How to Make Your Own Adult Clown

An adult clown doll is a fun and rewarding project.

The history of clowns traces back about 4,500 years ago. While the purpose and appearances may have changed over the years, the clown has always served as comic relief. If you would like to make your own adult clown, use a picture of a clown to help your design. Use papier mache to create a lightweight, albeit durable, clown figurine.

Things You'll Need

• Styrofoam balls
• Syrofoam tube
• Mason jar
• Newspaper
• Flour
• Stove pot
• Stove
• Paint (any colors)
• Paint brush
• Toothpick
• Fabric (at least 3 colors)
• Pipe cleaner

Instructions

1. Blow up one of the balloons to the desired size of the clown's head. Set this balloon on top of an open Mason jar for stability.

2. Preheat the stove to 300 degrees Fahrenhiet. Pour 1 cup of flour and 5 cups of water into a stove pot. Mix these two ingredients together thoroughly, then heat over medium heat for three minutes. This mixture turns into a thick paste that acts as a glue for your adult clown project.

3. Cut several pages of newspaper into thin strips. Each of the strips attaches to the outside of the balloon in a smooth manner. Dip each one into the papier mache paste and drape over the balloon surface. Repeat until the balloon is completely covered. Let the paper strips dry.

4. Paint the entire balloon to reflect the clown's makeup. Include features such as brightly colored triangles underneath the eyes or an elaborated facial expression. Be creative, but use the pictures of clowns as guidelines.

5. Cut the Styrofoam tube to represent the shape of your clown's body. Connect the body to the head with a toothpick. Wrap the toothpick with a few newspaper strips dipped in the papier mache paste to thicken. Let this dry.

6. Lay a piece of the chosen fabric in front of you. Use a pencil to draw out a design that represents the clown's shirt. Cut this piece out of the fabric sheet. Lay this newly cut shirt on top of the remaining fabric and cut an identical piece.

7. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the base of the clown's neck. Bend each side so that this flimsy material forms the shape of the arms.

8. Attach one of the pieces of shirt fabric to the front of your clown, making sure it covers the body and lower portion of the neck. Hold this piece into place, then attach the alternate piece of fabric to the back of the clown. Secure this shirt with staples on the top and bottom of the formed sleeves.

9. Draw an object shaped like a doughnut in an alternatively colored piece of fabric. Cut this piece out from the sheet of fabric, then cut a line to separate this circular piece. Fit this fabric around the neck of the clown, then staple along the cut line to secure.

10. Create pants in a similar way to the clown's shirt. Design one side of the pants to your liking, then cut this piece from the fabric. Lay the newly cut pants outline onto the fabric and cut out an identical feature. Wrap these pants around the bottom half of the Styrofoam tube, stapling to secure.

11. Attach a second pipe cleaner to the very bottom of the Styrofoam tube. Use tape to secure this piece. Bend this material so that both ends flow vertically, representing the legs of the clown. Wrap each of the pants around the bottom of the tube, stapling to secure.

References

• Jung Journal: The Clown - An Archetypal Self-Journey