Okay, so I tried this “Irish Big Heads” thing today. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey.
First, I had to figure out what it even was. I did some digging, and basically, it’s about making those giant, funny-looking heads, often seen at St. Patrick’s Day parades. I love a good craft project, so I was in!
Getting Started
I needed supplies. I grabbed:
- Big cardboard boxes – Luckily, I had some leftover from a recent move.
- Newspapers – For the papier-mâché.
- Flour and water – For the paste. I just mixed them together until it was like a thick pancake batter.
- Paint – Lots of it! Bright, crazy colors.
- Brushes – Big ones and small ones.
- Scissors and tape– To shape that carboard.
Building the Base
I started by cutting and taping the cardboard into a rough head shape. It was bigger than I expected! It looked more like a giant helmet at this point. I wanted a roundish shape, so I spent a good amount of time just messing with the cardboard, trying to get it right. It did not need to be perfect.
Papier-Mâché Time!
This was the messy part. I tore the newspaper into strips, dipped them in the flour-and-water paste, and started layering them onto the cardboard. It took FOREVER. I did about three layers, making sure to smooth out any big *, I let it dry completely. This took a whole day, so I had to be patient.
Painting and Decorating
Once the papier-mâché was dry, it was time for the fun part! I gave the whole head a base coat of white paint, just to make the colors pop. After letting the base coat dry, I went to town with the colors, giving it big rosy cheeks, a goofy grin, and maybe some wild eyebrows. I even added some yarn for hair – bright green, of course!
The Final Result
It’s… definitely something. It’s HUGE, and a little lopsided, but it’s got character! I can totally see why these things are so popular at parades. They’re just pure, silly fun. Would I do it again? Maybe! It was a lot of work, but seeing the finished product made me laugh. It’s now sitting in my living room, staring at me. Mission accomplished, I guess!
