How to Make a Paper Mache Anubis Head

Models of ancient Egyptian gods make interesting craft projects.

If you live Egyptian mythology and want Ancient Egyptian themed decorations in your home, make an Anubis head decoration with paper mache. Anubis was the Ancient Egyptian god of the dead, who watched over the mummification process and weighed the heart of the dead on a scale. He was depicted with the head of a black jackal. Follow a specific procedure and some basic craft materials to construct a jackal's head in the size you want for your Anubis decoration.

Things You'll Need

• Oblong balloons
• Cup
• Masking tape
• Measuring cup
• White craft glue
• Mixing bowl
• Plastic spoon
• Ruler
• Newspaper or scrap paper
• Scissors
• Pin
• Pencil
• Corrugated cardboard
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Black fabric
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Blow up an oblong tube balloon and place the bottom of it in a cup to keep it standing upright. Blow up another oblong balloon not as quite as big as the first one and tape it to the top of the first one with masking tape so that one end points in one direction away from the first one. This forms the neck and head base of the jackal head. Add enough tape to keep the second balloon in place.

2. Draw a triangle on a piece of corrugated cardboard 5 inches long and 4 inches wide and cut it out. Draw a rectangle on another piece of corrugated cardboard to 5 inches long and 4 inches wide. Bend the rectangle underneath the length of the horizontal balloon to form the bottom jaw and tape it in place with masking tape. Bend the triangle over the length of the top with the pointed end pointed out and tape it in place for the snout.

3. Draw a 4-inch-long pointed triangle with a 3-inch-wide base on corrugated cardboard and cut it out. Trace around the edge of the triangle on another piece of corrugated cardboard and cut it out so that you have two. Tape these to the tops of the sides of the head with masking tape to form the ears.

4. Mix 3 cups of white craft glue and 1 cup of water in a mixing bowl with a plastic spoon to form a paste. Cut newspaper or any type of scrap paper into 1/2-inch-wide, 6-inch-long strips and dip a strip into the paste. Let the excess drip back into the bowl and place the strip across the balloon. Repeat until the entire balloon surface has been covered; wait 24 hours for it to dry. Cover the bowl with a lid to prevent any remaining paste from drying.

5. Apply another layer of the paper mache strips and wait another 24 hours for it to dry. Add one more layer to complete the paper mache base. Carefully remove the bottom of the "neck" and pop the balloon with a pin.

6. Paint the entire head black and the ears gold with acrylic paint. Wait eight hours for the paint to dry. Paint the eyes on the front of the head white with a gold center. Look at images of Anubis and use them as a guide for how he is supposed to look.

7. Cut out a 9-inch square of black or gold fabric and glue the edges of one side to the back of Anubis' head with a hot glue gun for his headdress. Wait 30 minutes for the glue to dry before displaying your paper mache Anubis head decoration.

References

• Tour Egypt: Anubis
• DLTK Kids: How to Paper Mache