Paper Mache Ornaments

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Paper (newspaper/recycled paper)
• Bucket
• Elmer’s Glue-All multi purpose glue
• Flour
• Salt
• Hand mixer
• Cheesecloth
• Acrylic paint
• Masking tape
• 18 gauge silver copper wire
• Wire cutter
• Mod Podge
• Mixing bowl
• Rubber/latex gloves
• Gorilla Glue
• Ribbon
• Paint brushes

DIRECTIONS:

Creating the paper clay:

1. Tear your newspaper up into tiny pieces before adding it to your bucket.
2. Fill the bucket with your paper shred.
3. Fill the bucket with hot/boiling water till the paper is covered.
4. Let sit for minimum 4 hours up to 24 hours, mixing occasionally.
5. This will help the paper breakdown, making it easier to mix.
6. Take your hand mixer and blend the paper, water mixture into pulp.
7. Once paper has been blended, you're going to scoop the pulp into the cheesecloth and squeeze out as much water as you can by hand.
8. Add the crumble pulp mixture to your mixing bowl.
9. Add approx. 1⁄4 cup salt to the mixture.
10. Add in small amounts glue and flour, continuing to mix well with hands until you get the consistency of a moldable clay.
11. This clay mixture can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Creating the ornament molds:

1. Using newspapers or any paper you might have on hand, begin by crumbling the paper. Start to push it into your desired shape.
2. Add masking tape to smooth edges and create a solid mold which the paper clay will be added to.
3. Glue or tape a small wire loop to the top of the ornaments.
4. Make your molds a 1⁄4 smaller than what you hope to end up with.
5. Start to add small amounts of clay to your mold, pressing and shaping it as you go. Once your molds are covered and you are happy with the shape, lay ornaments on a drying rack or parchment paper to dry.
6. Drying can take 24-72 hours depending on the size of your ornaments.
7. Once ornaments are dry they will be hard and lightened in color.
8. You will need 2-3 coats of paint to cover, letting them dry between coats.
9. Lastly you will add a coat of Mod Podge to help protect the paint from chipping.

JOANN HACKS:

• The amount of flour, glue and salt will depend on how much paper pulp you have. The salt makes sure you don’t get mold while your ornaments dry.
• Try not to overwork the clay when putting it on the molds, as it dries it becomes tacky and can pull from the mold.