Papier mache for the birthday-boy

Master 5 wants a pinata for the birthday party next week. I am refusing to pay $30 for an unfilled one that looks ugly, so we are making our own for zero cost. I am officially "the best mum in Canberra!" as I said YES, and we are doing it together. It's a good 30 years however since I did any papier mache, so I have been scratching my head to remember...

We ripped up lots of newspaper and also butcher's paper (unprinted newspaper) into strips. This was so therapeutic! He and I were looking for other stuff to rip up! It reminded me of the best part of mosaic for me - the smashing of the tiles!!

We diluted some clag that was drying up in the bottom of the bottle, and made some paste from cornflour and water (see earlier post here).

Next we blew up two balloons, and sticky-taped the smaller one onto the big one (a head and a body).

Layer, upon layer, upon sloppy and heavy layer we went until there was no more glue (still a mountain of paper though!). This step was left to me, as it was too tactile for Master 5 (People with Aspergers Syndrome often avoid textural activities).

So now we are waiting another day for that to dry, before we , do another couple of layers.


We will paint it and fill it over the weekend, and I can't wait to see it finished!!!

I am however yet to work out how to hang it... Any hints?!