The built-in bookcases in the nursery are now filled with board books, toys, stuffed animals, framed prints, and a few small curiosities meant to delight our little one. On the bottom left shelf we even tucked a simple paper-mâché project made by Clara — can you spot him?
Meet Norman the Narwhal. He’s delightfully imperfect and full of character, which makes him all the more special. This was a sweet, low-pressure craft to do with soon-to-be big sister Clara. It’s a lovely example of a project that looks charmingly handmade — clearly made by a child with a little help from mom — and fits right into a nursery shelf display.
This paper-mâché bust is easy to adapt into any whimsical animal you like, so think of it as a versatile faux taxidermy idea you can personalize with color, eyes, and small accessories.
How We Made A Paper Mache Narwal Bust
We used a simple inspiration image and then improvised: substituting paper-mâché for a foam base, crafting the horn a different way, and using buttons for eyes. The process is straightforward and kid-friendly, and you can scale or swap materials to suit what you have on hand.
Step 1: Buy or Make Your Wood Plaque
We picked up a small wooden craft plaque for around $3 with a coupon, but you can also cut a simple shape from scrap wood if you prefer a custom size or silhouette.
Step 2: Paint Or Stain Your Plaque
We painted our plaque white using a leftover sample. It was an easy step for a three-year-old to help with, but you can choose any color or use a wood stain if you want a natural grain look.
Step 3: Add Your Paper Mache Ingredients
Paper-mâché is wonderfully simple: just flour and water. If you’d like a visual guide, there are many tutorials that show the steps, but the basics are easy enough to explain here and perfect for a quick kids’ craft.
Step 4: Mix Until Smooth
Mix flour and water until the mixture reaches the consistency of thick soup. We made a big batch because Clara loved stirring and kept asking for “more, more,” which turned this into a fun sensory activity as well as a craft.
Step 5: Build Your Animal Head
Dip small strips of newspaper into the paste and layer them to form the head. Many paper-mâché projects use a balloon as a removable base; that makes a smooth shape you can pop out later. We didn’t have a balloon and instead crumpled paper into a lightweight core, which gave our finished piece a slightly textured, handmade look. That imperfect texture is part of its charm.
Step 6: Build Your Narwal Tusk
While the paper-mâché dried, we made a tusk from a small wood dowel trimmed to about 5 inches. A pencil or a sturdy straw can work if you don’t have a dowel.
Step 7: Wrap Tape To Create Your Shape
To get the tapered horn shape, coil painter’s tape around the dowel from tip to base, widening the loops as you go. This keeps the tusk lightweight so it won’t sag under its own weight.
Step 8: Add Decorative Tape and Seal
For the final layer we used a yellow polka-dot washi tape to add a bit of pattern and personality. A coat of matte Mod Podge or similar sealer locks everything in place and protects the surface.
Step 9: Paint Your Paper Mache Head
Paint the dried paper-mâché head in the color you like — we used blue craft paint. This is an easy opportunity to customize the look and make it fit your nursery palette.
Step 10: Glue a Screw Into the Tusk
To secure the tusk to the head, glue a long screw into the inside of the dowel with a strong craft glue and allow it to dry thoroughly. This provides a solid anchor when you attach it to the paper-mâché head.
Step 11: Attach The Tusk
Once everything is dry, screw the tusk into the head. We made a small pilot hole with a drill first; Clara loved watching that step. The screw holds the tusk securely while keeping the assembly simple.
Step 12: Add Personality
Glue on buttons for eyes, draw a small smile with a marker, or decorate with bows, freckles, or tiny hats. This is where the project becomes uniquely yours — encourage kids to be creative.
Step 13: Mount the Head to Your Plaque
Attach the finished head to the painted plaque with glue. Add details like dashed border marks with a paint pen and affix a hanging loop to the back so it can be displayed on the wall or propped on a shelf.
This project was a wonderful opportunity to include our daughter in the nursery decorating process. The finished piece is full of charm and clearly shows the hand of a child, which makes it all the more meaningful.
Some people wonder whether faux taxidermy or playful mounted heads could be interpreted as endorsing real animal hunting. In our view this craft is a playful, ethical alternative — similar to choosing faux fur or faux sheepskins. It’s a decorative choice that celebrates imagination and handmade character without promoting harm to animals.
Next I’m planning colorful curtains and a large-scale mobile over the crib. I’m imagining a manzanita branch hung with lots of colorful shapes at varying lengths for visual interest. There’s room to keep adding little touches that bring personality to the nursery.
Have you tried paper-mâché recently? It’s a great, low-cost craft to do with kids — just be prepared for a curious toddler to taste-test the paste (it’s just flour and water, after all). We had a lot of fun and ended up with a keepsake that brightens the shelf.
Psst—To follow our nursery progress from the beginning, see the earlier posts about planning, rug selection, dresser sourcing, painting, and the built-in project.