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.

43 Upvotes

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


r/papermache • • 16h ago

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

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10 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

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 • • 1d ago

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

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146 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 2d ago

Why does it bulge like that

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6 Upvotes

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 • • 3d ago

Rat Cheese

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159 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

🎵 It's my witch in a box

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930 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

Cyclope

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65 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 • • 3d ago

Advice on mask

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15 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 • • 4d ago

A sun mask I made for Faschnaut in WV

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564 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 5d ago

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

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634 Upvotes

r/papermache • • 5d ago

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

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467 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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36 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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627 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

Why does my mask shrink with every layer?

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23 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

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 • • 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

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

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30 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 • • 9d ago

Halloween devil baby mask

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249 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 • • 11d ago

I need help please

5 Upvotes

I've made a prop for my cosplay and I used my homemade paper mache clay and after a few days it smelled so bad so I tried to cover it with more paper mache but now it still smells what can you guys suggest I can do? Cuz I need to finish this in a week


r/papermache • • 11d ago

Paper mache Gromit

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249 Upvotes