Life-Sized Baby Elephant Pattern
For Paper Mache
$7
This project takes time and patience to complete, but don’t let the size scare you. It’s actually a fairly easy project.
In fact, the video below has been seen by 1.4 million people, and thousands of people have used the pattern to successfully create their own lovable baby elephants. That means you can do it, too.
Note: this is the only pattern sold on my site that does not create all the shapes for you. Be sure to watch the video so you can see how to make your baby elephant sculpture.
How to Use the Baby Elephant Pattern:
This baby elephant pattern has been used successfully by hundreds of people from around the world.
In fact, it continues to be one of the most popular projects on this site. Scroll down below the video to see just a few of the photos that have been sent in by people who used this pattern.
The finished size of the paper mache sculpture shown above is 29″ high and 36″ long from trunk to tail. If you don’t have room for a sculpture that size, or if you want one that’s even bigger, the size is easy to change. (Some people have even used the pattern to create life-sized adult elephants!) You can see some of the elephants that have been made with this pattern by scrolling down below.
$7
Watch the video below to see how to make your elephant sculpture.
Note: I copied the pattern onto sheet of plywood, as you’ll see in the video, but if I made this elephant today I’d use a piece of cardboard from a large appliance carton instead. Cardboard is much lighter than wood.
To make this elephant sculpture you’ll need:
- A large sheet of heavy cardboard or a scrap of thin plywood that’s at least 48″ square.
- Lots of recycled newspaper to fill the inside
- Masking tape.
- Aluminum mesh wire for the ears
- Flour and water paste
- More newspaper for the paper mache
- Paper towels for the final skin
- Acrylic or latex paint
- Acrylic varnish
Use either paper strips and paste or paper mache clay –
I didn’t invent my paper mache clay recipe until after I made this elephant. Since the paper mache clay goes on faster than paper strips and paste, I’d use the paper mache clay if I made another life-sized elephant. However, I’d still use the final layer of paper towels to get that realistic elephant-skin look. You can find the recipe for my now-famous paper mache clay by clicking the Recipes link in the menu at the top of this site.
Note: Keep your baby elephant in the house –
When I made my own elephant sculpture I thought a few coats of marine varnish would protect her from the elements. That’s why I took some photos of her out in the garden. I changed my mind after I did some experiments. Marine (spar) varnish does not prevent rain and sun from destroying a paper mache sculpture, so be sure to keep your baby elephant inside.
$7
Do you have a question or need help with your pattern?
There are two ways to contact me: The fastest way to get an answer is to leave a comment below. I read all comments and answer them as soon as I can, usually within a few hours. One of my readers might also chime in to help – we have a very supportive community here on this site.
If you prefer to reach me privately, you can send me an email.
I get a ton of spam and I don’t want your email to get lost, so please put “paper mache” in the subject line so your email won’t be accidentally deleted. If you don’t hear back from me within 24 hours, assume the cyberspace gremlins ate your email, and try again. 🙂
Just a few of the 100’s of baby elephants made with this pattern …
An Elephant for Andrew
Mother and Son Make a Baby Elephant with Paper Mache
Linda’s Paper Mache Elephant
Have You Used This Pattern? Tell Us About It …
I have been wanting to do this elephant project since I first saw the picture of yours on Pinterest a couple of years ago. I am an employee of the local newspaper so thats a big help but I wasn’t able to begin the project for lack of having the time…until now. I also wasn’t comfortable with the idea of sculpting, so to speak. I have since learned to draw and I have taught myself. Im not half bad and it was pretty easy. Now its time to tackle a small paper mache elephant and whatever snags I hit will be corrected making the next elephant…the much bigger one…an easier more perfected, as far as my own skills at this goes atleast, so that it will turn out to be beautiful. Elephants have been my favorite for my entire adult life so this is going to be a whole lot of fun. I’ll not stop either until its perfect. I cant wait to send pictures. I made my own pattern for this first one and I think so far it looks like it’ll work. Cross your fingers with me and with any luck youll hear from me soon with a finished elephant…a smaller one. Ty for your inspiration. If not for seeing what you made, I wouldn’t have wanted to do this. I am so excited. Talk to u soon. Thanks again.
Dianna Dowdy aka Rainebow
Have fun with it! And be sure to come back and show it off when it’s done. We’d love to see how it comes out. 🙂
Hi,
I really love your life sized baby elephant. I am wanting to create a life sized baby dinosaur for my child’s 1st birthday themed “One-asaurus” do you make custom patterns for purchase?
Hi Coryna. I don’t do any custom patterns. However, I show how to make the four-legged patterns like the standing elephant in my book Make Animal Sculptures with Paper Mache Clay. and I have a video that shows the process, too. The inner patterns that set the outline of the bodies and legs are easy to make, so you don’t need to hire someone to do it for you. Just find a photo of a baby dino, or draw one. Give it a try – it will be fun. 🙂
Thank you so much I’m going to purchase now.
WOW,
57 years ago my boyfriend and I created a large paper machete Buda for decorations For the senior prom. We were juniors in high school. We made the armature pot of wood and chicken wire. It was painted gold at the end, and I have no idea what happened to it. So I have some idea of the incredible skill you have. Of course many of the products, were not available to us. And we mostly used what we could scrounge up. This was when my husband got a sense of what being married to me would be and 55 years later we still do a variety of projects together and I dream of many that never get done. Thanks for sharing your skill. My current ambition is to make a few simple vessels with my grand daughter.
I love that story! It sounds like you and your hubby were truly made for each other. 🙂
How do I get started on my own baby elephant? does it hav to be build inside house ? I’m looking for outside one thanks for all the pictures
Hi Carmen. I made my baby elephant out of crumpled paper on the inside, and paper strips and paste on the outside. Neither of these products can be left outside. We have a new recipe for paper cement clay that appears to be waterproof, for the skin – but you still wouldn’t want to make the inside of your elephant with paper. You could use crumpled foil, like I did for the toad I made. But, of course, your elephant would be a lot bigger. You can use a cardboard pattern inside your elephant instead of the plywood that I used to make mine – that would make it a lot lighter.
We made a scaled up version of the elephant for a ballet production, the templates REALLY helped and saved us a lot of time. We wouldn’t even have tried it without the video and printable. She ended up being 7ft tall and needing her own moving truck to get to the theater!
Wow – your elephant sounds amazing! We would love to see it, if you have some photos you’d like to share. You can do that on the Daily Sculptors page – just hit the big yellow button to find the form. 🙂
Thank you dear Jonni ! Your explanations are gorgeous ! I think i will try to make the baby elephant !!!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge ! Have a lovely day ! Geneviève ,
from France .
Have fun with it! 🙂
Hi new to your site. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Is there nothing to put on baby elephant so it can stay outdoors?Thank you
Arli Jo
I don’t recommend using a paper sculpture outside. However, some people claim that Flex Seal will work to protect a paper mache sculpture. One of my other readers tried it, and their sculpture was almost ruined before she brought it back inside and dried it off.
Most varnish or sealer products will break down over time, especially if the sun hits them, or there’s freezing and thawing. Fiberglass would probably create a permanent waterproof skin, but it’s expensive. I did make a garden gnome sculpture that has been outside for two years now, in Minnesota, but there’s no paper inside except for the cardboard pattern. The elephant could be made the same way. You wouldn’t call it a “paper mache” elephant, but it should last for a very long time. You can see that two-part video series starting with the first one, here.
Hi ,love your creative ideas. I use them for my newphew project. I also tried making elephant. Thanks for sharing. Well explained