Ellis the Elephant

So what do you think about the faux animal heads trend that is circulating? I’ll admit, at first glance I wasn’t too keen on the idea, but gradually I warmed up to it. I hate real animal heads. They kind of give me the jibblies. I think it might be something about those fake soulless eyes. Anyway… when I told Curtis that I was going to attempt to make a paper mache elephant head to hang above our fireplace (yeah, I just dropped it all on him at once, sometimes I wait until I’m halfway through a project) I was fully expecting that oh-hun-you’ve-gone-crazy-look, but he thought it a very interesting project. Even offered to help. I was quite shocked. And just to clarify, my husband is very supportive of my projects and my constant painting of rooms and things, but he usually leaves me to deal my own chaos. I was happy for any help I could get. My paper mache-ing skills, although much better now, were not up to snuff. I think I helped my brother paper mache a balloon for a pinata he made for scouts like a million years ago, but that was about the extent of it. I only mention this because I started this adventure with no clue how it would turn out and, honestly, not even sure what I was doing.

I started by drawing and cutting out a cardboard elephant. I figured this would be a good place to begin.

Then, with Curt’s help, we just started adding crumpled up newspaper here and there until we had a basic shape. This is what it looked like before we started the paper mache. Curt put a wire in the trunk to help keep the shape.

This is after a couple layers of paper mache. I wanted to add some more detail for the eyes and trunk.

After a couple more layers of paper mache I covered Ellis with old book pages using mod podge.

Step right up! And see the incredible, the amazing,  Ellis the elephant!!!!!

I’m a little crazy about Ellis. He’s so fun! I love how he turned out!

Ellis has been key in my “green room” makeover where I’m striving to add more whimsy. Stay tuned for all the details coming to Happy looks Good On You during “Whimsy Week”.