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You are here: Home / Crafts / How To Make An Anthropologie Paper Mache Rabbit Head

How To Make An Anthropologie Paper Mache Rabbit Head

16th February 2017 by Claire Armstrong 29 Comments

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DIY paper mache rabbit

Every time I visit London I get drawn to Anthropologie. I wander around the shop swooning over their beautiful crafted homeware. I was taken with their paper mache rabbit head.

The paper mache heads may be gorgeous but gosh they are expensive. There were several animal heads in Anthropologie, but I was smitten with the gorgeous spring rabbit head decoration.

As well as being able to save a lot of money by making my own paper mache rabbit head I could also tweak it to match my decor. By using paper patterns of my own choosing. a

Once I worked it out, the rabbit head was really quite simple to make. If you are not into rabbits/bunnies you could use the same method to make any animal head you want. Flamingoes are very popular at the moment, and stag heads always look good.

I already have two stags head decorations on my wall my DIY fabric stags head and my LED deer so a rabbit head makes a nice change.

DIY paper mache rabbit head

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Tutorial For A Paper Mache Rabbit Head

What You Need

  • Craft aluminum wire mesh– this is amazing stuff, it’s like really fine chicken wire.
  • Old newspapers
  • White school glue / PVA glue
  • Mod Podge
  • Glue brushes
  • Gesso (optional)
  • 1 sheet of pretty floral wrapping paper – My paper was by Sara Miller and I got in from John Lewis in the UK. If you aren’t in the UK or near a John Lewis store there are lots of gorgeous spring gift wraps in the shops at the moment I’m sure you’ll find one you love.
what you need to make an Anthropologie rabbit head

How I made my Paper Mache Rabbit Head

I made this paper mache rabbit head in a very similar way to my giant paper mache cactus but on a much smaller scale.
 

Making The Wire Frame

  1. The first and probably the most tricky bit is making the wireframe. To make this a bit easier I divided up the head into 3 main sections; the neck, head, and ears.
  2. You will find the wire mesh is really easy to cut, stretch, bend, and shape.
  3. To make the neck you will need to shape the wire into a kind of cylinder shape that is smaller at the top and wider at the bottom. As the head will be wall-mounted, for it to hang right the neck will also be much longer at the front than the back. It’s just a case of manipulating the wire mesh until you have the right shape. Holding it against the wall to check that it will hang right.
  4. The head is more of a cone shape with a flat nose at the front. The ears are just tall and round at the top.
  5. Once you are happy with the shape of your neck, head, and ears. Either tape them together or glue them with a hot glue gun to make your wire complete wire mesh frame.

The Paper Mache

  1. Firstly you’ll notice that your wire structure is difficult to work with as it’s designed to hang on the wall and not to stand up. If you just stick it on top of a bottle to support it and it will be so much easier to work with.
  2. I paper mache 2 layers of newspaper onto the wireframe using small strips of newspaper and 50/50 glue to the water mixture. Sticking the first layer of paper is the hardest. Ensure that the paper is fully dry in between layers.
paper mache step by step

3. Before adding my floral layer of paper, I covered the rabbit head with a couple of layers of gesso. This is optional but I find it gives a smoother finish.

The gesso also paints the head white which will ensure that none of the newspaper print will show through the final decorative paper layer.

The Final Decorative Paper Layer

  1. I used mod podge for this final paper layer. Applying it to both the paper and the rabbit head.
  2. I did not cut the floral paper into strips but instead tore it into sections. Tearing the paper gave a more feathered edge.
  3. In order to get two identical flowers were for the rabbit’s eyes, I pasted them onto the head first. I then just covered the rest of the rabbit piece by piece tearing the wrapping paper into sections as I went along.
adding final layer to rabbit head

4. To finish off I covered the whole head in a layer of Mod Podge to provide it with a protective finish.

How to make this gorgeous spring/Easter wall decoration.  An Anthropologie knock

The paper mache rabbit head can be easily hung on the wall as it is just balanced on a hook. Or you can mount it on a frame and hang that like you would see in a trophy room.

DIY gorgeous spring/Easter wall decoration.  An Anthropologie knock off rabbit head.
Paper mache rabbit head

I covered my paper mache rabbit head with gift wrap paper but there is no reason why you couldn’t use fabric for your final layer. If you use fabric then just us fabric mod podge to stick and seal it.

This would be a fun Easter craft to do with kids, once you’ve helped them with the frame, they could do the paper mache bit. From experience, I know kids love paper mache, it was one craft my boys really enjoyed.

My son still has the giant paper mache cactus in his room that we made a couple of years ago.

If you are looking for more spring/Easter crafts I have made a cute upcycled spring bunny for the mantle. If wall hangings are more your thing check out this blue tit egg wreath or this Marimekko spring wreath.


 

 
 
For more spring crafts don’t forget to visit favecrafts.com
 

Filed Under: Crafts, Seasonal Tagged With: animal head, anthropologie, bunny, Easter, hack, hare, head, knock off, paper craft, paper mache, papermache, rabbit, rabbit head, spring

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Monicque Olwage

    28th February 2017 at 3:05 pm

    We definitly will make for the grandchildren. It such a fantastic idea. Thanku.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      28th February 2017 at 3:41 pm

      Thank you, have fun making it with them.

      Reply
  2. Sam @ Raggedy Bits

    28th February 2017 at 2:04 pm

    Your little rabbit head turned out so cute Claire! I love the paper that you used!

    Thank you for sharing your very sweet project with us over at Waste Not Wednesday!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      28th February 2017 at 3:40 pm

      Thank you so much.

      Reply
  3. Sandra

    25th February 2017 at 8:54 pm

    Wow, Claire! Anthropologie is probably very jealous right about now.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      25th February 2017 at 9:58 pm

      Thank you and that’s very kind of you to say so!

      Reply
  4. Katy SkipTheBag

    25th February 2017 at 6:49 pm

    What a great project. Good tip about using a bottle to hold it up! Thanks for sharing on the #WasteLessWednesday Blog Hop!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      25th February 2017 at 9:54 pm

      Thank you so much.

      Reply
  5. christy @theharperhouse

    24th February 2017 at 10:21 pm

    this is so stinkin’ cute Claire! I absolutely love the paper you chose! 🙂

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      25th February 2017 at 7:40 am

      Thank you, as soon as I saw that paper I knew I had to have it.

      Reply
  6. Angie ~ ambient wares

    22nd February 2017 at 4:27 pm

    This is so unique and beautiful, Claire! It does add the perfect spring feeling and is fun to look at 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday! Pinning

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      22nd February 2017 at 6:49 pm

      Thank you so much! The floral paper gives it a spring feel.

      Reply
  7. Toni | Small Home Soul

    22nd February 2017 at 3:28 pm

    This turned out so awesome, I love that you purposefully place the flowers for the eyes and a darker spot for the nose. I don’t think I’ve ever done paper machet and need to give it a go. And I agree with you, Anthropology is a beautiful store but the prices are crazy expensive so I’ve only ever bought a candle from them 🙂

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      22nd February 2017 at 6:49 pm

      Thanks. I pick up a plate every time I go so now have a complete set.

      Reply
  8. Caroline

    19th February 2017 at 8:54 pm

    A great idea!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      19th February 2017 at 10:22 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Lucy Blossom

    19th February 2017 at 8:29 pm

    What a great idea

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      19th February 2017 at 10:22 pm

      Cheers and thank you.

      Reply
  10. Julie

    19th February 2017 at 6:24 pm

    What fun! He/she is just fab.
    I love anthropologie but I’ve never been into their store. I just follow on instagram and just window shop!
    How brilliant to make your own version and for a fraction of the price.
    Also you should never keep anything for best (shoes/clothes/china) enjoy the good stuff everyday, that’s what I say!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      19th February 2017 at 10:21 pm

      If you get a chance you should go into their stores they have the most amazing in store displays. And I agree about enjoying what you have rather than keeping it for best.

      Reply
  11. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled

    19th February 2017 at 12:38 pm

    How cute! Love the floral print.I have a roll of chicken wire in the garage without a purpose so this gives me some ideas! Visiting from Happiness Is Homemade party.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      19th February 2017 at 3:51 pm

      Thank you, Victoria. They are fun to make.

      Reply
  12. Susanne

    18th February 2017 at 3:20 am

    Very cute!! I think I have only done paper mache once in my life, I might have to try it again 🙂

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      18th February 2017 at 3:29 pm

      Cheers and thank you, it is so simple and kind of fun to do.

      Reply
  13. Ivory

    17th February 2017 at 6:40 pm

    Beautiful! I love this, wow!!!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      17th February 2017 at 10:42 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  14. MEDINA GRILLO

    17th February 2017 at 9:22 am

    I love this claire – such a unique piece of wall decor!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      17th February 2017 at 11:16 am

      Thanks Medina it does add a bit of spring fun to the living room.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How To Make A Fabric Stags Head With Free Pattern - Pillar Box Blue says:
    11th September 2017 at 5:27 pm

    […] You may like some of my other fabric decorations: Homemade fabric birdhouse Spring Fabric Birdcage Anthropologie Rabbit Head       amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; […]

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