SUMMER BEACH HUT PAPER MACHE CRAFT

 

LITTLE BEACH HUT MADE FROM CARDBOARD AND 4 STICKS, COVERED WITH PAPER MACHE, CAN BE PAINTED ANY WAY A CHILD LIKES.  KIDS CAN PLAY WITH THEIR 'HUT' BY MAKING A LITTLE BEACH SCENE OR ADDING SMALL TOYS. 

CARDBOARD IS GREAT FOR MAKING CRAFTS OF ALL KINDS.  I LIKE IT COVERED WITH A LAYER OF PAPER MACHE TO SMOOTH OUT ALL EDGES, ADD A BIT OF STRENGTH, AND MAKE A NICE PAINTING SURFACE BUT YOU CAN LEAVE CARDBOARD AS IS AND PAINT IT.
YOU CAN USE CARDBOARD SCRAPS OR IF YOU PREFER YOU CAN USE BOXES.  FOR THIS HUT A 6X6X6 BOX WAS USED WHICH WAS CUT IN HALF SO THAT 2 HUTS COULD BE MADE.  YOU CAN MAKE YOUR HUT ANY SIZE YOU LIKE, EVEN EXTRA LARGE!  THE ROOF IS MADE FROM A PIECE OF CARDBOARD CUT TO FIT.  CRAFT STICKS FROM THE CRAFT STORE WERE USED FOR THE POLES BUT YOU CAN ALSO USE ACTUAL TWIGS OR BRANCHES.

1.  CUT HUT BASE FROM A BOX OR PIECES OF CARDBOARD, ANY SIZE YOU LIKE.  OURS IS 6X6 AND SIDES ARE 3' HIGH.  CUT A DOOR OPENING AND POKE HOLES IN CORNER OF HUT FLOOR FOR YOUR STICKS.  POKE STICKS THROUGH AND GLUE THEM TO CORNERS WITH HOT GLUE GUN OR REGULAR GLUE.  CUT THE ROOF RECTANGLE PIECE TO FIT HUT, SCORE AND FOLD DOWN CENTER.  CUT 2 SMALL TRIANGLES TO FIT INSIDE THE ROOF WHEN IT IS IN THE CORRECT POSITION, TO REINFORCE IT AND MAKE IT STAY IN POSITION.
2.  LADDER IS CUT FROM CARDBOARD SCRAPS.  SEE PICTURE.  MAKE A PATTERN FOR  PALM TREES AND SURFBOARDS, TRACE AND CUT.
3.  USING LIQUID STARCH OR WHATEVER YOU PREFER, TEAR SOME NEWSPAPER STRIPS AND COVER THE HUT AND AND ALL PIECES.  TREE AND SURFBOARDS ARE A LITTLE TEDIOUS SO KIDS CAN USE HELP IF MAKING HUT ON THEIR OWN.  WHEN ALL PIECES ARE DRY, PAINT WITH A COAT OF WHITE ACRYLIC PAINT OR GESSO.
4.  HUT IS READY TO PAINT.  ACRYLICS WORK BEST AND THE LITTLE JARS FROM THE CRAFT STORE ARE PERFECT.  YOU CAN USE TEMPERA OR POSTER PAINT BUT THEY ARE A BIT CHALKY.  WHEN PAINT IS DRY YOU CAN ADD A COAT OF CLEAR ACRYLIC GLOSS COAT.  IT LOOKS GREAT AND MAKES PIECE A BIT STRONGER.
5.  KIDS CAN ADD MORE THINGS TO THEIR HUT IF THEY CHOOSE, LIKE FLAGS, AND CLOTHES LINES WITH LITTLE BATHING SUITS AND BEACH TOWELS.  HUT CAN BE PAINTED IN A FOLK ART STYLE WITH SUNS AND CLOUDS AND FISH OR WITH DIFFERENT PATTERNS.