How to Make a Paper Mache Globe – Easy DIY

Learn how to make a paper mache globe! One of the best things that you can get out of crafting with your children is if it can also become an opportunity for them to learn something new. A paper mache earth project will do just that for you. You can easily make a paper mache globe and teach your kids about the continents and oceans of our world as they paint or stick them on.

How to Make a Paper Mache Globe Tutorial

Now, sometimes kids just aren’t in the mood to learn but this craft is just so much fun that you can be sure they’ll come away from it with a good understanding of the world they live in. And, if nothing else, you get to have fun doing paper mache and making a globe that can be used as room décor or party décor as well. Win-win in my books!

Supplies

The first step in any paper mache project is to make the paste that you will dip your strips of paper in. There are a few ways you can make this paper mache recipe but all of them do the same thing and when working with children, it is always smarter to make the simpler paste.

You will need:

• GLUE SUPPLIES – Warm water, 1 cup flour, non-toxic wood glue (PVA)
• GENERAL SUPPLIES – Bowl, spoon, whisk.
• Round balloons
• PAPER – Use lots of newspaper strips or craft paper.
• PAINTING SUPPLIES – Acrylic paints (blue, green. brown), paint brushes.

SAFETY – Ensure you choose a non-toxic brand of wood glue that is suitable for use with kids. If you can’t find a kid-friendly glue then skip this ingredient and just mix flour and water. You will still get great results for your paper mache globe but it may just not last as long and will be a little more prone to rotting in the longer term.

How to Make Paper Mache Globe, Instructions

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making a paper mache globe:

Step 1 – Mix the Glue

Before you start, cover your work surface and make the glue.

1. MIX – Mix equal parts of warm water and flour in a bowl until it forms a paste that has a thin consistency.
2. ADD GLUE – Add a few drops of glue to it just to give it a little structure. Mix well to ensure there are no lumps.
3. STORE – Use the flour mixture instantly or store it in an airtight container for 1-2 days. A pinch of salt in your mixture can make it last slightly longer. If you are storing it for any length of time, cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

RECIPE – 1 cup of water, 1 cup of flour, few drops of white glue.

Once you have your paper mache paste ready, you can start to build the base of your paper mache globe. I’ll walk you through the process of making the globe shape first since it always bodes well to leave it to rest for a few days before adding any décor.

Step 2 – Cover the Balloon

As you cover the balloon with the newspaper, keep handy a paper towel or wet cloth to keep your hands from getting too messy and leaving excess on the globe surface.

1. BALLOON – Blow up your balloon to the size you want your globe to be and set it up on a mason jar with the tied side down. A mason jar works perfectly here because you don’t want to cover a lot of the bottom surface area of the balloon.
2. COVER – Start dipping your newspaper strips into the paper mache paste and lay them as flat as possible on the balloon. Cover the whole surface area in a thin layer and let dry. Try not to get any wrinkles.
3. LAYER – Once the first layer has dried, add the second layer of newspaper making sure it is as flat as possible, and let dry again. You may need to do a couple of more layers before your base structure has the sturdiness you are looking for. Ensure there is no excess glue.
4. DRYING – Once you are satisfied with the layering, you need to let the covered balloon dry out for a few hours or even a full day. This helps really seal in all the work you have done and gives the paper mache globe a lot more sturdiness.
5. OPTIONAL – Pop the balloon with a pin or skewer.

Step 3 – Decorating Your Paper Mache Globe

Now that we have the structure done, we can move on to decorating and for that, we have a few options, ranging from minimal paper mache globes to globes that you can use for décor as well.

At the end of the day, this is a creative project and you can decorate your globe however you want to but having some inspiration is always a good idea.

Painting the Paper Mache Globe

The simplest way to decorate a paper mache globe is to paint it with some acrylic paints. This décor method works well if you’re crafting with smaller children and you don’t have much time. It also allows for a greater creative room with what tools and colors you can use.

1. BLUE – Get your dry base structure and start by painting it blue all over. You may need a few coats of blue paint to get the right opacity.
2. GREEN – Once the blue layer has dried, start sketching out the outline of the green continents with a pencil. Then you can fill them in with the green acrylic paint and let that dry.
3. BROWN – Add some details around the continents with the brown paint before letting the globe completely dry.
4. OPTIONS – If you don’t want to go the traditional decor route, you can always use any colors you want and let your kids paint as they please. A good idea is to do hand painting to create a paper mache globe that will be a sweet keepsake for you and your family.
5. TOPCOAT – Lastly, add a clear topcoat to seal all your hard work.
6. DRYING – Once dry, your globe is ready to be used!

Printing the Paper Mache Globe

If you want more accuracy on your paper mache globe, you can decorate it with printed continents and acrylic paints. You can find so many of these printables online ranging from simple bold shapes to more detailed shapes. This is an easy way to ensure your globe is accurate and saves you the time you may have spent drawing the continents by hand.

1. BLUE – Just like the first decorating option, you want to get your base structure and start by painting it with blue acrylic paint. You may need a few coats to get the desired opacity.
2. PRINTING – Once the paint has dried, you can then start sticking on your printed continent shapes. For each shape take some modge podge and apply it to the surface of the balloon and the bottom area of the printable. Stick it on and let it dry. Do this for all the shapes you have.
3. TOPCOAT – Once you feel like the shapes have dried out, cover the whole globe in a thin layer of modge podge. This last layer will help keep the printed continents flush with the globe and protect all your hard work in the process.

Paper Mache Globe – In Conclusion

A paper mache globe is not very hard to make but can provide hours of fun and learning for you and your kids. You need a few simple supplies and you’re on your way to making a piece that can be used as home décor, party décor, or just something to keep in your memory box.

Whether you make this paper mache globe by yourself, or you make it with your kids, this handy post will help you create beautiful memories all the while creating stunning paper mache globes.

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