When I was a kid, making paper mache was one project I always loved and have never forgotten! It's messy but fun and totally cool how something as simple as water and flour help you create the cutest projects. The flour and water act as a stabilizer and create a hard surface/template for you to create various crafts. To celebrate spring, the girls and I created 5 spring animals for you using good old paper mache! Check out how we made these paper mache ideas for a Baby Chick, Bumble Bee, Bunny, Frog and Ladybug.
Combine one cup flour, one cup water (maybe a tad bit more) and 1 tablespoon salt. Mix thoroughly. I liked to add a little more water so that the paste was thinner, but not watery. Ahead of time, cut strips of newspaper to cover the balloons in. It gets a bit messy, so make sure to cover your area in a plastic table cloth for easy clean up. Have your kiddos wear old clothes in case the flour paste gets on them or they can wear an art apron. Dip the strips in paste and cover the balloon completely. Once dry, paint the balloon green. Have your kids trace hand-prints for frog's feet, cut red paper strip for tongue and use a circle punch for eyes. Glue on the balloon.
To make the ladybug, repeat the steps to make the flour paste above. Paint the dry balloon with red acrylic paint. Cut a large circle from red construction paper for the wings. Punch out 1" black circles for the dots. Cut the large red circle in half and glue the black dots to the wings. For the legs, we took a number 7 stencil! Trace and cut two 2-3 legs for each side and glue on the bottom. Use a black chenille stem for the ladybug antennas. Cut a medium sized black circle for the face and two small white circles for the eyes. Use a black marker to make the pupils. Attach to the balloon.
Follow the steps above to make the flour paste and paper mache the balloon. When dry paint the balloon with yellow acrylic paint. Attach colorful feathers to the back of the balloon. Cut two medium circles and two small black circles for the eyes. Fold a piece of orange construction paper in half and cut a triangle on the fold to make the chick's beak. Lastly, trace your child's hand for the feet. Attach using hot glue.
Paint the paper mache balloon with white acrylic paint. Trace your child's hand for the bunnies' feet with white construction paper or card stock. Use a medium pink foam heart for the nose and white chenille stems. Cut two white and pink bunny ears by drawing a raindrop shape. Cut out and attach with hot glue. For the eyes, cut two medium white circles and two small black circles.
Paint your paper mache balloon with yellow acrylic paint. Once dry add black bee stripes. Use black chenille stems for the bee antenna's. Attach with hot glue. Ella and Annie wanted to use cute white foam hearts for the bee's wings! Cut two white medium and two small black circles for the eyes. Attach a mini pink heart for the nose and small black 1" circle for the mouth.
