How to Make a Dragon Centerpiece

Use pictures of dragons as inspiration.

A craft model dragon makes an ideal centerpiece on any coffee, bedside or event table. The myth of dragons dates back to approximately 4000 B.C., according to the website Draconika. Creating a paper mache dragon model provides an outlet for your artistic sensibilities and puts you in touch with the historic allure of the fire-breathing monsters. Layer the exterior of your paper mache model with paper towel to provide an ideal surface for absorbing colorful acrylic paint.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Marker
• 2 2-by-6-by-10-inch pieces of high-density urethane foam
• Scissors
• Permanent epoxy
• 2 2-by-6-by-10-inch pieces of shoebox cardboard
• 1-by-6-inch piece of shipping box cardboard
• 5 cups water
• 1 cup flour
• Pot
• Medium size bowl
• 1-by-4-inch newspaper strips
• 1-by-4-inch paper towel strips
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Draw a 6-by-10-inch dragon on a piece of 2-inch thick high-density urethane foam. Draw the dragon with its mouth wide open. Cut out the dragon with scissors.

2. Place the foam dragon atop a second piece of 2-inch thick high-density urethane foam. Trace and remove the first dragon. Cut out the second dragon along the trace lines.

3. Place one foam dragon atop the other. Bond the two foam dragons together with permanent epoxy.

4. Place the foam dragon atop a piece of shoebox cardboard. Trace and remove the foam dragon. Cut out the shoebox cardboard dragon with scissors.

5. Place the first shoebox cardboard dragon atop a second piece of shoebox cardboard. Trace and remove the dragon. Cut out the second shoebox cardboard dragon with scissors.

6. Bond the foam dragon between the two shoebox cardboard dragons with permanent epoxy. Draw and cut out a flame on a 1-by-6-inch piece of shipping box cardboard. Bond the short end of the flame in the mouth of the dragon.

7. Boil 5 cups water and 1 cup flour in a pot for three minutes to make a paper mache mix. Allow five minutes for the mix to cool. Pour the mix into a medium size bowl.

8. Soak a 1-by-4-inch newspaper strip into the mix. Press the strip into the dragon body. Continue until the dragon and its tongue are covered in one layer of newspaper. Move on immediately to the next step.

9. Soak a 1-by-4-inch paper towel strip into the mix. Press the strip into the dragon body. Continue until the dragon and its tongue are covered in one layer of paper towel. Allow four hours for the craft to dry.

10. Coat the dragon in acrylic paint. Allow two hours for the craft to dry before displaying.

References

• Draconika; The History of Dragons; Kevin Owens; 2010
• DLTK Kids: How to Paper Mache