PAPER MACHE CAT

PAPER MACHE CAT IS AN EASY FUN ART PROJECT FOR KIDS OR ADULTS. THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT FOR KIDS SPENDING QUIET TIME AT HOME, IN THE HOSPITAL OR CLINIC AS I HAVE FOUND MOST KIDS ENJOY PAINTING PAPER MACHE OBJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR THEM AND FOR MOST, IT'S SOMETHING NEW.   IT'S ALSO A CHANGE FROM PAINTING OR DRAWING ON PAPER.  KIDS TYPICALLY LIKE CATS OR DOGS, OR BOTH, AND IT'S FUN FOR THEM TO PAINT THEIR ANIMAL ANY COLORS OR DESIGNS THEY CHOOSE.  IT'S ALSO FUN THAT IT'S A BOX FOR "STUFF" AS WELL.  KIDS CAN ALSO DO THE PAPER MACHE PART OF THE PROJECT, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE NO TIME RESTRICTIONS.   IN THIS CASE I CREATED CATS FOR KIDS TO PAINT AS THE KIDS I  WORK WITH HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME AND PAPER MACHE HAS A LONG DRYING TIME (ABOUT A DAY).  YOUNGER KIDS PREFER ADULT ASSISTANCE AS IT TAKES PRACTICE AND CAN BE A LITTLE TOO TEDIOUS FOR THEM.  THIS PROJECT, PRESENTED READY TO PAINT IS A GREAT GIFT FOR A CHILD.    

 MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES REQUIRED ~

CAT IS MADE FROM CORREGATED CARDBOARD.  BODY IS A BOX (I USED 4X4X6 BUT ANY SIZE RECTANGLE YOU PREFER WILL WORK).  IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BOX YOU CAN ALSO CUT YOUR BODY SHAPE OUT OF FLAT CARDBOARD, A CENTER BOTTOM, 2 ENDS AND 2 SIDES.  CIRCLE USED IS A CARDBOARD CAKE PLATE (8") FROM ART STORE BUT YOU CAN ALSO CUT YOUR OWN. EXTRA CARDBOARD WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED OR YOU CAN RECYCLE A BOX.

SHARP KNIFE OR SCISSORS FOR CUTTING CARDBOARD

GLUE FOR ATTACHING CAT PARTS

LIQUID STARCH FOR PAPER MACHE (FOUND AT LARGER MARKETS OR SMART AND FINAL) OR A RECIPE YOU PREFER.  I LIKE LIQUID STARCH AS IT IS EASY AND DRIES CRISP AND STRONG.  TORN NEWSPAPER STRIPS

ACRYLIC PAINTS IN ASSORTED PREFERRED COLORS.  I USE THE 2 OUNCE BOTTLES FROM ARTS AND CRAFTS STORES AS THEY ARE INEXPENSIVE AND ARE A GOOD CONSISTENCY FOR PAPER MACHE BUT ANY ACRYLICS WILL DO.  YOU CAN ALSO USE TEMPERA PAINTS BUT I PREFER THE LOOK OF ACRYLICS.  FOR A NICE SHINY FINISH THAT ALSO MAKES YOUR PIECE STRONGER, ADD A TOP COAT OF CLEAR ACRYLIC GLOSS MEDIUM..

FOLD AND TAPE BOX BOTTOM AND CUT OFF TOP TABS OF BOX AS IT WILL BE OPEN.  MARK A 5.5" CIRCLE IN YOUR CIRCLE PIECE (OR MARK AND CUT A CIRCLE WITH EARS OUT OF CARDBOARD) FOR CATS HEAD, DRAW 2 EARS, AND CUT.  MARK AND CUT 4 LEGS ABOUT 6" LONG (NOT TOO SHORT AS YOU NEED SOME OVERLAPPING ON BODY FOR STRENGTH) EACH BY ABOUT 2" WIDE, ROUND CORNERS A BIT AT BOTTOM EDGES.  DRAW AND CUT A TAIL AND A NOSE.  GLUE ALL PIECES TO BOX AS SHOWN IN PHOTO.  REMEMBER CAT CAN BE ANY SIZE YOU CHOOSE, AND EVEN LEGS, EARS ETC CAN VARY IN SIZE.

TEAR UP SEVERAL STRIPS OF NEWSPAPER AND PUT SOME STARCH IN A SHALLOW PAN OR DISH.  DIP PAPER STRIPS INTO STARCH AND SQUEEGEE WITH FINGERS AND COVER CAT.  ONE COAT IS FINE BUT IF YOU WANT IT TO BE STRONGER YOU CAN ADD A SECOND COAT.  IF YOU ADD A SECOND COAT, IT''S BEST TO WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST COAT IS DRY SO IT DOES NOT WRINKLE TOO MUCH.  TRY AND MAKE YOUR STRIPS AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLY WHEN APPLYING TO CAT AS IT WILL BE EASIER TO PAINT AND WILL LOOK SUPER WHEN FINISHED.  SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASK WHAT PAPER MACHE ITEMS ARE MADE OF AS THEY LOOK SO GOOD!

WHEN PAPER MACHE IS DRY, ADD A COAT OF GESSO TO PROVIDE A NICE CLEAN PAINTING SURFACE.  YOU CAN PAINT ON THE NEWSPAPER BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER, AND COLORS ARE MUCH BRIGHTER ON WHITE.  I PREFER GESSO FOR THE WAY IT COVERS BUT YOU CAN ALSO USE A WHITE HOUSE PAINT OR ACRYLIC.  WHEN DRY CAT IS READY TO PAINT.  IF THIS IS FOR A CHILD ASK THEM WHAT COLORS THEY WOULD LIKE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE FUN AND MAKE THEIR CAT ANY COLORS THEY CHOOSE.  YOU CAN MAKE A LITTLE PALETTE ON A PAPER PLATE.

A GOOD PAINTING TIP FOR KIDS ~  ACRYLICS DRY FAIRLY FAST, AFTER DRY, COLORS CAN BE ADDED TO COLORS, EVEN WHITE ON BLACK.   A GOOD IDEA TO FOR KIDS TO TRY IS TO PAINT ONE COLOR FIRST AND AFTER DRY ADD SOME DESIGNS SUCH AS DOTS, STRIPES AND BLOTCHES.  SAME WITH FACE, IT'S EASIER TO PAINT THE ENTIRE FACE AND THEN DO EYES, WHISKERS AND NOSE NEXT. REMIND KIDS NOT TO WATER DOWN THEIR PAINTS BUT TO USE STRAIGHT FROM THE PALETTE.  AFTER PAINT IS DRY YOU CAN ADD THE TOP COAT.