How to Make a Paper Mache Hot Air Balloon Centerpiece

You can also fill the basket with flowers or candy instead of people.

Design a table centerpiece with a miniature hot air balloon for your next spring or summertime event. Use the hot air balloon as a way to advertise the theme of the party by personalizing the logo, such as “Happy Birthday Mom.” You can also add more than one hot air balloon for a more pronounced centerpiece, such as for a corporate picnic or family reunion. Then you can hang some of the hot air balloons from above the centerpiece display for an inflight arrangement.

Things You'll Need

• 4 sheets newspaper
• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Latex balloon
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Acrylic paint
• Spray glitter
• 1/2-inch-wide ribbon
• Hot glue gun
• 4-inch square berry basket
• 4 wooden skewers
• 24-inch-square tray wheatgrass
• 8 to 16 plastic or edible miniature people

Instructions

Construct the Paper Mache Balloon

1. Tear 4 sheets of newspaper into strips that are approximately 4-by-2 inches.

2. Combine 3 cups of flour with 1 cup of water in a large mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until all of the flour clumps are broken apart; this will create your papier-mache glue.

3. Inflate a latex balloon to the desired size of your hot air balloon. Tie a knot in the mouthpiece.

4. Dip each strip of newspaper in the glue. Layer the strips on the balloon. Cover the balloon with three layers of newspaper. Tape the mouthpiece of the balloon to your work surface using masking tape. Allow the balloon to dry overnight or until it is dry to the touch.

5. Cut a 3-inch circle around the knotted end of the balloon and pop the balloon. Remove the balloon from the hole and discard.

Decorate the Hot Air Balloon

1. Paint the outside of the balloon using acrylic paint in a solid color, a pattern or with a logo, according to the colors and theme of the event or décor. Allow the paint to dry. Spray glitter over the balloon, if desired.

2. Wrap 1/2-inch-wide ribbon around four 18-inch-long wooden skewers in a spiraling motion. Overlap the ribbon as you cover the skewers; use hot glue to secure the ends of the ribbon to the skewer.

3. Position a 4-inch square berry basket upright. Attach each of the ribbon-covered skewers vertically in each of the four corners of the basket using hot glue. Place the skewers as deep in the basket or up no less than 1 inch from the rim depending on how tall you want to make the hot air balloon.

4. Cut a 12-inch length of ribbon. Tie the ribbon in a bow around the rim of the basket. Trim the excess length of the tails, if desired. Use hot glue to affix the ribbon to the basket.

5. Place a 24-inch-square tray of wheatgrass in the center of the designated space for the centerpiece. Arrange the papier-mache hot air balloon in the center of the wheatgrass. Add two to four miniature plastic or edible people in the basket and six to 12 people standing or sitting around the basket.