Let's Make a Garden Paper Mache Sitting Frog

8 Materials
$10
2 Days
Medium

We all love frogs! There's something about frogs you just can't resist! They seem to be everywhere including in home decor and gardens - looking cute and adorable! I was inspired to create one by a garden yoga frog I saw in a popular online catalog. Once I got started it was fun putting it together! And the best part, I used recycle things I had in my stash like a soda bottle, wire from coat hangers and aluminum foil!

Lets begin with a clean 2 quart soda bottle. Add small rocks to the bottom for weight and stuff with plastic grocery 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. Insert the ends of the bag down into the opening of the bottle.


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. 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.

Use a thicker paste mix - adding two part flour to one part water to help smooth out the paper mache. Let dry.

Once the paper mache is completely dry, glue on two, 1 1/4" styrofoam balls to the head for 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. Be sure to seal the frog with several coats of sealant made for outdoors.

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Gail@Purple Hues and Me
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  • Monica Probst Mitchell Monica Probst Mitchell on May 16, 2020

    I love love this....also want to know if u have a way to make an elephant for garden. A baby one I guess lol.

  • Marcy B. Marcy B. on Jun 10, 2020

    Has anyone noticed the frog is flipping everyone off with both hands?

  • Sue Clost Sue Clost on Jul 06, 2020

    I lov papier mache and I am going to try this. I noticed the frog's stomach is a bit rounder than the original bottle shape - how did you do this? Did you add something to make this bigger?

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