Hi, friends! I have a really cute Christmas craft project for you today. I am showing you how to make paper mache Santas with a vintage look. I just love how they turned out and I hope you do too!
It is the time of year when I start diving into making Christmas crafts. Somethings I make for myself and others I make as gifts. I wanted to show you how to make paper mache Santas because they are great for both keeping and gifting! For us vintage lovers, this project is a fabulous way of adding to our Chirstmas decor.
And you can paint them any way you like so that they match the color scheme you are going for. A little brown glaze brushed on at the end and you have yourself some adorable vintage looking Santas! Use them as ornaments or hang them with ribbon anywhere you need a little something jolly!
How to Make Paper Mache Santas
I know that the thought of paper mache is enough to make some people cringe. But with instant paper mache you get to leave a lot of the headache and mess behind! Don’t get me wrong, it is still a little messy but nothing like going the traditional paper mache route.
The instant stuff is really easy to mix up and then it just acts like clay. You still get the rustic texture but without all the drippy mess. And that is a huge win for me! Another thing that I love about this project is that the sculpting doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact the roughness adds a lot to the vintage rustic look of the Santas.
And don’t be afraid to make each of your Santas a little bit different. I used different shapes and sizes. I also added different details to each one. If you make one that you absolutely love and want to make them all similar, go for it! But just know that you don’t have to.
Painting your Paper Mache Santas
For my Santas I used a mix of acrylic and chalk paints. I used a cream colored chalk paint to tone down the brightness of my reds and greens. That made them work well with my own decor. But you can use absolutely and color combinations that you like.
You can make them bright and bold or you could even stick to only neutral colors if you prefer. There are no rules when it comes to painting! And you don’t even have to be great at painting for this project. Again, the roughness of the project means it doesn’t have to be perfect.
All you need is a couple of craft paintbrushes and a few colors and you will be on your way. Any old paint will do so use what you have or what you can easily get your hands on. I do suggest using a fine tipped brush and some black paint to fill in the eye holes you make. This helps the eyes to stand out and helps with the overall look of the Santas.
The only extra step that I took after the basic painting was brushing on some brown glaze. That is what really gives these Christmas ornaments their aged look. But if you are an artist you could add more details to yours. You could add shading or decorative elements to yours and really make them stand out!
Paper Mache Santa Tips
This Christmas craft project is really pretty simple so I don’t have too many tips for you. In the videos below I show you all the steps to make and paint these cute Kris Kringles. There are a couple of things to keep in mind though. Before you start, dig through your junk drawer and find some bobby pins or paper clips. Add these in at the top of your Santas before they cure and you will have a hook to hang them with.
Another thing you may want to do is have some E6000 on hand. If there are any parts of your ornaments that you are worried about falling off, just add a dab of the glue. That will ensure that no noses will go rolling away on you when you go to hang them. I think that is it for tips. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get into the fun!
Paper Mache Santas Supply List
- Foil
- Paper clips cut in half or bobby pins
- CelluClay (instant paper mache)
- Pencil
- Small paint brush
- Paints (any kind or color you prefer)
- Brown glaze
- Chip brush
Step by Step Instructions
- Start by taking a piece of foil and smooshing and shaping it into a rough Santa shape. This is the base for your clay. Make your foil the size and shape that you want your entire Santa to be. Work a paper clip or bobby pin into it so that you will have a hook at the top of the Santa where you can add an ornament hook or ribbon.
- Next get your CelluClay ready by following the package instructions. Then use it to completely cover your foil.
- Then use the eraser side of your pencil to make Santa’s eyes. And the sharpened side to make a little mouth.
- Next take small bits of clay and roll them into eyebrows and add them to the head. Make a small ball for his nose and set it in place.
- Then roll out a longer piece for the brim of the hat. When you put it in place wrap the ends around the back. Then make another small ball for the hat and put that in place.
- Now roll out another piece to make the mustache. You can stop here or you can roll out a few long pieces and lay them in stripes to add the beard.
- Now let the paper mache set. You can let it air dry or you can bake it in a 175 degree oven for a couple of hours. Just keep an eye on them.
- Then it is time to paint! Paint as much or as little of your Santas as you want using your chosen paint colors.
- Next use the chip brush to lightly apply the brown glaze. This will age your Santas and make them look antique.
The Wrap Up
Oh my goodness I just love these little Santas! Each one has it’s own look and personality. There are so many ways that you can style them to suit your own likes and decor. And they would make great gifts for your fellow vintage loving friends and family.
I love to hang my Santas in my tree but you could also hang them on cabinet doors or lamp knobs. You could use them as gift tags on presents. And you could even glue a magnet to the back and display some on your fridge. Wherever your Santas end up, I hope they bring as much joy to you as mine have for me!
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