Halloween Crafts: Paper Mache Spider

Paper mache spider is a fun project you can do to decorate your home this Halloween. Hang his up near your door to greet trick-or-treaters, or use him as a centerpiece on your table!

To make your paper mache spider you will start by making the paper mache paste. You can mix flour and water until it makes a mixture slightly thinner than pancake mix, or you can use plain white school glue with a bit of water added to thin it out.

To make the body of the spider, start with full sheets of newspaper and crumple them into two balls; one for the head and one for the body. The head will be basically round and should take two or three sheets of newspaper. The body may be a slightly oval shape and will probably take four or five sheets of paper. Use masking tape to help hold the shape together and then to attach the head to the body.

On the top of the body section, closer to the neck than to the butt of your spider, attach a piece of yarn and tape it down securely. This is what you will use later to hang your spider. If you are planning to set your spider on a table top instead of hanging it, you can leave off the yarn step.

Using additional sheets of newspaper cut into one-inch wide strips you will next wrap your entire spider with layers of newspaper strips dipped in your paste. Dip each strip into the paste and as you lift it out, run it between two fingers to scrape off any excess paste. You want it to be completely wetted through, but not dripping.

Criss cross the newspaper strips all over the spiders head and body until all of the original crumpled newspaper is covered. Then go over the whole thing two more times so you have three layers of strips covering your entire spider. This will give him a nice solid outer casing.

Before you go on you will need to let your paper mache spider dry completely. This might take overnight; especially if you live in a humid area. It is important it dry thoroughly before you move onto painting him. Otherwise it may mold on the inside. Once your spider is dry, paint over it in the colors of your choice; traditionally spiders are black but if you prefer you could always get creative. We gave ours a coat of black paint with bright green piercing eyes painted on.

Use black pipe cleaners to attach legs to your spider. Push gently but firmly and they will go into his body; then bend downward on each pipe cleaner to secure them in place. Set your paper mache spider out as a decoration on a table top or your porch steps, or if you've used yarn hang him up as a decoration to greet guests as they enter your home.

Happy Halloween!

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