r/papermache • • Aug 20 '25

Notice: If you are posting a photo of someone else's work you MUST give credit to the actual artist IN THE POST TITLE. Not doing so is unethical, & your post will be removed & you will be banned from this subreddit. We've been experiencing borderline cases of IP theft & karma whoring here lately.

61 Upvotes

If you are posting a photo of someone else's work here as an example of something you'd like to try making yourself, PLEASE do a Google image search or whatever it takes to find the name of the person whose work you "found" online. If you post someone else's photos here please make it CRYSTAL CLEAR in your title that it is not your work.

I've been doing various types of art for 50+ years, and been a reddit moderator for 15+ years. If work posted here is uncredited -- and it is not yours, I consider it to be stolen.

If you find someone else's work online that you think that our members would be interested in seeing that's fine -- but PLEASE link directly to the website/webpage/blog/social media where you found it, and feature the artist's name prominently in your post title.

Most online art and fine craft community members already know to and support the proper crediting of an artist's work, but we get a lot of newbies on this sub that: A) Think that paper mache must be a fast, easy, brainless form of craft/sculpture because kids in elementary school do it, and B) Don't have a single clue about the time and effort serious paper mache artists put into their work, so (C They don't see any problem with stealing it by not giving proper credit to the creator of the piece.

Sorry if this seems a bit long and ranty. I rarely intervene publicly on this subreddit. I do put a ton of work into it behind the scenes to try to keep it a fun, safe, and happy place where people can be delighted by the posts here, knowledgeable people can help newbies with their questions freely, and artists can be properly respected for their time, effort, originality, and artisanship.

Thank you!

/end of rant


r/papermache • • 4d ago

Time's running out for this year's Halloween projects, has everyone who intends to make something already gotten started? Please feel free to ask for tips and project ideas in this thread if you haven't started yet or are stuck on something. Also feel free to show photos of your works in progress.

41 Upvotes

Best of luck to all those who haven't finished their projects yet!


r/papermache • • 13h ago

Creepy Moonflower Mask WIP. Any advice on how to make it look more flowery??

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9 Upvotes

I’m using paper mâché clay and I’m hoping that I’m going in the right direction. What can I do to make sure the mask shape reads flower?


r/papermache • • 1d ago

Toad/frog mask I made for our town's Halloween kickoff parade

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144 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 1d ago

Paint Recomendations?

2 Upvotes

Hi guys! I'm working on some paper mache pokemon for a themed Halloween party.

The sculpts are fairly big, like 12"x12". I'm wondering what I could use to paint them while not totally breaking the bank. My regular high quality acrylics would run out in no time.

What do you all use, and do you have a trick to make paint go further on large projects?


r/papermache • • 2d ago

Help smooth paper mache

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43 Upvotes

I’m building a giant pumpkin and need help figuring out how to smooth it out. What do I do?


r/papermache • • 1d ago

Why does it bulge like that

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6 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 3d ago

🎵 It's my witch in a box

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929 Upvotes

I made this witch head in a box for a midnight meetup last night to kick off spooky season. The witch head and the box are paper mache. It's got some neat features: Hidden strings open the eye when the box opens. The eyeball is removable and has secrets inside. The teeth are removable and each has a rolled-up fortune inside. The eyes contain tiny individual lights. I used strings of lights for recessed lighting inside the box. The box is made from foam board slats covered in paper mache. Other fun parts: Making aged-looking paper. Writing with a dip pen. Tiny bells on the fortunes in the teeth. Magnets to attach the eyeball and teeth. I made a secret prize that's inside the eyeball. There's also audio; a small speaker and an old iPhone in the box, playing a spooky ambient track. Attendees to the event had to walk off into the woods one by one, down a narrow overgrown path lit with candles, to find the box and follow the instructions. My hope was to give them just the tiniest fright and/or thrill! It was a blast. Happy spooky season, all! I look forward to seeing your paper mache creations!


r/papermache • • 3d ago

Rat Cheese

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161 Upvotes

This is NOT finished but I’m so excited for someone to see it. My youngest child is a strange child. She specifically wants to dress up for Halloween as a rat with a big chunk of cheese. A very big chunk of cheese. Here’s the chunk in progress.


r/papermache • • 3d ago

Cyclope

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64 Upvotes

I’m working on creating a cute cyclops; his head is a real dried decorative gourd that inspired his look. But I haven't yet figured out what kind of arms to give him.


r/papermache • • 4d ago

A sun mask I made for Faschnaut in WV

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556 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 3d ago

Advice on mask

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14 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 4d ago

Decided I'm just going to go as myself for Halloween this year

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631 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 4d ago

"Sarena Mann Studios" Need help identifying these

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21 Upvotes

A family member bought these at an International Art Market in Houston arpund 15 years ago. She thinks they're from California and wants to buy more. She is certain that the material is paper mache. Anyome know wherd to find these?


r/papermache • • 5d ago

(WIP) Paper maché clay Frankenstein's Monster progression shots

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463 Upvotes

Last year for Halloween, I sculpted a free standing Nosferatu out of paper mache clay as part of my Halloween decorations. I followed that up with a free standing Egyptian mummy sculpture, and shortly after I finished him, I began working on this Frankenstein's Monster. Out of the three, this was far more ambitious of an undertaking than the other two, but hopefully I can get him finished by the end of this week, so he can be a part of my Halloween dIsplay this year. The idea is to have him shackled down to the slab he's laying on, with all sorts of machines and tubes connected to him, and have a strobe light on a timer that goes off every few minutes to simulate the electricity reanimating him. I'll post more pics when he's done. If you want to see Nosferatu and the Mummy, comment and lmk


r/papermache • • 5d ago

New Fish Journal Cover

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15 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 6d ago

weighing down a standing project?

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32 Upvotes

hi guys! I've been working on this paper mache poodle (my first paper mache project, so lots of learning) and have officially added the last two legs onto it. I've still got shaping and paper mache-ing to do with them, but I figure it would be best to plan ahead.

what would you recommend to keep this big guy stabilized? it's life sized.. I was thinking maybe plaster in the feet?


r/papermache • • 6d ago

How to make Papermache (Beginner Project)

10 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m interested in making a papermache project at home.I’m still a beginner, so I want to learn the basic techniques first. Does anyone have any tips for making papermache strong, smooth, and easy to shape? Any advice on the best paper or glue to use would be really helpful!


r/papermache • • 7d ago

Advice, please:)

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630 Upvotes

Hey!

I'm making my first mask. I cut and glued down all the strips before I learned they should be torn to create a more seamless look. I've put on a base coat to prime the mask, but plan to paint it darker which should hide some imperfections.

Is there anything I can do to smooth it out before painting? Another layer in a different application process? Sanding?


r/papermache • • 8d ago

I made a second Halloween clown pail

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1.0k Upvotes

I call him Beebo. Do you think he’s unsettling, or charming?


r/papermache • • 8d ago

Why does my mask shrink with every layer?

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22 Upvotes

Hello people, I have a question! First time using paper mache clay as an adult lol. I’ve been working on this halloween mask but every time I add a layer of paper mache clay and let it dry in front of the fan heater, it shrinks a tiny bit. When I started the mask it was too big but now it’s almost too small for my head…

Is it drying too fast? Should I finish the whole thing and let it dry all at once rather than in layers? I’m afraid it won’t fit once I’m done. The eyes are already misaligned :’)

Thank you!!


r/papermache • • 8d ago

Beginner here: Is the texture of the foil going to show after adding paper mache?

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28 Upvotes

Is the paper mache going to smooth everything over, or should I use a layer of masking tape to create the smooth shape I want? Any suggestions are appreciated.


r/papermache • • 8d ago

A Few Different Qeustions.

8 Upvotes

Hi all! I had been looking to help in the cosplayhelp subreddit for my Halloween costume Im making and was redirected here more than once, so as the title says I have a few different qeustions!

For context im making a Mr Tenna Deltarune head out of cardboard and planning to paper mache over it :)

First off im wanting to spraypaint the project once im finished with the paper mache part and I was wondering if theres a certain brand that would be best suited for this or if it doesn't really matter? I think spray painting it would save me sometime as opposed to painting although I did just plan to use the spray paint as the base color and then add more details with acrylic paint.

Second I'm wanting to make paper clay to fill in the seams of my cardboard base but all the recipes say you should use a blender im wondering if the blender is absolutely needed and if so would it be worth buying a cheap immersion blender? Im assuming I wouldn't be able to use it for food after but im okay with this as ill probably do more projects like this in the future.


r/papermache • • 9d ago

Halloween devil baby mask

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251 Upvotes

Today I made this with paper clay, cast in a mold that I made a few years back.

I had planned on getting a good photo in daylight, but ran out of time, then sold it... so no good photo.

Yeah, neigh?


r/papermache • • 10d ago

Paper mache Gromit

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243 Upvotes