Papier-mache--method?

Question

My son wants to be a Viking for Halloween and we're thinking ahead. He needs a helmet and a shield. We'd really rather not buy cheap-o plastic stuff from the costume store unless there's no alternative. Can we make these two items ourselves using papier-mache? Neither my husband not I has done this before, so if you've got a good method, would you be willing to share it? Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

start with an oval of poster board for the sheild. To make the sheild, cut many ovals smaller than the posterboard of newsprint and stack them on the poster board to create thickness and depth. Use masking tape to secure all together. This is called an armiture, or the form you can finish with papier mache. Add twisted paper wrapped in masking tape and tape it to the back side of the poster board for the armm handles.
Use a bowl that fits the head and build up the helmet and horns in the same way.
Do not use the flour and water paste method, it will sour, can attract bugs and may wilt or mildew before Halloween.
I like to use wall paper paste, you can get at any hardware store in powder form, just add water and dip strips of paper one at a time, pull quickly from the mixture between two fingers using them as a ringer to get the most moisture out. layer the strips covering the shapes and slightly overlapping until only one or two layers have covered the form. Allow to dry completely. You may use latex house paint to seal the form or Gesso which is more expensive and the artist way to seal, prime and prep for color.
The viking can wear a nice pair of plain flannel pajamas with a simple tunic over the top tied with those extra long boot laces wrapped aroun the belly and used to also lace up the legs to make jammies appear to be knee boots.
Just take off the helmet, lacings and tunic and your viking is ready for bed after trick or treat.

Answer 2

yes paper mache would work...if you google papermache you can find recipes for it... and often patterns...with the helmet would have to start with a bowl or a balloon to shape it ...