Beetlejuice,The Maitlands, Paper Mache

This year we decided to make the Maitlands from Bettlejuice.

Paper Mache Clay/glue

You will need paper mache clay. I used this for both sculpting and gluing and just added more water to the mix for glue and more flour and wallpaperglue for the clay.

ingredients:

wallpaper glue

newspaper

water

flour

Start by tearing up newspaper into small strips and put them in hotwater overnight.

When the papermix is nice and gooey take a handfull out and squeeze out some water.

Add the appropriate amount of wallpaperglue and flour depending on if it is glue or clay.

Making the Frame

I used coat hangers for the frame. Shape them and tape them to a hat. Cover everything with silvertape to add stability and shape. Then I used paper towels for filling or "flesh". By doing this instead of using paper mache or clay you also reduce weight.

Applying the Paper Mache and Making the Tounge

Cover with paper mache and newspaper and leave it for a while to set. In the meantime I used a sock to make the tounge. Fill it with paper towels to get a good shape and then cover it with paper mache and newspaper.

Making the Teeth

Roll small pieces of paper towel and dip them in the paper mache clay for the teeth. Make sure you have enough glue in the mix for it to stick to the head.

Male Mask

I cut paper towel rolls in two and taped them together. I used cereal boxes for the chin and under the nose. Cover with paper mache and use paper mache clay to make details and stretchmarks (this goes for the female mask aswell).

Dry and Paint

The hand is an inflated rubberglove covered with paper mache. Now let everything dry in a warm room before painting it all with a white acrylic. Let the paint dry for a couple of hours.

Paint, Hair and Eyeballs

Paint with acrylic paint. Attach the eyeballs to the tounge with paper mache clay and glue on the hair. The hand and male mask are attached to the head with rubber bands.