop out. If you covered a different type of bowl, pull the plastic wrap to loosen it.
Step 6 – Paint and decorate your paper mache bowl
After our paper mache creation dried overnight and fell off the plastic mold, we opened up our craft supplies and used what we could find.
- We painted our papier-mâché bowl white white acrylic paint and a brush and applied strips of blue tissue paper for paint.
- Our white acrylic paint this took several coats to cover the newsprint guy. The blue strips of tissue paper were applied to the wet paint and were a great way to add some color to the bottom of the bowl.
Ready-made paper mache crafts for children
Our paper mache bowl turned out so pretty! The bowl is the perfect size for storing some small treasures or just collecting some coins.
Easy paper mache bowl project for kids
My 4.5 year old son Jack loves to create. He draws every day, paints and builds models. I knew he would love paper mache; sticky paste sculpting, what’s not to love?
This was our first time working with paper mache together and it was so much fun. Instead of using a balloon we used a bowl because it’s really easy:
- A bowl is beautiful and stable for small hands who are just beginning to coordinate paper mache.
- Anything I’m about to describe how to make paper mache with kids can be modified for a more complex paper mache idea.
My son Jack loved this paper mache craft so much that we will definitely be doing more paper mache fun projects soon.
Maybe next time we’ll make an animal mask like I did when I was a kid. Or maybe we’re covering a beach ball…one good idea at a time!
preparation time
5 minutes
active time
30 minutes
total time
35 minutes
difficulty
simply
Estimated costs
$0
materials
newspaper strips
1 cup of water
1 cup flour
Tool
Shallow pan for filling the papier-mâché paste for dipping the paper strips.
For beginners: small plastic bowl, if you don’t have a suitable plastic bowl, line the outside of a metal or ceramic bowl with plastic wrap first.
For advanced crafters: balloon to cover and pop once the craft has dried overnight.
instructions
- Mix the paper mache paste by adding equal parts flour and water.
- Place paper mache paste in a shallow pan.
- One at a time, pull and dip one strip of paper into the paper mache paste, completely covering the strip of paper with the concoction.
- With the strip still over the shallow pan, gently run your fingers over the paper strip to remove excess paste, trying not to let it “drip”.
- Lay the strip of paper over the inverted bowl as smooth as possible. Add more strips until the entire surface of the bowl is covered.
- Make at least 5 layers of paper mache strips across the surface.
- Let the bowl dry overnight.
- Gently squeeze the plastic bowl to release the paper mache bowl.
- Paint and decorate.
More paper mache ideas from the Kids Activities Blog
Have you made easy paper mache projects like this paper mache bowl with your kids? How did it go?