Paper Mache Balloon – How to Make it for Beginners

Learn how to make a paper mache balloon! Paper mache is one of those crafts that is a lot of fun to do and lets you show off your creativity in many different ways. You can create many different things from just a few scraps of paper and some white school glue. A paper mache balloon is one of the easiest things you can make with paper mache.

Paper Mache Balloon Tutorial

When making paper mache balloon projects, you will need to make the glue and then apply the paper strips to the balloon before popping it.

Supplies

Making a paper mache balloon is very easy but what will make the whole process a lot easier is having all your supplies ready. This should be a rule of thumb with any craft you do. Having your supplies readily available makes the whole process much more fun and saves you time and effort.

You will need:

• Balloons
• Cut-up strips of newspaper or scrap paper
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Paintbrush
• Water
• White glue (PVA)

How to Make Paper Mache Balloon, Step by Step

Here is the step-by-step tutorial for making paper mache balloons:

Step 1 – Mix Glue and Water

Once you have all your supplies ready, you can then make your mixture for the paper mache project you are about to start.

For white or PVA glue, mix 2 parts of glue to 1 part of water. Once you have your water and glue mixed together, you pretty much have your mixture ready to use whenever. If you only have a clear glue, try 3 parts glue to 1 part water.

Read more about paper mache recipes including a flour based recipe.

Step 2 – Inflate the Balloon

Inflate your paper mache balloon. It would serve you well to inflate a few balloons to different sizes so you can see which one fits your vision for the project the most.

Don’t inflate the balloons too much as then you run the risk of the balloon popping when you’re working on it. When you have your desired size of the balloon, you’re ready for the next step.

Step 3 – Cut Paper into Strips

Take your newspaper or whatever scrap paper you are using for this project and cut it into strips. For a better end result and time-saving, cut these strips to around the same size. You don’t have to be too particular, just eyeball it and make it as uniform as possible. 

Step 4 – Soak Paper in Paper Mache Mixture

Start soaking your paper strips into the paper mache glue mixture you have made. You can use a shallow tray and pour some mixture into it to make the soaking process faster and easier. Make sure the strips are fully saturated before moving on to the next step.

Step 5 – Cover the Paper Mache Balloon

Take out the soaked paper strips one by one and shake off any excess. Start laying them on the balloon in one single layer and cover the whole balloon surface.

For ease, you can place the balloon on a small bucket or large bowl. Ensure that the edges of the paper strips overlap as you lay them to ensure a sturdy foundation for you to build on.

You can go around the first layer and smoothen out any bumps that you may be seeing. Add a second layer of paper strips and a third if you feel like it needs it. You should use 3 to 4 layers of newspaper at most.

Remove any excess paste.

Step 6 – Let it Dry

Once you are satisfied with the number of layers you have on your balloon, it is time for it to dry out. You can let it stay on top of the bucket or bowl you were using, or you can use a clothespin to hang it.

The hanging method will allow air to get to the whole surface of the balloon and is a much more efficient way of drying out your paper mache balloon. The drying process will take about 2-3 days to complete.

Step 7 – Pop the Balloon

When the paper mache balloon has completely dried, you can pop the balloon underneath and slowly pull it out. If the balloon is stuck to the paper mache somewhere, you can leave it in there as it won’t give you any problems once it’s popped.

For completely covered paper mache balloons, make a small hole underneath to pop and remove the balloon.

You now have your paper mache balloon ready for you to decorate or make other crafts out of.

Paper Mache Balloon Uses

With your newly made paper mache balloon, there are a ton of things you can do. You can turn it into party decor or style it up a little and display it around your home, or you can try some more crafts using this paper mache balloon as the base.

There are unlimited possibilities when it comes to paper mache balloons, and down below, you’ll find some of the things you can do with them;

1. You can make a paper mache globe or hot air balloon.
2. Turn the paper mache balloon into a paper mache pumpkin.
3. You can make different animals for a kids’ playroom.
4. You can use this as a base for a paper mache mask.
5. Cut it in half and use it as a paper mache bowl.
6. Use it for the body of a paper mache pinata.

Paper Mache Balloon – In Conclusion

Paper mache projects are some of the most fun and versatile crafts that you can make. You can use it as party décor, or you can add a few more bits to it to make it a stand-alone decoration piece for your home.

Once you try this paper mache balloon project, you will want to deep dive into the wondrous world of paper mache. Learning how to make a paper mache balloon will help you understand how to work with different paper mache mixtures and opens up a world of creative possibilities.