The built-in bookcases in the nursery are finally stocked with board books, toys, stuffed animals, framed prints, and a few handmade pieces that I hope our little one will enjoy seeing (and maybe mouthing). On the bottom-left shelf we added a simple paper-mâché craft made with the help of soon-to-be big sister Clara. Can you spot him?
Meet Norman the Narwhal. He’s far from perfect, and I love him all the more for his handmade quirks. This was one of those sweet little projects where a preschooler’s enthusiasm and a parent’s patience resulted in something full of character — essentially “made by a kid with a little help from mom” for her baby brother.
Paper-mâché is wonderfully forgiving, so you can easily adapt this craft into any animal head you like for a playful faux-bust display.
How we made a paper-mâché narwhal bust
We used an online photo for inspiration and made a few kid-friendly adjustments: swapped a styrofoam base for crumpled paper wrapped in strips, built the tusk from a dowel wrapped in tape, and used buttons for eyes. Below is a clear, step-by-step guide so you can recreate this as a kid-friendly nursery decoration or a fun weekend craft.
Step 1: Buy or make a wooden plaque
We picked up a small wooden craft plaque from a local craft store for just a few dollars, but you can cut a shape from scrap wood if you prefer a custom size or shape.
Step 2: Paint or stain the plaque
We painted ours white using a leftover paint sample — an easy step a young child can help with. Choose any color or stain if you want visible wood grain.
Step 3: Prepare your paper-mâché paste
Paper-mâché paste is simple and kid-safe: just flour and water. Mix until the consistency resembles thick soup. We made a large batch because Clara loved stirring — she wanted to keep adding more ingredients and “stir, stir, stir.”
Step 4: Build the animal head
Tear newspaper into thin strips, dip them in the paste, and layer them to form the head. Most tutorials use a balloon as a base (and that helps create a smooth round shape), but we didn’t have one handy. Instead we crumpled paper into a ball and built around it. It gave a slightly textured finish, but kept the sculpture lightweight and easy to manage — a good option for a child’s project.
Step 5: Make the tusk
We used a short wood dowel trimmed to about 5 inches for the tusk, though a pencil or a sturdy straw would work in a pinch. To shape the taper, wrap painters’ tape tightly from one end to the other, making slightly larger loops toward the base to create the cone shape. We kept it lightweight so it wouldn’t sag once attached.
Step 6: Add decorative layers
For a playful finish we wrapped a final layer in yellow polka-dot washi tape and sealed the surface with a coat of matte Mod Podge to lock everything in place and give it a finished look.
Step 7: Paint the head
Once the paper-mâché is dry, paint the head in your chosen color. We used blue craft paint, but any color or pattern would be charming — this is a great place to involve kids in choosing the look.
Step 8: Secure a screw into the tusk
To fasten the tusk, glue a long screw into the inside of the dowel using a strong craft glue and allow it to cure thoroughly. This creates a secure anchor when you screw the tusk into the head.
Step 9: Attach the tusk to the head
After everything has dried, make a small pilot hole in the paper-mâché and screw the tusk into place. We let Clara help with the drill for a little supervised excitement — she thought it was the best part.
Step 10: Add personality
Glue on button eyes, draw a smile with a marker, or decorate however you like. We kept it simple: buttons for eyes and a small Sharpie smile. This is the fun part where kids can really make the project their own.
Step 11: Mount it to the plaque
Use strong glue to attach the finished head to the painted plaque. We added a few dash marks around the edge with a paint pen for a handmade frame and tied string on the back for hanging.
This was such a fun project to do with our daughter, and the finished piece is overflowing with personality — it proudly announces “a three-year-old helped make this.”
Some readers have wondered whether faux taxidermy glorifies real animal hunting. I don’t see it that way — faux pieces are more like faux fur or vegan leather: whimsical, humane alternatives that allow people to enjoy animal-inspired decor without using real animal parts. Designers and makers often use imitation materials to create the look without endorsing the real thing.
Next up for the nursery: colorful curtains and a large-scale mobile over the crib. I’m imagining a manzanita branch with lots of colorful shapes and lengths to create movement and interest above the sleeping space.
So that’s our little paper-mâché adventure. Are you filling shelves or making art for a nursery? Anyone else diving into paper-mâché with kids? Clara kept trying to taste the paste, which was both hilarious and not entirely alarming since it’s just flour and water.
Psst — to follow along with our nursery from the start, check out the planning, rug selection, dresser sourcing, painting, built-in progress, and molding posts linked in the project timeline.