Mache Snowman

This Instructable will guide you through making a paper mache snowman.

Step 1: Gather All the Supplies

Construction of Snowman Body

White balloons (x2)

Newspaper (x1 Bundle)

Water

Glue Bottle (x1)

Paint Brush (x1)

Plastic Bowl (x1)

Mache Materials

Tissue Roll (x1)

Plastic Bowl

Glue (we will be using the same glue bottle)

Blender (x1)

Joint Compound (x1 Container)

Snowman Decoration

Spoon (x1)

Handmade Mache

Super Glue or Mini Hot Glue Gun (x3 Mini Glue Gun Sticks)

Yarn (x1 Ball of Yarn)

Paper (x1 Piece of Paper)

Markers (x1 Black Marker x1 Orange Marker)

Small Piece of Cardboard (x1 Optional )

Step 2: Blow Up Two Balloons

We will call the balloons A and B.

· Balloon “A” should be 3/4 full of air.

· Balloon "B" should be halfway full of air and the smallest balloon.

After blowing up the three balloons, set them aside for later

Step 3: Cover Balloons With Newspaper

Materials: Newspaper, water, bowl, glue, paintbrush, balloons

Step 1: Get newspaper and cut two pages into small squares

• Once the squares have been cut set them aside

Step 2: Get a bowl and fill with 1/4 cups of water

Step 3: Add 3 tablespoons of glue to the bowl

• Once the glue is added, take a paintbrush and stir the water-glue mixture

Step 4: Take a paintbrush and apply the water-glue mixture to a small section of Balloon A (the bigger balloon)

Step 5: Take square and place over the water-glue section on the Balloon.

• Repeat this step until the entire balloon is covered
• Once Balloon A has one layer of newspaper, set it aside to dry for 10-15 minutes

Step 6: Take a paintbrush and apply the water-glue mixture to a small section of Balloon B (the smaller balloon)

Step 7: Take square and place over the water-glue section on the Balloon.

• Repeat this step until the entire balloon is covered
• Once Balloon B has one layer of newspaper, set it aside to dry for 10-15 minutes

Step 8: Repeat step 4-7 , coating each balloon 3 times total.

Step 9: Set aside the balloons to dry for 45-50 minutes.

Step 4: Make Paper Mache Mixture

• Materials: Toilet Paper, Bowl of Water, Blender, Drywall Joint compound, Elmer’s Liq Glue.

We will be using inspiration from the blogger of Ultimate Paper Mache(https://www.ultimatepapermache.com/) to make our mache.

Step 1: Gather the Toilet Paper

• We used 102 pieces of toilet paper

Step 2: Fill a medium sized bowl 1/4 with water.

Step 3: Emerse the 102 pieces of toilet paper into the water

• While the toilet paper is in the water, squish the pieces together so that it looks like a circular clump of toilet paper

Step 3: Squeeze out the water.

• The paper should no longer be dripping water but slightly moist.

Step 4: Add toilet paper to the blender (DO NOT BLEND)

• Rip toilet paper into tiny pieces before adding

Step 5: Add other ingredients to the blender and blend on high pulse in 30 second intervals until the mixture is well combined

• 1/4 cup of water
• 2/3 cup of drywall joint compound
• 1/2 cup of Elmer’s Glue

Step 6: Place lid on top of blender and set mache aside. (As long as your mache mixture is sealed, it will stay moist for a minimum of a week.)

Step 5: Mache the Balloons

Once the balloons have dried, begin to mache them! (This step can get messy so it is recommended to mache the balloons on top of a newspaper or an easy-to-clean area)

Materials: spoon, mache mixture, balloons,

Step 1: Get mache mixture and using a spoon, begin to coat Balloon A with the mixture

• Scoop the mache mixture with a spoon and flatten the mixture onto the balloon by using the back side of the spoon
• Continue this step until the balloon is completely covered

Step 2: Get mache mixture and using a spoon, begin to coat Balloon B with the mixture

• Scoop the mache mixture with a spoon and flatten the mixture onto the balloon by using the back side of the spoon
• Continue this step until the balloon is completely covered

*If there are parts of the balloon that were hard to mache, you can finish macheing them after attaching the balloons together*

Step 6: Make Your Snowman's Body by Gluing the Balloons

Once the balloons are dry, attach them to each other using super glue or a hot gun glue gun

Step 1: Take balloon B (smaller balloon) and coat the middle-bottom section of the balloon with glue

Step 2: Take balloon A (bigger balloon) and coat the middle-top of the balloon with glue

Step 3: Attach balloons A and B and hold them together for one minute

Step 4: (Optional) Mache any parts of the balloon that did not get mached the first time

Step 7: Make Platform for Snowman

Because the snowman is circular, it can not stand on its on, so we will need a platform for it.

Step 1: Grab a cardboard box and flatten out the sides.

Step 2: Pick one side of the flattened cardboard box and cut it off from the box.

• This will be your platform for the snowman

Step 3: Apply glue to the middle of the platform

Step 4: Attach the bottom of balloon A (the bigger balloon) to the middle of the platform.

Step 5: (Optional) Apply glue to any section of the platform and attach yarn to the platform

• This decorates the platform and imitates fluffy snow

Step 6: Repeat step 5 until the platform is covered

Step 8: Make the Snowman's Facial Features

Materials: notebook or printer paper, scissors, hot glue gun or super glue, markers

Step 1: Take paper and using black marker, draw two small circles. This will be the snowman's eyes

• Color the circles in with black marker

Step 2: On the same paper, using orange marker, draw a small isosceles triangle. This will be the snowman's nose

• Color the triangle in with orange marker

Step 3: On the same paper, using a black marker, draw a medium sized happy-open mouth shape below the eyes.

• Color the mouth in with black marker

Step 9: Cut Out Facial Features

Step 1: Cut out eye shapes by cutting around the perimeter of each small circle

Step 2: Cut out the nose shape by cutting around the perimeter of the orange triangle

Step 3: Fold the paper horizontally (hotdog-style) across the happy mouth shape

Step 4: While the paper is still folded, cut small half circles into the happy-mouth shape

Step 5: Unfold the half circles. The half circles should now look like full circles.

Step 10: Decorate Your Snowman !

Step 1: Apply a small amount of hot glue/super glue to the back of each eye

Step 2: Attach each eye to the snowman

• The eyes should be attached to the top balloon (balloon B)

Step 3: Apply a small amount of hot glue/super glue to each small circle that you cut from the happy-mouth shape

Step 3: Attach the small circles in a smiley face form to the snowman

• The smiley face should be attached to the top balloon (Balloon B)

Step 4: Fold the two corners of the orange triangle

Step 5: Fold the bottom of the triangle

Step 6: Apply a small amount of glue to the folded bottom of the triangle

Step 7: Attach the triangle to the middle of the snowman's face

• To make the nose stand straight up, lightly squeeze the nose causing the paper to crinkle.

Step 8: (Optional) Using left over yarn, make a scarf for the snow man

• Wrap layers of yarn around the snowman's neck
• If the yarn is too long, cut to your liking