How to Make Steggy (or Any Paper Mache Model)

When I first set out to make a 3D model of a stegosaurus, I found that most of the tutorials required materials I didn't have. Instead of buying new supplies, I used what I had too much of. I had plenty of scrap paper from school and a bag of expired flour I knew that paper and flour were the only materials needed to make paper mache, so I tried to make a 3D model out of it.

This is my third iteration of Steggy, my paper mache stegosaurus. To make it, I developed my own method for building paper mache models. I start with a simple 2D base that I gradually build up by layering paper and flour paste, adding extra layers wherever more thickness and detail are needed.

This is also the first time I made it orange. In my previous iterations, I painted them brown and green like normal dinosaurs. But I decided to paint this one orange to bring it to life. I really think his color gives Steggy a lot of personality!

I also made a video tutorial showing the entire process of making Steggy if this article is unclear at any point. Anyways, lets start making your own Steggy using only common household materials!

For the base

1. 1 Sheet of Aluminum/Tin foil
2. Tape
3. Scissors (Optional)

For the paste

1. Water
2. Flour
3. Cup (to mix water and flour in)

For the body & legs

1. 10-15 sheets of Scrap Paper
2. Paintbrush (to spread the paste)
3. Skewers
4. Wire cutters (just something to cut the skewers with)
5. Orange, red, and yellow paint
6. Sharpie
7. Hot glue

The base is the flat structure we will build all our paper on top. We will add more and more layers of paper onto it until Steggy turns 3d.

Cut off a sheet of aluminum foil in the size you want your Steggy to be. I cut my piece around 13cm long. Find a reference image of a 2d stegosaurus. Shape it into the form of the reference image excluding the legs and plates(his spikes).

Next, cut off some small rectangles of aluminum foil. Fold one over the base each one over the base in half. Then fold the corners so it forms a triangle. Tape it down on both sides. Do this until you have 4 or 5 spikes(I have 4).

Then poke two holes with the sharp end of the skewer(be careful) into where the legs will be.

Fill half a cup with water and fill the other half with flour. Mix until smooth. You will need double what is shown in the picture.

Now its time to split the scrap paper into manageable pieces we can paste onto Steggy. Cut some into long strips, some into small squares, and some into medium rectangles. You can rip the large pieces if you'd like, but I'd recommend cutting the long strips and small squares.

Brush a layer of paste onto a piece of scrap paper, and then stick the paper onto the base. Apply many layers of scrap paper onto the base until Steggy is 3D. Add more layers to places where Steggy should have more thickness, like the belly. Apply less thickness to areas like the plates. Remember to layer both sides with paper

Each time you cover the leg holes you made with the skewers, flip Steggy over to find the hole again, and stick the skewer in to recreate the hole. In my experience if you cover the hole with more than 4 layers it becomes very hard to recreate the hole, and your Steggy will be legless.

From time to time, look at your Steggy from different angles to note its thickness. If you see that an area is too thin, layer some small or medium scrap paper pieces to it.

Roll up a strip of paper, adding paste to make it stick together. Then punch a hole near the top with a skewer. Repeat this 7 more times. Make sure every leg is the same length and width, and the hole is in the same spot for each one(you can do this by putting the first leg on top of the other and then pushing the skewer through the first hole into the second leg to punch a hole in the same spot).

Stick 2 of those strips together(making sure the holes match). Repeat this 3 more times and now you should have 4 legs.

Then, cut up a thinner strip. Wrap it around one of the legs with paste. Cut up 2 more and wrap them around the same leg. Make sure the bottom is smooth, if it is not squish it and fill it with paste. Now that leg is complete and you need to repeat the same for the other 3 legs.

Add a layer of white paper over Steggy or it will be hard to paint over because the scrap paper will show.

Once everything is dry, paint the body orange, the spikes red, and the belly yellow. You can paint it differently with whatever colors you have. Also paint the legs orange on both sides.

Once all the paint is dry, add a second layer if you need to.

Cut 2 5cm long skewers. Then, squirt a blob of hot glue onto the tips of each one. Now slide one of the legs onto the skewer through the hole, and then slider the whole skewer through the leg hole on the main body. Attach the other leg and then finish with another squirt of hot glue. Repeat for the back pair of legs.

Cut two 2 inch long pieces from the skewer starting from the dull end. Insert them into the leg holes. Then attach 2 legs to each side.

First, paint the hot glue patches orange so they blend in better. Next, draw eyes with sharpie or any black marker and also a smile if you'd like. Finally, draw 3 toes on each foot. Steggy is finished! I hope you enjoy him/her.