This is a papier mache Audrey II that I did for Halloween this year. I love doing papier mache and thought that the plant from outer space was perfect for this medium. I wanted to make this using stuff I already had around the house, but I had to buy the styrofoam and the posterboards. Try and experiment around with different items to make your armature, be creative! This took a little over a week to make and I ended up spending $18 on supplies I didn't already have.

I use DIF wallpaper adhesive mixed in a coffee can with water, about half and half, and shredded (not cut) strips of newspaper.

You will need:

DIF wallpaper adhesive
12" balloon
lots of newspaper
masking tape
twine
card stock
3 heavy weight posterboards
3 light weight posterboards
6 wire clothes hangers
Gesso
paint brush
hot glue gun
chunk of styrofoam
large flower pot

Step 1:

Blow up balloon and tie off. Mix wallpaper adhesive with water, tear strips of newspaper, and cover balloon completely except for the tied end. Let dry overnight. Repeat layers and drying four times. Cut the tied end off and let balloon deflate, pull it out and cover the hole with a layer of newspaper strips.

Step 2:

Bunch up a piece of newspaper to be about a one inch thick rope and long enough to go from one side to the other. Use a picture of Audrey to help eyeball the placement. Tape in place.

Step 3:

Doing the same thing again make a lower lip and the side muscles of the mouth.

Step 4:

Cover this whole part with more strips of papier mache and let dry. After it dries you can go back and "fill" in parts with more strips and/or wads of newspaper, papier mache over the added on parts.

Step 5:

Use twine to make the plant veins, then cover it all with more layers of papier mache. Turn over and repeat on the bottom.

Step 6:

Cut out several leaves from the light weight posterboard in different sizes to arrange around the back of the head. I did 12 about the size of my hand.

Cut three large leaves from the heavy weight posterboard, and another three about an inch or so smaller from the lightweight posterboard.

Unwind three wire clothes hangers. Bend the hangers into a wave, so the three main leaves are slightly curled. Hot glue wire onto the heavy leaf, then glue the slightly smaller leaf on top. Put a couple of layers of papier mache on the 3 large leaves, and paint the small leaves green. The paint will make the posterboard curl a little, this is okay.

Now this part I had to finagle around a bit so if you have a better way of doing it go with it! I took a tube from wrapping paper, put a wire coat hanger in it then stuck it down into the middle of the styrofoam. I had to brace it at the bottom because the tube I used was too wimpy and started to bend. I papier mached the stem three times.

While this was drying I rolled up two sheets of newspaper into long root shapes, taped on little triangles made out of the card stock and papier mached it, twice, to make two roots.

Step 7:

Paint everything with a coat of white paint. I have a large tub of Gesso that I use for my base coat on all my papier mache. It can be pricey, but it has lasted me through many, many projects.

Once the primer was dry I used green, brown, yellow, and burnt umber acrylic paints on everything.

Poke a hole in the back of the head where you want the wire hanger to go through, thread on the head and hot glue the small leaves to the back of the head arranging them so the wire is hidden.

Stick the large leaves in the styrofoam, arrange the roots and you're done!