How to Make Life-Size Gumdrops

By Susan Elliott Updated  August 30, 2017
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Things You'll Need

  • 5 pounds white flour

  • Water

  • Large mixing bowl

  • Kitchen mixer

  • Laundry basket, 1-bushel round

  • 1 package tissue paper

  • Newspaper

  • Hair dryer (optional)

  • Acrylic paint, various colors

  • Paint brush

  • Decoupage glue

  • Epsom salt

  • Clear varnish spray

Gumdrops make colorful Christmas decorations.
Image Credit: Marie Fields/iStock/Getty Images

Forget about that little bag of candy gumdrops, construct life-size gumdrop decorations that will inspire and amaze. Life-size gumdrops are great additions to Christmas displays and children's parties, and they can also be used for theater props or recitals. Candy gumdrops are easy to create and can be completed by children with a little adult supervision. Use this simple life-size gumdrop pattern as a tutorial to create any size gumdrop decoration.

The Paper Mache Gumdrop

Step 1

Make a paper mache paste from flour and water. Pour flour into a mixing bowl – you don't have to measure. Add water and stir.

Step 2

Mix the flour and water with a kitchen mixer until it resembles a thin cake batter. Add more water to the flour if needed to create a thinner paste, or add more flour to thicken the paste.

Step 3

Place a sheet of tissue paper into the flour paste. Makes sure that the tissue paper is completely saturated.

Step 4

Turn the laundry basket upside down so that the bottom of the basket becomes the top. This is the basic gumdrop form.

Step 5

Place the wet tissue paper over the top of the gumdrop form. Allow the tissue paper to drape down the sides of the basket.

Step 6

Soak more tissue paper in the flour paste and cover the sides of the laundry basket. Cover the initial piece of tissue paper. Use your hands to smooth the gumdrop's surface. Make sure to cover the lip of the basket if there is one.

Step 7

Tear strips of newspaper into various sizes. Work from the top of the gumdrop form downwards and cover the laundry basket with the strips of newsprint. Use at least four layers of newspaper to create the gumdrop.

Step 8

Allow the paper mache to dry. Drying times will vary depending on the climate. You can blow the paper mache with a hair dryer to speed up the drying time.

Step 9

Paint the gumdrop with acrylic paint. Cover the entire surface area and allow the paint to dry.

Step 10

Cover the painted gumdrop with decoupage glue.

Step 11

Sprinkle Epsom salt over the glue to give the appearance of sugar crystals.

Step 12

Once the glue has dried, spray clear varnish over the gumdrop to help protect the surface.

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