Looking for a spooky craft that’s equal parts eerie and awesome? This glowing paper mache hand is such a fun DIY Halloween decoration — and it’s way easier to make than it looks! Using just a simple glove mold, tissue paper, and a bit of glue, you can create a creepy hand that has a sinister vibe when lit from within.
Add fairy lights and watch as your haunted hand comes alive with an unforgettable red glow. Perfect for Halloween parties, window displays, or as a chilling centerpiece, this project is guaranteed to grab attention. Kids, tweens, and even adults will get a kick out of crafting this delightfully creepy decoration!
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.
How to Make a Paper Mache Hand
Materials:
Equipment:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare to make your paper mache hand
- Add 1 part glue and 1 part water to a bowl.
- Stir until well combined. You can use a spoon, whisk, or even the top of a paintbrush, like we did here.
- Cut red tissue paper (or another colour of your choice) into strips approximately 1 by 2 inches. (They don’t have to be exact.)
- Blow up a nitrile glove and tie a knot at the bottom to keep the air in, like a balloon.Don’t add too much air — you want the glove to look natural, like a hand, instead of being puffy.
Step 3: Add tissue paper mache to the glove
- Use a paintbrush to add a thin layer of the glue mixture onto the glove.
- Add strips of tissue paper onto the glove. Place them haphazardly, overlapping them.
- Apply more of the glue mixture on top of the tissue paper to keep them in place.
- Add more tissue paper to cover any gaps, brushing more glue overtop. You want at least 2 layers of tissue paper in each area so the hand will keep its shape.
- Repeat these steps, covering both sides of the hand. For the fingers, wrap the tissue paper around like bandages and finish with a couple pieces going over the fingertip.
- Ensure that the hand is well covered with tissue paper — especially at the bottom of the hand — so it’ll be strong enough to stand on its own. We recommend about 5 layers of tissue paper on the bottom.Then set the hand on a plastic cup or bowl, and allow to dry overnight. Flip the hand over partway through the drying time.
Step 4: Remove the glove and add lights
- Snip the glove above the knot (just like how you’d deflate a balloon).
- As the glove deflates, peel it away from the tissue paper. It can be a bit tricky to get the fingers out, but if you go one by one it does work.You can use tweezers to help you and, if the fingers get a bit crushed, you can use a pencil to push them back out.
- Your paper mache hand is complete!Trim the bottom edge to be even if it doesn’t stand up on its own.
- Now insert fairy lights into the hand. You can also place the hand over a battery operated tealight candle.
- Then have fun using your glowing tissue paper mache hand props as part of your Halloween decor!
Helpful Tips:
- Dry the hand completely: Place the glove on top of a plastic cup or glass to allow more air around it as it dries. Once the outside feels mostly dry, lay it gently on its side or upside down so the base has a chance to dry completely. It’s important the base is fully dry before you cut away the glove.
- Adjust the hand’s stability: If your finished hand doesn’t stand very well, trim the bottom slightly to flatten it out. Adjusting the base will help center the weight so the hand is stable and can stand upright on its own.
What’s the best glue for making a paper mache hand?
Generally we like using a flour and water mixture to make our paper mache glue. You can check out our how to make paper mache post for a recipe.
But because tissue paper is so thin, it really sticks to your fingers when you work with thicker glue. And since flour tends to clump up a little, it just wasn’t working for this project.
White glue, thinned out with water and applied with a paintbrush, was perfect for this craft.
How can I make my paper mache hand glow?
We like how the hand glows with fairy lights. Because they’re small, and on a string, you can push them up into the fingers and make the whole hand light up!
But if you don’t have fairy lights you can also set the hand on top of a flameless tea light candle, place a glow stick inside it, or use LED ball lights.
How can I use this paper mache hand as a Halloween decoration?
This spooky hand looks amazing all on its own — just set it in the middle of a party table and let the eerie red light do the work. But if you want to take your Halloween decorating to the next level, it’s also the perfect piece to build a whole scene around.
Create a mini graveyard display by pairing it with cardboard tombstones, cobwebs, and a few plastic spiders or other creepy crawlies. You can add moss, dark fabric, or even a sprinkle of fake bones to make it feel extra haunting. Whether you keep it simple or go all-out theatrical, the glowing hand makes a fantastic centerpiece that instantly sets a spooky mood.
For a lighter take, keep things playful by surrounding the hand with a bowl of candy, colourful confetti, or goofy Halloween props like plastic eyeballs or glow-in-the-dark rings. Pair it with bright lights and make the hand with more cheerful colours of tissue paper, and you’ll have a spooky-cute decoration that’s just right for younger kids.
This creepy paper mache hand is such a fun way to bring a little Halloween magic into your home. With just tissue paper, a glove, and some simple supplies, you can create a decoration that’s eerie, eye-catching, and totally unique!
Whether you display it as a glowing centerpiece or build it into a full haunted scene, this handmade craft is sure to impress guests and delight kids and adults alike. Give it a try, experiment with different colours or lighting, and enjoy the spooky atmosphere it creates!
Here’s even more Halloween craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
Leave a Reply