The Best Way to Make Paper Mache Balloons

In this post you will learn how to paper mache balloons with paper and mod podge.

Paper Mache World

You know how you have memories that stay with you forever? There are just some memories that stick in your mind even from the time you were really little. Well, one of my memories was making paper mache balloons for a school project. I remember it so well because I loved doing it so much.

We were assigned to turn our balloons into a paper mache ball and then paint it into a replica of the world. I just remember it being really fun. I don’t remember the grade, or the mess, or my mom’s annoyance at the mess, but I remember the way I felt.

I knew I had the supplies on hand, so I thought I’d teach my kids how to do it too, and they loved it as well. This is a messy project, so keep that in mind, however, it is also very easy to clean up.

Here’s how we did it.

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How to Make Paper Mache Balloons

Supplies:

Balloons
Mod Podge
Paper strips (these can be regular paper, crepe paper, or newspaper/magazine paper strips)
Water
Paint Brush (preferably a wider one, not a small one)
Paint
Bowl (optional)

Instructions:

First you want to prepare your paper. You can tear or cut your paper into strips or squares. We used old newspaper ads, and I cut them into different size strips.

Next, you want to prepare the “solution”. You want to do 1 part glue, or Mod Podge (I feel like Mod Podge works the best, I’ve heard you can use glue though (a clear glue)) and 1 part water. We did ½ cup of Mod Podge and ¼ cup of water. It was a decent amount. The Mod Podge goes pretty far. We did 2 paper mache balloons, and we probably could have squeezed in another. (And we did many layers).

Blow up your balloon to the size you want your paper mache ball. I wouldn’t do it too big, especially if you want to do multiple layers.

Tip: You can place your balloon in a bowl that can be easily cleaned. This keeps the balloon from moving around on you.

Take your paper strips and dip them into the glue mixture and place it on your balloon, and repeat. Use your paint brush as you go to flatten and smooth out the paper strips. Cover your whole balloon, and get as close as you can to the part of the balloon that is tied. I recommend doing multiple layers for a sturdy mache ball.

Tip: Place the paper strips on the balloon in different directions. If you lay them all in 1 direction you get a lot of pockets and spaces. (Kids will most likely try to do this)

Hang up to dry. They don’t take very long to dry, but we waited until the next day to paint to make sure they were really hard. You could probably paint them within a couple of hours.

Once dried, you can paint them, however you like. I thought my kids would want to cover the whole thing with paint, but they just wanted to add small amounts of paint.

I wanted to paint one like the world…ah…memory lane.

Some other painting ideas would be: (I mean most kids don’t care, but in case they needed ideas here are some that would be cool)

Soccer ball, or any type of ball
Fruit or Veggie
Eyeball
Yee Yang
Planets, Moon, (or Earth)
Piece of Candy

You could also turn your paper mache ball into a decoration or hang it from your ceiling in your kids room.

Once the paint is dried, you can pop the balloon. You don’t have to. They aren’t as sturdy once you pop the balloon, but they are cool. My kids loved throwing it around while the balloon was still intact. It felt a lot like a kick ball. Once you pop the balloon it takes a little bit for it to un-stick itself from the inside.

Tip: This can be a messy project. I mean you are dipping paper into a sticky solution and slapping it on a balloon. With kids, something is bound to get smothered in glue solution. However, it is super easy to clean up. Once they were done, I wiped up everything right away, and it came right off my table and chairs. So, if you don’t mind a little clean up, it’s way fun.

And that’s how you make paper mache balloons, and if you feel like making the world, post a picture in the comments for me!

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