Make Beautiful Sculptures and Masks with Paper Mache and Paper Mache Clay
Sculpture and Mask Patterns
For a fast, easy start, check out my patterns for animal masks and sculptures. No experience is required to create paper mache art that will be treasured for years.
Paper mache recipes.
You can find all the traditional paper mache paste recipes on this site, plus my famous paper mache clay recipe (and several new variations). You can always find the recipe you’re looking for under the Recipes link at the tip of the site.
Or download my free booklet, The 5 Best Recipes for Paper Mache.
Paper Mache Tutorials.
If you’re looking for an idea for your next paper mache project, we’ve got lots – there are over 480 tutorials and projects on this site, and more are added all the time. You’ll find them organized by category on the Blog-Art Library page.
If you have a particular project in mind, try the search bar. You will always find the search icon at the top of the site.
Paper Mache Community.
I’m Jonni Good, the creator of this site and the author of several best-selling sculpting books on amazon.com. You’ll find me on the Daily Sculptors page almost every day, along with many other friendly and supportive folks who love creating beautiful things with this exciting medium. Be sure to drop by and say “hi.” We’d love to meet you.
How Lezlei Young Made Camilla, a Giraffe for Vacation Bible School
This paper mache tutorial shows you how to make a large giraffe. This post was written by Lezlei Young, who made the giraffe for Vacation Bible School.
Lifelike Horses Made with Wire and Paper Mache Clay
Our friend Maud Berglund, from Sweden, creates beautiful horse sculptures with wire, wire mesh, paper mache clay and bronze paint. She’s only been sculpting since
Cooked Flour and Water Paste Recipe – And When to Use It
In this video I show you how I make cooked flour and water paste for my paper mache sculptures, and when it’s worth extra time to make it.
Lion Headdress Mask Patterns for the Lion King Jr. Play
Lion Headdress Mask Patterns for the Lion King Play Buy the entire 4-pattern set for just $28* *The patterns are also available individually for $12
Make a Paper Mache Jaguar – Guest Post
Make your own paper mache jaguar with this illustrated tutorial by our friend Sattik Halder. The steps are easy, and after he’s got his spots, it looks amazing.
Super-Strong Paper Mache that Dries Really Fast
Create a strong paper mache mask really fast by using Titebond III glue instead of the usual flour and water paste. Just one layer completes your masterpiece.
Thank you
Lovely site
I want to make thin flowers
What would you recommend for the base
Thank you
Margaret
Hi Margaret. I haven’t made any flowers, but some of our readers have. I suggest that you put your comment over on the Daily Sculptors page, and I’m sure someone will have a good idea for you.
“ I had a huge task ahead of me, and though I have been an artist for years it had been awhile since I had made a paper mache armature. I emailed Jonni and she lead me in the right direction. Her patterns where so easy to follow. I was even able to take her concepts of the giraffe and create a two zebras. 8 armatures in total. Vacation Bible School was a huge success! The kids loved the interaction and it brought the safari theme to life. Thank you ultimatepapermache. com and Jonni. You are truly an inspiration. Keep creating all you amazing artists!
Rachel Newmyer
Great work, Rachel! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Hi there! I used your lion template and the fabulous paper mache clay recipe to create a fierce lion for a school parade float. I thought you may like to see it!
Carrie, we would love to see it! But your photo didn’t upload with your comment. Each photo needs to be under 250 kb. To make it smaller, you can edit it with this free online tool. I do hope you’ll try again!
to make gesso…………..I see that you use glue and compound,,,,,,,,,, will it dry if have extra gesso
Do you mean will it dry in the bowl if it isn’t covered? Yes – but it will last for a long time if you can keep the air out.
Oh, the butterfly is a ready made one but I want to try making your butterfly 🙂
Hi Jonni, I am so happy my photos finally got through :-)) and thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot for me. I used stripped paper towels which I wrinkled and then dubbed in glue and water and placed randomly on the cat’s body .
Enjoyed making him very much
It’s adorable, Miki. Thanks for showing it to us.
My cat 🙂
Miki, how did you make the fur? And the butterfly? I’ve never seen anything like it before. The eyes on both of your cats are really nice, too.
Wow, you have some incredible art. I’ve dabbled with paper mache clay before, bought from Michel’s craft store, but my real love is papercraft models. However, they tend to get damaged easily so I’m looking for a way to re enforce then so they last.
Hi Jeremy. We often use the light cardboard from cereal boxes to create the forms, and cover them with a layer or two of paper mache. The first two videos near the middle of this post might give you some ideas for your papercraft models.
Hi , this is my cat. Loved making it
Hi Miki. Your photo didn’t come through. It might be too large. I hope you’ll try again, because we3’d love to see it.
Here’s a picture of Gary! I used “slip sheets” for the cereal box cardboard. These are found between the pkgs of paper towel on a pallet at Costco. They usually just throw them away, but make great poster board!
Wow – what a clever idea, and well executed, too. Thanks, Carolyn, for sharing the photo. Do the kids get to make up a story to explain why the giraffe is driving a jeep?
Hi Jonni,
I, too “upsized my Giraffe for VBS. His name is Gary. I did not make his entire body, that would have been cool, but Gary is driving a Jeep and travels through 7 different VBS’s all summer
I have just made my first mask form! This is only plaster cloth….I am letting it dry overnight before I can sand it as much as I can, then adding the paper mache and smooth gesso to make it all smooth and usable for future masks.