Need a summer craft that kids of all ages can make? Paper Mache is always a winner! It is easy to do, requires only a few supplies and doesn’t make a big mess.  It is both a mom-pleasing and kid-pleasing activity that allows creativity to blossom!

This paper mache ornament glass ball is inspired by the planting of flowers that is going on around my house. You can’t help but smile when neighbors plant their gardens and the colorful flowers are all in bloom.  Now you can have your very own spring garden paper mache ornament that can transform your outdoor decorating when you add lights inside!  Move over Chinese lanterns hanging decorations for a backyard barbeque! Paper mache ornaments are unique and adorable alternatives!

How To Do Paper Mache Ornaments

It’s so easy to do paper mache that kids can make their own ornaments too! Paper mache crafts are parent pleasers because they allow kids to be creative without a lot of mess, skill or supplies.

Supplies for Paper Mache Ornaments:

• Glass ball ornament
• Colored tissue paper
• Daisy shape paper puncher
• Modge Podge Matte-Mat-Mate
• Paint brush
• Water
• Ribbon
• Colored jewel embellishments
• Optional: Battery operated wire lights (fairy lights)

Step 1: Using whatever shape puncher you desire, carefully make cutouts from the different colors of tissue paper.

Step 2: Mix the Modge Podge with a LITTLE bit of water to thin out the consistency. Dab a dot of the Modge Podge mixture onto the back of a piece of tissue paper and stick to the glass ball.  Continue to add the tissue paper shapes to cover the glass ball ornament. It is OK to overlap the shapes and it is OK to leave some blank space too on your paper mache ornament!

Step 3: Gently paint Modge Podge over all of the tissue paper pieces.  Be careful so that they don’t tear! Hang the glass ball to dry.

Step 4: Once the ornament is dry, add jewel embellishments and tie a coordinating ribbon to the top for a pretty summer look.

That’s it!  Your beautiful blooming paper mache ornament is ready for display! Make a bunch of these, tie them on a long ribbon and hang them in your yard to decorate for a summer party or backyard barbeque.  Additionally, you can insert a strand of fairy lights if you are stringing up a few of them for pretty mood lighting. Or, decorate a glass votive or glass hurricane lamp with paper mache for a unique look to match your outdoor party theme.  Let your imagination run free when you use different shaped paper punchers!

If you love paper crafts of all kinds, check out our Paper Ornaments shaped like animals! They are a really cute and clever way to recycle and repurpose old newspapers!