How to Make Artificial Rocks

There are many reasons to make artificial rocks to use instead of real rocks. You may need boulders to set inside the village of a train set. Use artificial rocks in plays or theater events. Artificial rocks come in all sizes. An artificial rock may be a better option than using an actual rock because it is not as heavy and can be moved around easily.

Things You'll Need

• Elmer's glue
• Water
• Construction paper
• Copy paper
• Paint
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. 

   Mix Elmer's glue and water in a bowl. Use 1 part Elmer's glue and 1 part water. For example, if you use 1/2 a cup of Elmer's glue you should use 1/2 a cup of water.

2. 

   Crumple a piece of construction paper into a ball. This will help form the artificial rocks. If you need a larger rock, use other items to form the rock, such as foam. You can even use an actual rock to help make the artificial rocks.

3. 

   Tear strips of construction paper. The strips can be the same width, though differing widths and lengths will not affect the outcome. You can cut out these strips, but tearing will work just the same and will be much faster to complete.

4. 

   Soak the construction paper strips in the glue and water mixture. Get the glue on both sides and make sure that it has saturated the construction paper. Construction paper is thicker than normal copy paper and will have to sit in the glue and water mixture longer.

5. 

   Wrap the crumpled paper with the saturated construction paper strips. Cover the crumpled paper until you can no longer see it. Apply two layers of the strips of construction paper, allowing them to dry between layers.

6. 

   Tear strips of white copy paper just as you did with the construction paper. The construction paper helped create a stiffer form but the white copy paper will smooth the rock. As you did with the construction paper, soak the strips in the glue and water mixture then wrap the artificial rock until you can no longer see the construction paper.

7. 

   Allow the artificial rock to dry completely. Paint the rock. The rock can be any color you would like. Let the paint dry before using.

Tips & Warnings

• The white copy paper will not take as long to soak, as it is thinner than the construction paper.

Resources

• How to Paper Mache