Papier-Mache Fish

Materials:

balloons
wallpaper paste
newsprint cut into 1" x 5" - 10" strips
industrial brown paper towels
plastic cocktail cups (one for each fish you create)
mixing bowl
water
manila folder or stock cover paper (about the same weight as manila folder)
spray paint
acrylic paint
size #4 or #5 paintbrush (other sizes as desired)
tacky glue
grommets and grommet punch
fishing leader
adornments - sequins, yarns, rhinestones, buttons

Note: This is a multi day project and the drying time will depend on the weather. It can take two or more days for the fish to set up properly, and the fish needs to be completely dry before proceeding to the next step. Casting the fish is time-consuming, but once you have the body's cast, decorate as creatively as you wish.

Day 1

1. Blow up a balloon to the desired size and knot the end.

2. Pour a small amount of wallpaper paste into a bowl. To make three fish, use 1/4 cup of paste.

3. Slowly add warm water to the paste. Mix the paste to the consistency of pudding.

4. Dip the newspaper strips one at a time into the bowl of paste. Do not fully submerge or soak them, as they will start to fall apart if too saturated. Squeeze the strips between two fingers to remove excess paste and lumps as you remove them from the bowl.

6. Rest the fish on a plastic cup as you prepare the next strip.

8. Place the fish (on the cup) on the floor near a heater to dry overnight. It may take a day or two to completely dry depending on the humidity in the air.

9. Check the balloon the following morning and rotate the fish's position on the cup. The section of the balloon that is in the cup tends to dry a bit slower and will need to be exposed to dry thoroughly.