How to Make Paper Mache Crafts for Cinco de Mayo Decorations

Paper mache crafts begin with paper, a wire form and a bowl of paste.

Celebrate Mexican heritage and pride by making paper mache crafts for your Cinco de Mayo decorations. Paper mache is an easy, inexpensive and kid-friendly type of paper art in which strips of newsprint or other paper is molded to a base with a paste made of flour and water. In Mexico, paper mache crafts include traditional candy-filled pinatas, dolls, decorative sculptures and religious objects. Pinatas, garlands, tabletop decor and even masks molded from your own face make one-of-a-kind Cinco de Mayo decorations for your next party.

Things You'll Need

• 5 cups water
• 1 cup flour
• Saucepan
• Large bowl
• Newspaper
• Base shapes, such as inflated balloons, empty tin cans or Styrofoam craft shapes
• Paper clips or wire for hooks
• Sharp hobby knife
• Glue
• Acrylic paints
• Paintbrushes
• Glitter, sequins or other decorations
• Spray fixative

Instructions

1. Cover your work area with a few sheets of newspaper to protect surfaces.

2. Cut or tear the remaining newspaper into strips about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide and of varying lengths. Assemble the base shapes and newspaper strips on your work surface.

3. Make the paper mache paste. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in the saucepan, then add one cup of flour. Boil for three minutes and whisk to blend completely and eliminate lumps. The resulting paste should have a smooth, starch-like consistency.

4. Pour the paste into the large bowl and let it cool enough to be handled.

5. Dip a strip of newspaper in the paste, shake off excess, then apply to the base shape. Smooth out any wrinkles, then repeat until the entire shape is covered in newspaper, about four layers thick. Let the shape dry completely.

6. Repeat Step 5 for each paper mache craft and allow each to dry thoroughly.

7. Carefully make an incision down one side of the shape with the sharp hobby knife, cutting through the shell, then repeat on the other side. Split apart the two halves and remove the interior shape.

8. Glue the two halves back together by pasting a strip or two of newspaper down the seam on each side and gluing securely. Let the glue dry. If desired, insert a hanging hook or wire ring between the two halves before gluing them together.

9. Decorate your shapes with acrylic paints in Cinco de Mayo colors like red, green, gold and white. Glue on glitter, sequins and ribbon.

10. Spray the paper mache crafts with fixative to seal the paint and decorations.

11. Hang your Cinco de Mayo decorations up in a garland, use them as tabletop decor or give them out as party favors.

Tips & Warnings

• Prior to painting, sand the dried paper mache crafts with fine-grain sandpaper for a smooth texture.

References

• Ultimate Paper Mache: Paper Mache Recipes
• La Fuente Imports: Paper Mache Art by Mundo Pequeno