- 1). Inflate the round balloons. Determine how many planets you want to make and blow up that number of balloons. Inflate each balloon to the desired size of the planet you intend to make.
- 2). Tear up newspaper into long narrow strips, about 1 by 4 inches. Tearing is preferred over cutting the strips, as it creates a smoother papier-mache surface. You need enough paper strips to cover all the inflated balloons three times.
- 3). Dip a newspaper strip into the starch and wipe off the excess liquid. Apply to a balloon. Repeat until the entire balloon is covered. Allow the papier-mache to dry. Add two more layers, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly before adding the next layer. Repeat with the remaining inflated balloons.
- 4). Paint the exterior of each round papier-mache ball to resemble a planet. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.
- 5). Remove the top off a large box and turn the box on its side. Select a box large enough to hold all the planets. In effect, this is your universe.
- 6). Paint the interior of the box dark blue. Allow the paint to dry.
- 7). Cut a length of string for each planet. The length needed depends on the size of the box and planets, yet each should be just enough to hang each planet inside the box.
- 8). Hang each of the papier-mache planets in the box so they appear to be floating. Do this by suspending each planet by a string affixed to the top of the inside the box. Use stick pins to secure one end of the string to the planet and staple the other end of the string to the interior of the box, or top of the universe.
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