Hot Air Balloon
excerpted from: "Class Winning 3-Dimensional Valentine Boxes" by Debbie Barnhill
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Interview with author Debbie Barnhill
Joe:
Well, we will certainly look forward to seeing that. Thanks Debbie for stopping by and sharing with us today. I would now like to invite everyone to see one of Debbie's crafts from her book, Class Winning 3-Dimensional Valentine Boxes.

Hot Air Balloon
Reprinted by permission of the author from "Class Winning 3-Dimensional Valentine Boxes" All rights reserved. This may not be reprinted without the express written permission of the author © 1999 Debra Barnhill

Papier-mache needs at least 5 days to dry, so start this one early.

Materials Needed:

• small cardboard box
• newspaper
• pipe cleaners
• vinyl lace doilies
• 15 inch round balloons
• wallpaper paste
• spray paint
• duct tape
• utility knife
• twine
• 3 pound margarine container with lid other decorations as desired

What you need:

1. Blow up a 15 inch balloon
2. Mix the wallpaper paste according to the directions on the container
3. Tear strips of newspaper into approximately 3 inch x 4 inch pieces. Glue the strips of newspaper around the balloon with the wallpaper paste.
4. Cut the vinyl lace doilies into approximately 3 inch x 4 inch pieces and glue around the balloon.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 two more times alternating layers of the newspaper and vinyl lace doilies.  Set the balloon aside and let it dry for at least 5 days.
6. After the papier-mache has dried pop the balloon and throw it away.
   
   
   
7. Turn the 3 pound margarine container upside down and cut off the bottom half.  Fit the cut end of the container over the bottom of the papier-mache balloon and mark how far up the container fits onto the balloon.   Cut off the bottom of the papier mache 1/2 inch below your mark. Fit the container back over the bottom of the papier-mache and tape it into place.  Your child will be able to retrieve the cards on Valentine's Day by removing the margarine lid at the bottom of the balloon.
8. Cut a 1 inch x 3 inch slot near the top of your papier-mache for valentine cards to be deposited into the balloon.
9. To make the carriage for your hot air balloon cut one piece of cardboard 5 inches x 5 inches and four pieces of cardboard 5 inches x 2 1/2 inches.  Set the 5 inch square on a flat surface and tape a 5 inch x 2 1/2 inch piece to each side of the square.
10. Spray paint the balloon and carriage.  Allow it to dry, then finish decorating the balloon to suit your child.
11. Poke two holes in the top of the balloon and run twine or a heavy string through the holes.  You can hang  the hot air balloon from the ceiling with the string.
12. Remove the lid from the margarine container.  Cut four pipe cleaners to 9 inch strips.  Poke four holes in the margarine lid and four holes in the corners of the carriage.  Put  a pipe cleaner through each hole and secure it with tape.  Put the lid back on the margarine container.

Paper Mache Basset
& the History of Papier Mache
by Jackie Hall
Jackie Hall loves Papier Mache and she caught our eye with her life sized papier mache Basset hound modeled after her Basset named Bunty. So we loved the papier mache version of her Basset so much that she mailed us a picture of the "original" Bunty, the inspiration for her artwork. She says, "I have loads of toy Bassets plus ornaments as I get given them for presents, along with Basset cards! My papier mache Basset has been to quite a few exhibitions and I often get teased when I am out walking the "real" one as to which one I am with!" Come see if you can tell the difference and learn more about the history of Papier Mache!!

Paper Mache Piggy Bank
This activity can be done with children age 4 and older.   The banks take a few days to complete because the paper mache layers need time to completely dry.  Corks for holding in the money can be found at your local craft store or be recycled from a bottle of wine etc... 

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