Paper-Mache Mexican Dragon Hats / www.montezumas.com.au

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Paper-Mache Mexican Dragon Hats

For children of all ages although an adult will be required for supervision.

This activity creates papier-mâché dragon hats.

Each step takes about an hour or less.

Please note; A few days drying time is required between the papier-mâché part, the application of decorations, and the painting part. It is also messy, involving tearing paper, gluing it, decorating, and painting.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
	One large balloon for each hat
	A lot of old newspapers or old paper
	Flour-water glue (instructions follow)
	Scissors
	Hole punch (or just use the tip of a scissors to make holes)
	Assorted coloured paper,
	scraps of cardboard
	scraps of material
	any other colourful odds and ends (buttons, cotton balls, ice-cream sticks)
	egg cartons
	Paint
	String/wool or elastic for chin straps

1. Make a simple, thin glue from flour and water (boiling gives it a nice consistency).

A good recipe is:
	Mix 1 cup of flour into 1 cup of water until the mixture is thin and runny.
	Stir into 4 cups of boiling water.
	Simmer for about 3 minutes,
	then cool.

2. Have the children tear a lot of strips of newspaper and/or old paper. The Strips should be about 1 inch wide; the length doesn't really matter.

3. Blow up a balloon for each child. Each hat is molded over a large balloon.


Step 3-4	Step 5	Example	Example

4. Dip each strip of paper in the flour glue and put on the balloon. Put the balloon sideways because it will be big enough for any size child. Apply the papier-mâché strips to cover about half of each balloon . About 3 layers of paper are necessary for a hat thick enough to decorate later. You can do all the layers at one time, or wait between layers. Let dry for a few days.

5. Pop the balloon when the hat's dry and remove it. Trim the hat, depending on what size and shape you are looking for. Using glue or staples, add horns, frills, crests, beaks, teeth, and more, made of paper, cardboard, egg cartons, etc. Let dry.

6. When the hats are dry, punch holes for chin straps and paint the eyes, nostrils, beaks, skin color, etc. Let paint dry. .

7. Add string or elastic to use as a chin strap. As a costume addition, the children could drape themselves in paper that matches their mask or wear matching clothing.