Your easiest least messy paper mâché recipes and tips please

[AdmiralButterfly]

For 6 yr old's school project. I know the biggest tip is don't do it. But I have promised.

Make a rough frame for your model, eg a balloon or model it from scrunched up newspaper or kitchen roll. Cover long strips of newspaper in a mix of 3/4 PVA glue and 1/4 water (if you have a big bowl with the glue mix in you can just dip them, or you could use a paint brush to apply). Layer them on top of the frame until you have covered the whole thing, then leave to dry.

Once that layer has dried, repeat. The repeat again (4 or 5 layers in total), use kitchen roll or plain paper for the last layer so it's easier to paint over.

I made an enormous turnip a few weeks ago, unfortunately it was when we had a very hot day and the balloon popped after the second layer so it looks a bit more 'rustic' than I planned!

Depending what you're making, you can mould a lot of it in card wrapped with foil and then mould the foil and tape it into shape. Same as pp - 3/4 pva,1/4 water. If you get a good base with the foil then you'll only need a couple layers of paper so cut drying time.

Like this...

Amazing thank you