How to make a space helmet from a paper lantern!
While this helmet won’t do much for your next trip to space, it will be the perfect addition to your space themed Photo Booth or halloween costume!
What I used:
- 12″ white paper lantern
- white glue
- newspaper - just one should do!
- scrap cardboard
- hot glue gun/glue sticks
- silver spray paint or metallic foil tape
- white paint
- hoses, caps, small containers
What I did:
1. Assemble one paper lantern (open it and insert the metal frame so it keeps its shape). Papier-mâché over the entire surface. Repeat for three layers or until it feels sturdy enough, letting it dry between each layer (very important).
2. Once it is completely dry and very sturdy, you can remove the metal frame piece. You can now cut the neck opening and the ‘visor’. Work slowly and use a tool suitable for wire clipping (for heaven’s sake, don’t use your good scissors!). I stopped frequently and tried it on to see how things were going.
3. Next I made the neck or base of the helmet. I was lucky to find a plastic storage bowl that was just slightly larger than the neck opening, and even had a nice lip for me to rest it on as I worked! If you aren’t as lucky, I would recommend finding a bowl that is roughly the right size and place it upside-down on your work surface. Wrap a strip of cardboard around the outside of your bowl (it is much easier to work with if you cut the strip so the flutes or the corrugation are perpendicular with the floor). Secure the ring of cardboard with tape and then papier-mâché over. Allow it to dry.
4. Using hot glue, attach the neck to the base of the helmet. Once set, papier-mâché over the seam. I also papier-mâchéd the edge of the visor opening. That may be unnecessary, but I thought it gave it a little more of a rounded look.
5. Next, I painted the inside and outside white.
6. Now all you need to do is decorate! Using hot glue, I added caps to look like buttons, some old phone cord or hose, and plastic candy containers covered in foil tape for some ear pieces. You could give it an elaborate paint job (I only painted the neck silver) or add any other thing you think an astronaut might need. Whatever you do, I hope you have fun with it!
