Effortless Paper Mache Starfish

You will learn how to form recycled newspaper into a starfish, cover with paper mache, paint, and protect.

This paper mache project is super easy, cheap, and great for someone wanting to learn the awesome art of paper mache.

We hope to be a spring board to get you started and encourage you to tweak, change the starfish up all you want.

Stuff List

Recycled Newspaper

Masking Tape

Paper Mache Paste

Paints and Paint Brushes

Paper Clay (Optional)

H²0 and Rags

Steps to Make Your Starfish Sculpture

1 Build Your Starfish Armature

Begin by rolling up recycled newspaper into 3 long rolls.

To give shape and bulk to the body wad up newspaper then straighten back out to wrap around the body giving the center of your starfish bulk. Shape with lots of mashing tape.

Wrap the newspaper between the legs tapering to the end of the leg, giving good definition and separation. Refer to pictures on Google for Starfish Ideals.

Give your leg a curve for a natural look starfish shape; anything goes it's your fish.

2 Paper Mache and Paper Clay

1st Session

Cover the starfish armature with 3 to 4 layers of newspaper using your hands soaked in paper mache paste. Lay your paper flat onto your starfish and work out all air bubbles. As you continue to apply layers of paper onto your armature your starfish will begin to take shape before your eyes.

Once you have covered your starfish with paper mache they must completely dry. Lay them out in the sun if you can for faster drying, they will take at least 24 hours to dry depending on the size of your fish.

Tip: If you feel that your sculpture is strong enough you can skip to step 3 painting your starfish sculpture.

Paper Clay or Paper Mache

You Choose

2nd Session

For this session you have two choices; paper clay or paper mache. Both mediums are wonderful and will render a perfect starfish sculpture. The 2 best benefits to using the paper clay vs. paper mache are time and toughness. Both recipes are on the channel; please do check them out.

Paper Mache: Cover with 4 to 5 more layers of paper mache all at one time. Let it completely dry before moving on. If your starfish does not seem tough enough add more paper mache. After each session of paper mache your sculpture must completely dry before moving to your next step. Awesome, guys get excited to see your starfish take shape.

Quick Link to Paper Mache Paste Recipe: http://goo.gl/BH5lgM

Paper Clay: Cover the entire starfish with about 1/4 to 1/2 inch layer of paper clay, doing one side at a time and letting that completely dry. Apply the #paperclay with your hands and smooth with paper mache paste, butter knife, etc. You can let your paper clay dry for about 6 or more hours and then smooth more with paste.

We are still learning and experiment with the paper clay for better results everyday.

The size of your starfish will determine how long it will take to dry. A large starfish will take 3 to 4 days to dry. You can use a fan, the sun, and the oven on the lowest temperature it will allow. Our oven can go as low as 145 degrees, which is a perfect temperature for slowly drying your paper clay. If you heat your clay to fast it can turn dark brown.

Paper Clay Recipe: http://goo.gl/xoTFbJ

Question: Can I skip the paper mache and put paper clay directly onto my armature?

Answer: Yes, if your armature can support the weight of the paper clay without the support of the paper mache strips and paste.

If you need once the starfish has dried you can lightly sand with sandpaper and wipe off before painting.

3. Paint Your Starfish Sculpture

Paint a white coat of primer paint on your starfish to give you a white canvas for painting on. We use white flat interior house paint to prime the surface our sculptures.

Once the primer coat as dried paint with acrylics anyway you like. I begin with the darkest color first and work my way to the lightest shade. Learning every day.

Let all you paint completely dry before sealing with varnish.

Varnishing (Protecting)

You must seal your paper mache pieces with varnish for protection against moisture. Brush on 3 to 4 coats or varnish and let it completely dry.

Follow the instructions on your varnish to apply. We use Polycrylic Minwax at the studio to varnish all our art.