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This paper mache Easter Bunny is a great first paper mache project, or one to make with your kids.
Just crumple paper into some easy shapes and hold them together with masking tape. Then cover him with paper strips and paste (or paper mache clay, if you’d prefer) and paint him.
I covered mine with one layer of brown paper strips, with cooked flour and water paste. You can use more layers if you want, and you can use newspaper instead of brown paper. I just used what I had on hand.
I helped him dry faster by sticking him the oven at 200° F for about an hour. I only did that because I wanted to get this post faster. You don’t have to bake your bunny. In fact, a fan will dry it out almost as fast.
I used some leftover latex house paint for my bunny. Dan Reeder, the Dragon Guy, uses latex paint all the time, but I’ve never really done it. Now that the price of everything, including art supplies, is going up, I’m starting to think it’s a good idea.
If you would like to know how to mix fur and feather colors using a limited number of latex paints instead of acrylics, let me know in the comments below and I’ll see if my daughter can show us how.
If you make an Easter Bunny and show it to us on the Daily Sculptors page, I’ll put a link to it down below so we can see all the bunnies together. 🙂
And for a more grown-up, yet slightly silly bunny, check out my pattern for a “faux trophy mount” jackrabbit.
Links to things mentioned in the video:
- The packaging tape I cover my table with
- How to make a sculpture stand with a turntable
- The Tartan tape at Home Depot: (They say it isn’t suitable for painting, and I believe them. But it’s great for paper mache – and cheap.)
- Recipe for cooked flour and water paste
More bunnies:
Easter Bunnies by Our Readers:
For screenshots of the Easter Bunny project, scroll below.
1. Crumple paper into a pear shaped body and cover it with masking tape
2. Add legs and feet.
3. Add a ball for the head.
4. Add a smaller ball for the tail.
5. Make a flattened ball for the muzzle, and a triangular ball for the nose. (You might want to make your bunny’s nose a little smaller than mine is. I got a little carried away. 🙂 ) You don’t need to add the nose at all – he would look really nice with a nose painted on the muzzle.
6. Add ears of any length, and make them stand up straight or hang down – it’s up to you.
7. Add paper strips and paste.
8. Use any colors you like to paint your bunny. He’s based on stuffed toy bunnies, so any colors will work.
9. Add buttons for eyes, or paint them on. And he’s done! 🙂
When you said, “bunnies come in a bunch of different colors…” That was my cue! I adore that this looks like a plush animal, and doubly-love that it is/can be super quick! I have had a specific multi-colored plush toy in mind as a gift for someone for many years- it was their childhood favorite. So- guess what I am going to do this weekend?!
Thank you Jonni for doing what you do! You’re my favorite, and the best!!
You’re going to have a fun weekend! I hope you’ll show us how your bunny comes out, if you don’t think it would spoil the surprise. 🙂
Thanks Joni – I love all your videos.
I’m interested in the colour mixing – I took a painting class & was amazed at the Brown Paint I mixed myself…
I think the rabbit you made was so cute – somewhat whimsical & I’m sure kids would love it. I’m hoping to get one together for my 2 year old granddaughter who loves animals.
Thank you again.
Robin
Thank you, for share. I love the bunny its so cute.
Yes! please! That would be awesome if she would show us how to mix colors. It would be very helpful love you J and appreciate you so much!
She’s going to look into it and see if she has time. I’ve told her lots of people have their fingers crossed. 🙂
That was a great bunny, thanks for your marvelous ideas easy and fun fast. Indeed I will watch a video of your daughter mixed color is a great opportunity to learn more from a professional, blessings and have a nice week.
Thanks, Norma. I’ll let Jessie know. 🙂
Love everything you make, will be making the
bunny with the grandchildren thanks for the inspiration
Jonni keep up the good work.
I hope you’ll show us your bunny after you and the grandkids get it done. We’d love to see how it comes out. 🙂
Jonni, I do like these quick projects that you present. It is so helpful to consider them when doing the homeschool art lessons with the grandkids. We have done a number of them….all inspired by one of your projects. I personally get more out of your more in depth tutorials because they help me to troubleshoot problems with my own sculptures. So, the answer is that I like both!
Mixing latex paints is harder than mixing regular acrylics. Pal Tiya sculptures need to be painted with outdoor latex since they are outdoor sculptures. When I first started, I thought to buy a red, yellow , blue, raw umber, white and black thinking I would mix the colors like acrylics. Nice thought but it didn’t work so well in practice. Perhaps it is because the pigments already mixed into the latex, I’m not sure. With a bit of work, it can be done but I find acrylics easier.
Also, it depends on what you plan on doing with your sculptures. I use artist quality paints because I want the longevity. That’s to ensure the best product when I sell them. Do you get the same longevity with latex?
Lots of food for thought.
Good points, Eileen. I wondered about the mixing, because the paint stores use a base with pure pigment added according to the formula printed on the paint chips. I wonder if there’s a way to find the colors that are closes to pure primary colors.
As for how long they’ll last, I have no idea. I don’t sell my work, so I don’t personally worry about it. I’ve never been able to figure out how art supply companies can claim their product will last xx number of years, when they’ve just come out with it. There must be something they do in the lab. I know my house paint is still holding up well in very challenging weather, with sun, rain, freezing and thawing – but that doesn’t really help much. Dan Reeder had a dragon in a tree in Seattle for a number of years – I don’t know if it’s still there or not. His cloth mache hadn’t deteriorated the last time he mentioned it, but I don’t remember him saying anything about the paint.
Love the bunny and yes, I think a little pink in the ears would be nice
Also, yes, I would like to see a video on mixing of paint 🙂
Thanks, Linda. I’ll let everyone know if Jessie has time to do a video for us. 🙂
Love the bunny! I used house paint on the bunny I posted a couple of years ago. To answer your questions: I like a mix of simple and fast projects and the more detailed ones. I think it would be great if your daughter did a video of mixing colors. I’m also wondering if you can use the acrylic paint to tint the latex paint. I also really appreciate the tips on supplies, of what works and what is not so great. It’s extremely helpful!
You rock, Jonni!
Thanks, Jeannie! You must be the one who made this adorable bunny!
That’s the one!
What a charming little fellow. I love your programs and patterns…they are fun, easy to follow and encourages our creativity. When your daughter gets a chance, I would love a class on color mixing.
Thanks Judy! And I’ll let Jessie know that you voted for a color-mixing video. 🙂
Your bunny is adorable and a project anyone should be able to do. Thank you for sharing it. I think we all need inspiration about now.
Thanks Pat. I agree that a little inspiration – or just some quiet time away from the news – is important right now. Strange times we live in… 🙂