I am sure that you have at some time in [...]]]>

Maracas, often called rumba shakers,  are percussion instruments made from dried calabash or gourd shells, filled with dried seeds or beans. They are an integral part of  the music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Jamaica and Brazil.

I am sure that you have at some time in your child’s life, made a maraca or shaker from two paper plates or with an empty plastic bottle filled with rice or beans.

However, none of these have the  shape of  real maracas, but with some newspaper, glue, an orange or two and a few odds and ends, you can easily make some colourful maracas that will delight your child and his/her party guests.

This method does require a little time but is really worth to use it.

You will need:

• Oranges
• one quantity papier maché paste
• old newspapers
• petroleum jelly
• a craft knife
• withe emulsion paint
• paintbrush
• poster paints mixed with a little wood glue***
• rice/dried beans/seeds
• cardboard rolls for the handles
• clear tape

Papier Maché Paste Recipe:

• 1 cup flour
• 3 cups water
• mixing bowl
• whisk
• saucepan
• wooden spoon

1. Whisk a cup of flour with a cup of water in the bowl. Add two more cups of water and mix well to remove all the lumps.
2. Put the mixture in a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Allow to cool completely.

Tip: You can also use powdered wall paper paste mixed with water or simply mix flour and water to a nice, smooth but not too thick consistency, add some wood glue to make it sticky.

To make the maracas:

1. Rub the orange all over with a nice thick layer of petroleum jelly, this will prevent the newspaper sticking to the orange.
2. Tear newspaper into smallish pieces and strips.
3. Dip the pieces in the paste and cover the orange with it, tearing them a little smaller if they don’t lie flat.
4. Allow to dry completely before adding another three to four layers, allowing each layer to dry completely.
5. One dry, use the craft knife to cut around the middle of the shape. Ease the paper shape off.
6. In one half of your paper shape, put a few grains of rice, dried beans or dried seeds.
7. Replace the other half to match exactly.
8. Paste paper strips in all directions over the joints where the halves meet.  Leave to dry.
9. To add the handles, cut the cardboard rolls to about 10 cm long.
10. Stuff newspaper into one end and tape the other end to the orange shape and cover with paper strips.
11. You can now either paste some white tissue paper over the whole shape or simply paint it with one or two coats of  white        emulsion paint and let dry.
12. Paint and decorate as desired.

Tips:

Paint the background first, allow to dry and then decorate – it is easier to put dark shades on top of pale ones.

Substitute the rice/seeds with a little bell found at bead or craft shops for a jingling maraca.

ADULT SUPERVISION is advised when kids make the papier maché paste and also when cutting the newspaper shapes in half.

Have fun when planning your kid’s birthday party.

If you have read the previous post, you will know that I am busy planning [...]]]>

Papier mâché has been one of my favourite crafts a few years ago but as is so often the case, crafts come and go and my period of paper mâché gave way to quite a few months of salt doughing.

If you have read the previous post, you will know that I am busy planning my granddaughter’s 4th birthday party.  While I was busy jotting down ideas for the table decorations and trying to come up with a way to make a tower, my eye caught the spaghetti tin on top of one of the kitchen cabinets and I suddenly knew that a tower made with paper mâché will be perfect!

Paper mâché is really one of those crafts that cost next to nothing to start out with, but the end results can be fantastic!  It is also an ideal craft to do for kids theme parties, as you can make masks, favour boxes, noisemakers, even favours like bracelets, earrings, small jewelery boxes,  small animals  and fearsome monsters from paper mâché. The very popular pinata is also made from papier mâché.

To make the tower for the Rapunzel theme party, I  use newspaper strips, a mixture of flour, water and wood glue and of course the spaghetti tin to form the shape of the tower. If all goes well it should be finished by the end of the week as the only drawback is the time it takes for the newspaper layers to dry thoroughly. I have to add at least another six layers of newspaper strips to make the tower sturdy enough to stand on its own.

I was going to make a little Rapunzel from salt dough but since Mia has a Barbie doll, maybe I will just use her as our “Rapunzel” for the day. Somewhere in her toy box there must be a prince as well…

It is not always necessary to buy new items for a kid’s theme party, you can use toys and other items in the house if it fits in with the theme of the party and sometimes you can even ask friends or family members to help out with odds and ends that you will need (as I am going to do in the case of tablecloths for this party).

Remember, imagination and  fun go well together when planning your kid’s theme party!