At one time, I communicated a lot on liveinternet and made many friends there. The beauty of social networks is that they allow you to very quickly and sometimes even accidentally find people with similar interests. Therefore, even now I very often come across diaries of interesting people on Lira, creative individuals, handmakers and needlewomen.
I recently met a creative person there, Natalya, who really loves making crafts from papier-mâché, and she makes them so masterfully that you can’t even tell what material they’re made of. I was very impressed by her DIY Christmas trees made from papier-mâché, as well as Christmas decorations from papier-mâché and many other papier-mâché 🙂 beauty.
To be honest, I myself have never tried to make anything from this material, but now, seeing all this beauty, I really wanted to try it! Moreover, there is still time before the New Year and you can make similar balls for the Christmas tree (and as gifts for friends). In general, watch and be impressed, like me.
This is how the Christmas trees and Christmas decorations were before painting. The Christmas trees are made like this: a thick wire is inserted into the base of wood, and the upper part is already glued to the wire.
But Natalya ended up with such beautiful painted balls. Simply wonderful! she says. that they are quite heavy, but her Christmas tree (see photo below) will support them.
An extraordinary Christmas tree! Its frame is welded from reinforcement in the form of a triangular pyramid, and then wrapped with strips of tarpaulin.
How to make a simple Christmas tree from a cone
Additional information on Christmas trees New Year I advise you to watch this video master class.
All these jewelry, pendants, and beads are also made of papier-mâché. Wow, you’d never guess it at first glance!
Funny pendants, also made of papier-mâché. I can't imagine how they were made! Natalya writes that she carved each of them with her own hands.
One of the ethnic decorations.
I was especially shocked by the bracelets, which are not made of wood at all, as you might think at first... They... well, the smartest ones have already guessed - they are also made of papier-mâché! Amazing, right? Natalya revealed to me the secret of making them -
These papier-mâché Christmas decorations are very cozy and pleasant to the touch. Making them is not difficult, but the process takes time. Children don't like it. But this is even beneficial for busy adults. Today we soaked the trays (2 minutes), tomorrow we kneaded the dough (say 15 minutes), then molded them, and you can decorate slowly in the evenings - for some reason preparing for the holidays is much more interesting than celebrating
You need paper trays for eggs, paste, PVA glue. For decoration - corrugated paper, gouache, PVA, starch, semolina, wire.
You need to buy a large container of PVA at a hardware or construction store - it takes a lot. I did something like this.
Fill the trays with hot water.
When softened, tear into pieces and leave in water.
When the pieces have swollen properly, grind them using a mixer or food processor.
Squeeze out the water through a rag.
This is what happened.
Mix the squeezes with paste and a small amount of PVA glue, or just with paste. The result is modeling dough. But you can’t sculpt anything out of it, so you need to choose a simpler form.
I'll show you how I sculpted using the example of a mushroom.
Let's roll a ball in our hands.
Place it in a small round container. Roll the ball into the container. It will turn out even and smooth. It is then convenient to sculpt simple shapes from it.
We plop the ball onto a flat surface and get a mushroom cap.
Punch out the hole for the leg.
The hat can be made in another way. This makes it smoother. It must be dried directly in the mold.
Roll a leg from the same ball.
We dry the workpieces. You can do this on a battery.
The dry workpiece can be immediately covered with crepe paper. If it is very uneven, you can first stick on several layers of toilet paper.
The lower part of the cap is covered with crepe paper, and the upper part is painted with patina (see below).
The cream on the cakes is made using the corrugated tube technique (Country of Masters).
Semolina crumbs. Semolina can be glued on and then painted. Or prepare in advance as follows. Pour a few tablespoons of semolina into the frying pan and stir-fry. When the color changes, put some in a separate container. This is how we get different shades of brown.
Now about the stalemate.
Pat is a mixture of starch, PVA glue and gouache. It is used to make the stamens of the flower artist.
Pat will replace you with chocolate glaze, mushroom or apple peel. You can also use it to make cherries. You need to wrap cotton wool with PVA around a wire, form a berry, dry it and cover it with a mat. Can be done in two layers. If you need shine, then coat the top with more varnish.
How to cook.
Pour starch into a small(!) container and add PVA. Mix and achieve the desired consistency by adding PVA - if you need it thinner, or starch - if you need it thicker. We tint with gouache. It’s better to take the container with a lid so that you don’t have to use the whole mixture at once.
This is how the workpiece turns into an apple. Let's paint it with a stalemate. The tail is made of wire wrapped in crepe paper (we coat everything well with PVA).
As we approach New Year's holidays I want to add a little fairytale and magic to my life. To diversify your preparations for the New Year and Christmas, surprise your loved ones, and at the same time create a magical atmosphere in your home, you can create New Year's papier-mâché products.
The first unusual works of this technique appeared in Ancient China, and it was used in the production of protective headgear. Soon the French began to use it in their country for the manufacture of decor and even furniture, where the name “Papier-mâché” originated. Translated from French, the technique of making objects is translated as “crumpled paper.”
Handmade crafts look very original, especially antique ones. In addition, they are quite simple, and even children can cope with their manufacture. The papier-mâché technique is as follows: a certain shape is taken as a basis, onto which torn paper must be applied in layers. The paper is placed in such a way that each piece rests on the previous one. Each layer of the figure must be carefully coated with glue, and the paper must be carefully smoothed out so that there are no wrinkles. To create a craft, as well as strengthen its strength, you need to make at least 5 layers. Upon completion of the work process, the product must be thoroughly dried.
Hanging figures for the New Year, such as Christmas tree decorations, a New Year's or carnival mask and other handmade products, will amaze both children and adults.
New Year's toys and papier-mâché crafts are especially original, and christmas tree with such decorations pleases with its uniqueness. Under the green beauty you can put a molded Santa Claus, a New Year's house, a symbol of the New Year and other winter-themed figures.
Master class on working with papier-mâché (video)
Papier-mâché Christmas decorations: a fun decoration
What could be more interesting than receiving gifts? Of course, cook them! And it’s even nicer when souvenirs and Christmas decorations made by hand.
To make original or vintage toys for a papier-mâché Christmas tree you will need:
- Mass of several rolls toilet paper;
- Work surface;
- Paint with brushes;
- Forms;
- Sandpaper.
The main material for the craft is paper pulp made from toilet paper, glue and glycerin. If you have it, you can start creating crafts.
Take the necessary mold, which can be anything, and fill it with mass. You don’t have to use the mold. In this case, it is necessary to squeeze the mass in your palms as hard as possible to keep it strong. In the process of making toys, the specific shape of the intended product should be given.
An excellent option would be to create animals, cones, Christmas balls. After modeling is completed, the products need to be dried for two to three days.
To make the surface of the resulting figures smooth, you should rub them a little with sandpaper. Smooth products are not only pleasant to touch, but also work with paints in the future becomes several times easier.
The final stage is painting the elements with acrylic paints. You can invite children to color the products - there will be no limit to their delight! The resulting balls or other standard shapes can be further decorated with ribbons, beads and other small details. The papier-mâché Christmas decorations are finished, and the mood is already New Year's!
New Year's mask for a festive evening
A papier-mâché mask is made slightly differently.
To begin with, take a model of the future mask, cover it with Vaseline and paste it with pieces of paper according to the following procedure:
- Standard papier-mâché technique;
- The first layer is covered with glue;
- Pasting with thicker paper, smeared with thick glue;
- Papier-mâché technique made from plain paper;
- Pasting with pieces of cotton cloth;
- Repeating the papier-mâché technique from plain paper;
- Pasting again with thicker paper;
- Pasting with white thick paper or white cloth
All layers must be done carefully, carefully smoothing out the folds and releasing any air bubbles that have formed so that the mask is even. Next, the product is dried well for more than three days.
After the mask has dried, we begin to decorate it. You can cover the workpiece with any fabric, but it is best to give preference to stretch fabrics to avoid wrinkles. The slits for the eyes must be made with a small allowance to turn the edges inward. WITH inside the mask should also be covered with cotton cloth. The last stage of making the craft is the most interesting.
The finished mask is decorated based on imagination. You can use anything: beads, feathers, sequins, braid and much more. A homemade mask is highly valued at any holiday.
Cotton papier-mâché and its simplicity
How can we cope without Santa Claus in the New Year? And if the character is made with your own hands, then the feeling of celebration is increased several times.
To create a hero from cotton wool and papier-mâché you will need wire or plastic bottle, which will be used for the frame of the product, cotton wool, thread and PVA glue. You can mix a paste of flour or starch with your own hands, but with glue the work is simplified.
To begin with, take a wire and twist it in the form of a human silhouette, onto which dry cotton wool will be molded in layers. After applying several layers, the cotton wool on the frame must be secured with threads. Now the main stage of work begins. Cotton layers need to be glued onto the frame of the craft. To do this, you need to thinly divide the cotton wool, soak it well with glue and apply it to the figure. To make the surface smooth, you can paste over the figure thin paper. After forming the silhouette of Santa Claus, you need to start sculpting his face and other small details. The sculpting of the New Year's guest is complete!
The time to dry the figure is calculated based on its size, but not less than 3 days. Last stage – New Year coloring book products with acrylic or other paints.
How to make crafts using the papier-mâché technique look beautiful?
To do this you need to know little tricks:
- Do not dry figures on a radiator or other heaters to avoid cracks;
- You can give the product ideal evenness and smoothness using sandpaper or additional layers of glue;
- To preserve the durability of the craft, at the end of the work it is necessary to coat it with varnish;
- It will help to give strength to the product cotton fabric, well soaked in adhesive solution.
How to make a papier-mâché toy with your own hands (video)
Not everyone can practice papier-mâché. To work with your own hands, you should have such traits as patience and perseverance. And for craftswomen who cannot imagine themselves without their favorite craft, and whose workflow skills for making original products have long been honed, crafts can bring good income.
Examples of New Year's toys made of papier-mâché (photo)
These papier-mâché Christmas decorations are very cozy and pleasant to the touch. Making them is not difficult, but the process takes a long time. Children don't like it. But this is even beneficial for busy adults. Today we soaked the trays (2 minutes), tomorrow we kneaded the dough (say 15 minutes), then we made them, and you can decorate slowly in the evenings - for some reason preparing for the holidays is much more interesting than celebrating
.
You need paper trays for eggs, paste, PVA glue. For decoration - corrugated paper, gouache, PVA, starch, semolina, wire.
You need to buy a large container of PVA at a hardware or construction store - it takes a lot.
Semolina crumbs. Semolina can be glued on and then painted. Or prepare in advance as follows. Pour a few tablespoons of semolina into the frying pan and stir-fry. When the color changes, put some in a separate container. This is how we get different shades of brown. 
Now about the stalemate.
Pat is a mixture of starch, PVA glue and gouache. It is used to make the stamens of the flower artist.
Pat will replace you with chocolate glaze, mushroom or apple peel. You can also use it to make cherries. You need to wrap cotton wool with PVA around a wire, form a berry, dry it and cover it with a mat. Can be done in two layers. If you need shine, then coat the top with more varnish. 
How to cook.
Pour starch into a small(!) container and add PVA. Mix and achieve the desired consistency by adding PVA - if you need it thinner, or starch - if you need it thicker. We tint with gouache. It’s better to take the container with a lid so that you don’t have to use the whole mixture at once.
This is how the workpiece turns into an apple. Let's paint it with a stalemate. The tail is made of wire wrapped in crepe paper (we coat everything well with PVA). 
Bon appetit creativity!
With the New Year holidays approaching, I want to add a little fairytale and magic to my life. To diversify your preparations for the New Year and Christmas, surprise your loved ones, and at the same time create a magical atmosphere in your home, you can create New Year's papier-mâché products.
The first unusual works of this technique appeared in Ancient China, and it was used in the production of protective headgear. Soon the French began to use it in their country for the manufacture of decor and even furniture, where the name “Papier-mâché” originated. Translated from French, the technique of making objects is translated as “crumpled paper.”
Handmade crafts look very original, especially antique ones. In addition, they are quite simple, and even children can cope with their manufacture. The papier-mâché technique is as follows: a certain shape is taken as a basis, onto which torn paper must be applied in layers. The paper is placed in such a way that each piece rests on the previous one. Each layer of the figure must be carefully coated with glue, and the paper must be carefully smoothed out so that there are no wrinkles. To create a craft, as well as strengthen its strength, you need to make at least 5 layers. Upon completion of the work process, the product must be thoroughly dried.
Hanging figures for the New Year, such as Christmas tree decorations, a New Year's or carnival mask and other handmade products, will amaze both children and adults.
New Year's toys and papier-mâché crafts are especially original, and a New Year's tree with such decorations delights with its uniqueness. Under the green beauty you can put a molded Santa Claus, a New Year's house, a symbol of the New Year and other winter-themed figures.
Master class on working with papier-mâché (video)
Papier-mâché Christmas decorations: a fun decoration
What could be more interesting than receiving gifts? Of course, cook them! And it’s even nicer when souvenirs and Christmas tree decorations are made by yourself.
To make original or vintage toys for a papier-mâché Christmas tree you will need:
- A mass of several rolls of toilet paper;
- Work surface;
- Paint with brushes;
- Forms;
- Sandpaper.
The main material for the craft is paper pulp made from toilet paper, glue and glycerin. If you have it, you can start creating crafts.
Take the necessary mold, which can be anything, and fill it with mass. You don’t have to use the mold. In this case, it is necessary to squeeze the mass in your palms as hard as possible to keep it strong. In the process of making toys, the specific shape of the intended product should be given.
An excellent option would be to create animals, cones, and Christmas balls. After modeling is completed, the products need to be dried for two to three days.
To make the surface of the resulting figures smooth, you should rub them a little with sandpaper. Smooth products are not only pleasant to touch, but also work with paints in the future becomes several times easier.
The final stage is painting the elements with acrylic paints. You can invite children to color the products - there will be no limit to their delight! The resulting balls or other standard shapes can be further decorated with ribbons, beads and other small details. The papier-mâché Christmas decorations are finished, and the mood is already New Year's!
New Year's mask for a festive evening
A papier-mâché mask is made slightly differently.
To begin with, take a model of the future mask, cover it with Vaseline and paste it with pieces of paper according to the following procedure:
- Standard papier-mâché technique;
- The first layer is covered with glue;
- Pasting with thicker paper, smeared with thick glue;
- Papier-mâché technique made from plain paper;
- Pasting with pieces of cotton cloth;
- Repeating the papier-mâché technique from plain paper;
- Pasting again with thicker paper;
- Pasting with white thick paper or white cloth
All layers must be done carefully, carefully smoothing out the folds and releasing any air bubbles that have formed so that the mask is even. Next, the product is dried well for more than three days.
After the mask has dried, we begin to decorate it. You can cover the workpiece with any fabric, but it is best to give preference to stretch fabrics to avoid wrinkles. The slits for the eyes must be made with a small allowance to turn the edges inward. The inside of the mask should also be covered with cotton cloth. The last stage of making the craft is the most interesting.
The finished mask is decorated based on imagination. You can use anything: beads, feathers, sequins, braid and much more. A homemade mask is highly valued at any holiday.
Cotton papier-mâché and its simplicity
How can we cope without Santa Claus in the New Year? And if the character is made with your own hands, then the feeling of celebration is increased several times.
To create a hero from cotton wool and papier-mâché, you will need wire or a plastic bottle, which will be used for the frame of the product, cotton wool, thread and PVA glue. You can mix a paste of flour or starch with your own hands, but with glue the work is simplified.
To begin with, take a wire and twist it in the form of a human silhouette, onto which dry cotton wool will be molded in layers. After applying several layers, the cotton wool on the frame must be secured with threads. Now the main stage of work begins. Cotton layers need to be glued onto the frame of the craft. To do this, you need to thinly divide the cotton wool, soak it well with glue and apply it to the figure. To make the surface smooth, you can paste the figure with thin paper. After forming the silhouette of Santa Claus, you need to start sculpting his face and other small details. The sculpting of the New Year's guest is complete!
The time to dry the figure is calculated based on its size, but not less than 3 days. The last stage is New Year's coloring of the product with acrylic or other paints.
How to make crafts using the papier-mâché technique look beautiful?
To do this you need to know little tricks:
- Do not dry figures on a radiator or other heaters to avoid cracks;
- You can give the product ideal evenness and smoothness using sandpaper or additional layers of glue;
- To preserve the durability of the craft, at the end of the work it is necessary to coat it with varnish;
- Cotton fabric well soaked in an adhesive solution will help give the product strength.
How to make a papier-mâché toy with your own hands (video)
Not everyone can practice papier-mâché. To work with your own hands, you should have such traits as patience and perseverance. And for craftswomen who cannot imagine themselves without their favorite craft, and whose workflow skills for making original products have long been honed, crafts can bring good income.
Examples of New Year's toys made of papier-mâché (photo)
