Effortless Paper Mache Pencil

You will learn how to form recycled tubes into a pencil, cover with paper mache, paint, and seal. This paper mache project is super easy, cheap, and great for someone wanting to learn the awesome art of paper mache.

We hope to be a spring board to get you started and encourage you to tweak, change the pencil up all you want.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/qlRigN47u2E

Stuff List

Recycled Cardboard tubes

Masking Tape

Paper Mache Paste

Paints and Paint Brushes

Varnish

Steps to Make Your Pencil Sculpture

1 Build Your Pencil Armature

You can find cardboard tubes from empty wrapping paper, plastic wrap, and check at your local stores for large round tubes.

We found two found tubes and hot glued them together for the body of the pencil. Using a empty tp roll to roll into the shape of the sharpened end of your pencil.

For the eraser end of our pencil you can use newspaper or perhaps you have something lying around the house that will work. We found some Styrofoam to shape as used eraser and glue it into place on the end of the pencil.

This is your basic pencil armature. These can be any size you like, work with something you have. You can even roll up newspaper for a curved pencil that would be very whimsical as well.

2 Paper Mache Your Pencil Armature

1st Session

Cover the pencil armature with 3 to 4 layers of newspaper using your hands soaked in paper mache paste. Lay your paper flat onto your pencil and work out all air bubbles. As you continue to apply layers of paper onto your armature your pencil will begin to take shape before your eyes. Never give up you can do this.

Once you have covered your pencil with paper mache they must completely dry. Lay them out in the sun if you can for faster drying, they will take at least 24 hours to dry depending on the size of your pencil.

Tip: If you feel that your sculpture is strong enough you can skip to step 3 painting your pencil sculpture.

2nd Session

Paper Mache: Cover with 4 to 5 more layers of paper mache all at one time. Let it completely dry before moving on. If your pencil does not seem tough enough add more paper mache. After each session of paper mache your sculpture must completely dry before moving to your next step. Awesome, excited to see your pencil take shape.

Quick Link to Paper Mache Paste Recipe: http://goo.gl/BH5lgM

The size of your pencil will determine how long it will take to dry. A large pencil will take approximately 2 to 3 days to dry, don't rush the dry time when in doubt, wait an extra day before painting for caution.

If you need once the pencil has dried you can lightly sand with sandpaper and wipe off before painting.

3. Paint Your Pencil Sculpture

Paint a white coat of primer paint on your pencil this will give you a white canvas for painting. We use white flat interior house paint to prime the surface our sculptures.

Once the primer coat as dried paint with acrylics anyway you like. I begin with the darkest color and work my way to the lightest color shade. Color is fun and you can't mess up, anything goes.

Let all you paint completely dry before sealing with varnish.

Varnishing (Protecting)

You must seal your paper mache pieces with varnish for protection against moisture. Brush on 3 to 4 coats of varnish and let it completely dry.

Follow the instructions on your varnish to apply. We brush on Polycrylic Minwax at the studio to varnish all our art. The gloss enhances our paint job.