How to make a Mount Rushmore Costume

Step 3 Mix up the paper mache

I used a simple flour water recipe:

1 cup flour
1 1/2 to 2 cups water
1/2 cup white school glue

Mix well until smooth, sticky, but still fairly thin.

Put in the strips of newspaper one at a time, allow to soak for a few seconds.  Then, as you pull out the strip of paper, squeegee off excess glue mixture with two of your fingers.  Lay onto the chicken wire in overlapping and semi-random directions.  DO NOT put all the strips in the same direction, the resulting paper mache will be weaker than if you randomize your strip pattern.  Think plywood.

Apply a full coat of paper mache to the chicken wire, allow to dry for a couple hours.  Apply a second, and third coat to thicken up the paper mache and give it strength.

Make sure to line the head hole opening very welll, so no chicken wire can stab you in the chin. Youch!

After your extra coats, allow the paper mache to dry for a couple days before painting.  It should be hard and crusty when fully dry.