The built-in bookcases in the nursery are finally filled with board books, toys, stuffed animals, framed prints, and a few whimsical bits that I hope our little guy will enjoy looking at (and maybe chewing on). We even staged a simple paper-mâché craft on the bottom left shelf. Can you spot him?
Meet Norman the Narwhal. He’s far from perfect, but making him with Clara, our soon-to-be big sister, was incredibly sweet. I love his homemade quirks — the little wonkiness gives him so much character. File this under “made by a child with a little help from Mom.”
This is an easy craft to adapt into any animal or playful faux bust you like, and it’s a great kid-friendly project to personalize.
How We Made a Paper-Mâché Narwhal Bust
We used a few simple supplies and swapped typical materials — like substituting paper-mâché for a styrofoam base and using buttons for eyes. The process was simple, fun, and perfect for involving a young helper.
Step 1: Buy or Make Your Wood Plaque
We picked up a small wooden plaque from a craft store for about $3 with a coupon, but you can cut a shape from scrap wood if preferred.
Step 2: Paint or Stain the Plaque
We painted our plaque white using a leftover sample. It’s an easy step a child can help with. Choose any color or stain it for a natural wood look.
Step 3: Prepare Paper-Mâché Ingredients
Paper-mâché is wonderfully simple: just flour and water. Mix until smooth — the consistency should be like thick soup. We made a large batch because Clara loved stirring and wanted to “add more” constantly.
Step 4: Build the Head
Use strips of newspaper dipped in the mixture and layer them to form the head. Many tutorials suggest using a balloon as a mold — it makes for a smooth, removable base. We didn’t have a balloon, so we crumpled paper into a ball and layered around it. The result was less smooth but lightweight and perfectly charming.
Step 5: Make the Narwhal Tusk
While the head dried, we prepared the tusk. We used a small wooden dowel trimmed to about 5 inches, but a pencil or sturdy straw would work fine.
Step 6: Shape the Tusk with Tape
To create a tapered horn, coil painter’s tape around the dowel, making slightly larger loops toward the base. We kept it lightweight so it wouldn’t sag under its own weight.
Step 7: Add a Decorative Final Layer
For the final layer we used yellow polka-dot washi tape for a playful touch, then sealed it with a matte varnish or Mod Podge to lock everything in place.
Step 8: Paint the Head
After sealing the tusk, we painted the paper-mâché head with blue craft paint, but any color or pattern works — customize it to your nursery or taste.
Step 9: Secure a Screw Inside the Tusk
To attach the tusk, glue a long screw into the inside end of the dowel with a strong craft glue and let it cure completely.
Step 10: Attach the Tusk to the Head
Once the head and tusk were dry, we made a small pilot hole in the paper-mâché and screwed the tusk into place. Clara loved watching the drill work, so this part was especially exciting for her.
Step 11: Add Personality
We glued buttons for eyes and drew a small smile with a marker. This is the moment to get creative — add bows, freckles, hats, or any embellishment you like.
Step 12: Mount to the Plaque
Use craft glue to fasten the narwhal head to the painted plaque. We added small dash marks around the border with a paint pen and attached hanging string to the back.
This was a delightful project to do with our daughter, and the finished piece is bursting with personality — unmistakably made with a three-year-old’s help.
People sometimes ask whether faux taxidermy like this promotes real animal mounting. Personally, I don’t view it that way. Faux pieces are more akin to faux sheepskins or faux leather — alternatives that let you enjoy a certain look without using real animal parts. For many, creating playful faux pieces is simply a decorative choice and a chance to be imaginative.
Next on the nursery list are colorful curtains and a large mobile to hang over the crib. I’m thinking of using an old manzanita branch with lots of colorful shapes at varying lengths for a lively, layered look.
So that’s what we’re up to. Are you filling shelves or crafting with kids right now? Clara kept trying to taste the paper-mâché — both funny and not entirely concerning since it’s just flour and water.