The Papier Mache Pig.

I remember years ago in elementary school learning how to do Papier Mache. This was very exciting for me at this time of my life, so as all good mothers do, I tried to resurrect the past by doing it with my kids. My daughter who is still in elementary school loves playing around in the kitchen, so the paste was the ideal craft since it was an interesting recipe for her to create and play around with. Plus there are so many things that you can make with papier mache, like fruit, animals,  paintings and a myriad of other things. As you well know papier mache is extremely messy, but hey, the messier the better. Plus, cleaning up is always another fun activity to do with your kids. Right?

I always enjoyed making a piggy so this is the way I learned to make it below.

The Papier Mache Pig

Papier Mache Paste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cold water
3 tablespoons of sugar
a saucepan


Supplies

White paper towels/newspaper
Acrylic paint and brushe
An empty egg crate
A balloon
A few pink pipe cleaners
Glue


Mix1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 2 cups cold water in a bowl. Combine this mixture in a saucepan with 2 cups boiling water and bring it to a boil. Move the saucepan from the heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar. Let it cool; it will get thick while cooling. When it does, it's ready to use.


Blow up the balloon then spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
Paint the papier mache paste all over the balloon
Put strips paper towel all over the starch - Let dry.
Repeat this procedure for about three times.
When you get the paper completely dried, pop the balloon and take it out.
You now have a balloon covered paper structure, which represents the body of the pig.

Cut out four legs and a nose (snout) using the legs of an egg crate container.
The legs of the egg container looks like a snout but can also be used for the pig's legs also.
The dried covered balloon is the round body of the pig.
Stick the four legs and the snout with glue then cover with strips of papier mache.

After your project dries after 2 days or so, paint the body, the eyes and the nostrils
Use a pipe cleaner for the tail.
Be creative, if you get the idea once and you get the basic shape, there's a lot you can do with your project.

 Don't forget to clean up the work space. My kitchen is always in a big mess after involving my kids with any type of project that involves some kind of cooking. When challenged, Clorox always has good cleaning products. The Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are my favorite. The containers always make a good template for a papier mache vase project.




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