Faux Paper Mache Apples

Newspaper
Masking Tape
Paper Mache Paste (recipe below)
Red Tissue Paper
Mod Podge and a Paint Brush
Small Sticks, 3” long
Fake Leaves removed from a Silk Flower
White Glue

Make Paper Mache Paste: You could use the old stand by of flour and water, but I like to use rice flour and water.

1. Combine1/4 cup. rice flour and 2 cups. water in a sauce pan. Heat to barely a boil. Let cool. Store in covered container in the fridge.

2. Make newspaper strips. Newspaper rips easily the long way. Rip those strips in half then half again. Your strips should be about 6” long.

3. Roll up a full sheet of newspaper as shown. Make sure there’s a cavity in the top of the form. Hold the form together with a piece of tape around the middle. If your child can manage this step he should do it himself. I love it when the apples are lopsided and lumpy.

4. Dip the strips into the paste and remove the excess paste using the squeegee method: slide the strip between two fingers allowing the excess paste to fall back into the container. Your child can and should learn to do this. It will make all of your paper mache projects much easier.

5. Keeping the amount of paste under control (ya, right!), your child can cover the apple form with newspaper strips. Don’t cover over the center cavity. Allow to dry.

6. Cut up the red tissue paper into squares. You don’t have to be exact. See if you can find different reds.

7. With a brush your child can apply Mod Podge to an area on the apple then place a piece of tissue paper on the wet glue. Cover the tissue paper with a layer of Mod Podge. He should continue to do this until the apple is covered.