Are you ready for some football?
Pigskin season has officially begun.
High school, college and professional players are back in action with today being the kickoff of the 2012 NFL regular season Sunday games.
For many fans, it’s time to celebrate. Whether you choose to tailgate at the game, in your garage, or on your couch, you’ll need some festive decorations to add spice to your party.
Unfortunately, football-themed decor can add up quick and you may find yourself bleeding from your pockets if you are not careful. You can tackle this problem by making embellishments from inexpensive items found around your home.
Paper-Mache Helmet
This simple and affordable craft can be made as large or small as you desire. The large versions can be stuffed with treats and used as a piñata or you can make smaller versions and use them as mini centerpieces.
Materials:
Balloon
Water
Flour
Salt
Whisk
Mixing bowls
Newspaper
Paint
Brushes
Scissors
Directions:
To make the adhesive, our five cups of warm water in a pan, and then whisk in one cup of flour and three teaspoons of salt.
Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until all of the lumps are dissolved.
Allow the mixture to boil for about three minutes or until it thickens.
Remove mixture from the heat and allow to cool.
Tear newspaper into long, thin strips.
Blow up the balloon to the desired size. For a large helmet, use a big balloon. For smaller helmets, don’t inflate the balloon as much, or use small balloons.
Place the balloon in a mixing bowl, so the knotted end is down.
Pour the cooled adhesive mixture into a large mixing bowl.
Dip the newspaper strips individually into the mixture, completely saturating each one. Lift each strip and let any excess glue to drip off.
Gently drape the strip over the balloon. Continue dipping strips and draping them on the balloon until it’s covered. Occasionally, smooth the surface of the balloon with your hands.
Once you have completely covered the balloon, allow the strips to dry for about eight hours, and then add another layer of newspaper strips. Let this layer dry, and then add a third layer.
When the final layer is completely dry, pop the balloon and remove the balloon pieces from inside the helmet.
Use sharp scissors to trim the face opening and edges of the helmet, and then apply another layer of newspaper strips to the cut areas.
Use the paint to decorate the helmet. You can paint it in your team’s colors or add some designs on it.
Allow paint to dry before displaying.
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