Awesome Paper Mache Wave Medallion

For a touch of easy flare, install a handmade Ceiling Medallion as an accent into any room in your home. No ceiling fan or light fixture required.

We are breaking free from the old ceiling medallions, why must they be so plain?

The wave medallion is easy to assemble, well made, and looks great, stylish and very bright. Madison and I are so excited to share and walk you through how you can make a really cool medallion too.

Quick List

Cardboard box

Recycled Newspaper

Masking Tape

Paints and Paint Brushes

Glue Gun (optional)

H²0 and Rags

To watch the FREE how to video follow this link: https://youtu.be/v4ZvBhjTyMw

Creating Your Medallion Armature

1 Build Your Armature

Start by cutting out all the pieces that you will need to complete your armature.

1. Cardboard base; cut a large circle from a recycled box.

2. Waves; cut waves out of cardboard that start tall and spiral downward.

Lay your large circle base down and plug in your glue gun. Mark on the medallion where you will place the bolts to screw into the ceiling. Studs are 16 inches apart so we have marked two holes with 16" space between them.

Start by gluing the tall waves on the edge of the base and continue hot gluing spirally inward to the center with the shortest waves.

Take newspaper and roll up and place at the base of the cardboard waves. This will create a curved effect at the base of the wave.

2 Paper Mache Strips and Paste OR Paper Clay

You can cover with paper mache paste and paper or you can use paper clay. There are short steps below for both techniques.

Paper Mache: Start by applying 3 to 4 layers of paper mache strips and let it completely dry before adding more strips. While adding paper and paste make sure all your air bubbles are worked out to prevent air pockets from forming as the paper dry.

After your wet paper layers have dried continue using paper mache paste to cover your mediation with at least 4 more layers for a sturdy medallion.

Quick Link to Paper Mache Paste Recipe

Paper Clay: as seen in the how to video Madison cover her armature with 1/4 inch layer of paper clay and lets it completely dry before moving forward.

3. Paint the Wave Medallion

Paint a white coat primer of paint on your medallion to give you a white canvas for painting on. We use white flat interior latex paint as the base coat and it generally takes 2 coats to prime. The paper clay especially absorbs the paint.

Once the primer coat as dried paint you're ready to paint the base coat of paint. Madison used acrylic blue and white to create her water effect. Please watch the video for a clear demonstration.

Let your paint completely dry before sealing with varnish.

You must seal your paper mache pieces with varnish for protection. Varnish comes in a spray can in gloss or stain, spray on 3 to 4 coats and let it dry.