DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Mache Easter Basket

My four year old made this fun Easter basket craft to hold her Easter goodies.

balloon
newspaper,
poster or tempra paint
paintbrush
ONE OF: white glue, mod podge OR paper mache paste (1 part flour to 4 parts water... boil about 3 minutes stirring constantly, add 2 ice cubes and let cool)-- See our "How to Mache" section

Prepare your paper mache paste right away so it has time to cool (if using the boil method). I like boiled paste as it's smoother and takes a lot less flour (the REDUCE part of the three R's!).
Blow up a balloon.

Tear strips of newspaper about 1 " wide and as long as you want.
Dip in the paper mache paste, but then remove excess paste (I run it through my fingers to do this).
Cover HALF the balloon in no more than 4 layers of paper mache (I always tell the kids no more than 2 as they always put on too much *grin*). If you put on more than 4 it will likely mold before it dries.
Put two strips over the uncovered half of the balloon to serve as the handle.
Scrunch newspaper up and line a bowl with it. Set the egg in that to dry.
Let dry COMPLETELY.
Apply a second layer of mache. This time covering the opening. The more layers you add, the sturdier it will be. We applied a second layer, but we only did two layers, not 4 this time.

Optional: we always use scrap white computer paper or toilet paper (don't laugh) for the final layer of all of our paper mache projects.
- It takes less paint to cover.
- I find newspaper needs two coats of paint, whereas the white paper only needs one.
- Toilet paper gives a rough texture which is nice for a change.
Paint the whole thing a base color or a couple of different colors (we used dark pink and purple and mixed the red, blue and white together ourselves) Kaitlyn LOVES mixing her own paint.
Let dry.
Fill with treats!