Welcome to our monthly challenge blog hop! I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you a themed monthly challenge blog hop on the 2nd Monday of each month! For May, it’s
Outdoor Decor and Entertaining Ideas!
I'm sharing with you a project I actually started in June of 2018 - a paper mache sitting frog. I was originally inspired by a picture of a yoga frog for sale in a popular catalog. Back then when I was working on making the frog - when it was time to apply the paper mache, I just lost interest. So I picked the frog frame up and placed it on a table in my craft room and it sat there for months! I kept thinking I should finish it someday, but that day never came until now. When the theme for this month's blog hop challenge was outdoor decor, I said to myself, "it's time to finish the frog."
Materials used:
2.1 quart plastic soda bottle
Small rocks and pebbles
Plastic trash bags
Styrofoam balls (head, eyes)
Masking tape
Aluminum foil
Wire clothes hangers
Hot glue
Paper Mache Paste
White paper/newspaper
Natural vine wrapped wire
Air dry clay
Acrylic paints
Outdoor sealer (spray)
I'm sorry that this is a long tutorial. Please bare with me! Maybe that's why I stopped the first time!
Lets begin with a clean soda bottle. I first added small rocks on the bottom for weight and then stuffed with plastic bags to keep the bottle from caving in.
Next, put a four inch styrofoam ball inside a plastic bag wrapping the bag around the ball, securing tightly in a knot. Then insert the ends of the bag down into the opening of the bottle, for the frog's head.
Next, fold a plastic bag lengthwise and wrap around the neck of the bottle. Secure with masking tape.
Use wire from clothes hangers to make the arms and legs and insert them into the bottle. Add dabs of hot glue on the wire at the bottle and secure with masking tape.
Use aluminum foil to shape the body of the frog, starting with the shoulders and arms. Shape natural vine wrapped wire into fingers by folding together three times and twisting ends together. Insert into foil and continue wrapping fingers with foil.
Next, wrap the frog's legs with foil . . .
making the toes the same as the fingers and insert into the foil legs.
To make paper mache paste: Mix one part water to one part flour and add a pinch of salt. Stir together until smooth.
Then tear up small pieces of paper to dip in the paste and apply all over the frame. Apply at least three layers or more - and let dry between layers
Once the paper mache layers were completely dry, I added more flour to the paste to make it thicker and sponged it on in an attempt to make the paper mache smoother.
Once the frog was completely dry, glue on two, 1 1/4" styrofoam balls to the head for the eyes. Then roll and cut out strips of air dry clay . . .
to enclose around the eyes and head, Use water to seal the clay.
Then roll up a strip of air dry clay for the mouth. Shape and blend in to head using water.
Then paint on the eyes . . .
and then the body.
I used several different shades of green acrylic paint that I had on hand. I'll probably paint the frog a darker green when I'm able to pick some up!
Be sure to seal the frog with several coats of sealant made for outdoors.
Thank goodness the sun was shining to take this picture. It's been rainy and cold all week!
Looks pretty cute and whimsy sitting in my garden!
Now onto our blog hop!
and meet our co-hosts:
