How to Make Toe Claws Out of Paper

Making toe claws from paper and liquid starch is easy.

Cottage industries that showcase the talents of teddy bear and doll makers rely on innovation and creativity to produce hard-to-find components necessary to make unique items. Many doll and bear parts are not readily available for retail purchase. When toy makers can't purchase what they need, they must rely on making the articles themselves. One such hard-to-find animal or doll part are toe claws. Toe claws for goblins, dinosaurs and animals are easily made from paper, liquid starch and paint by using a form of paper mache.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. shredded paper or shredded newspaper
• 3 c up liquid starch
• Plastic bowl or recycled margarine tub
• Plastic stirring spoon
• 2 cookie sheets
• Metal skewer
• Acrylic or enamel-based paint
• Craft-sized paintbrush
• Clear spray paint or paint (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill a plastic bowl with 3 cups of liquid starch. Liquid starch is available at grocery and discount stores. Place two handfuls of shredded paper (about 2 cups) into the starch in the bowl, and stir with the plastic mixing spoon until you've saturated the paper.

2. 

   Pour liquid starch in a plastic bowl.

   Squeeze and knead the paper with your hands in the starch until the paper is a doughy consistency. Add a little more paper if necessary. You don't want the mixture to be watery.

3. Scoop a handful of the pulp mixture, and squeeze out the excess starch, holding it over the bowl.

4. 

   Place the pulp onto a cookie sheet to form a toe claw.

   Place the "glob" of pulp onto a cookie sheet, and divide it into two or three smaller "globs" depending on the toe claw size desired. For a toe claw about 1 1/2-inch long (1/2-inch will be inserted into the foot/paw of the toy), divide the handful of pulp into three "globs."

5. Pick up one "glob," and gently roll it between your palms forming a vertical "rope." Roll it until it's about 1/2-inch in diameter at the top, tapering to about 1/4-inch at the end of the 1 1/2-inch "rope." This is just like playing with play clay as a child. Pinch off any excess pulp. Shape the toe claw into a slight arch, or "C," similar to a crescent roll shape. Place it on the other cookie sheet.

6. 

   Use a metal skewer to form a hole at the top of the claw.

   Use the metal skewer to push a hole through the center 1/4-inch from the widest top of the toe claw. This will be the hole for sewing the claw into the stuffed toy to secure the claw to the foot/paw.

7. Repeat the process for the number of toe claws you need. Allow the toe claws to air dry on the cookie sheet for approximately 24 to 48 hours or until dry. The claws will shrink slightly during the drying process.

8. 

   Paint the toe claws with acrylic or enamel-based paint.

   Paint the toe claws with acrylic or enamel-based paint. Allow the paint to dry. Coat with a clear spray paint or clear paint and allow to dry. Choose the gloss of your clear coat based on what you wish your end result to look like.

9. Secure the toe claw into the foot/paw of the toy by inserting the widest top portion containing the hole into the toe and sewing through the hole, closing the toe seams around the top shaft of the claw. Toe claws aren't waterproof and should not be washed.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Making Friends: Starch Crafts
• Halloween Fear: Other Methods of Paper Mache
• DLTK Kids: How to Paper Mache