Allow at least 24 hours per layer to dry, and repeat up to at least 4 layers (the more the layers you apply to your structure, the stronger and longer your structure will last). You will want to slightly overlap each piece until you have a single layer. After the solution was ready, I ripped up 2 inch sections of the daily newspaper. I dredged each piece of newspaper in the glue solution and squeeged the excess solution between my finger to remove any excess solution and placed the strips over my duct taped form.

I then started to make a solution to start my paper mache process, I mixed 2/3rds part of Elmer’s glue to 1/3rd warm water. I then started to duct tape them carefully together to form the desired shape of Betty Boop’s head. In my luck they were able to make it through sideways. After blowing them up I had to make sure that the weren’t to big to fit through the doorways together. I went home and started blowing them up to about 2 feet wide each. As excited that I was at this time, I bought 2-3 foot balloons. I went to my local balloon shop one day and found out that they sold larger than average size balloons. I don’t have any patterns to go by, but I’m pretty artistic as it is. I’ve learned at a very young age in Spanish class to do paper-mache, which gave me the idea to create my Halloween costumes. One of my very favorite cartoon characters happens to be Betty Boop! I have made many homemade Halloween costumes through out the years, But none of them compare to Betty.

Betty boop costume ideas