Papier-mâché (say it like “PAY-per mah-SHAY”) is a craft material made from pieces of paper mixed with paste or glue. When you tear newspaper into strips, dip them in a mixture of glue and water, and layer them over a balloon or wire frame, you're working with papier-mâché. As it dries, it hardens into a surprisingly strong shell that you can paint and decorate.

The name comes from French words meaning “chewed paper,” which makes sense when you see the mushy mixture before it dries. Artists and crafters have used papier-mâché for centuries to make everything from masks and piñatas to elaborate parade floats and theatrical props. In some countries, artists create detailed sculptures and even furniture from papier-mâché.

The technique is popular in schools because it's inexpensive and forgiving. If you make a mistake, you can simply add another layer. You might use papier-mâché to build a volcano for a science project, create a dinosaur head for a school play, or make a decorative bowl. The material starts out wet and floppy but becomes rigid and durable, proving that patience and layers can transform something as ordinary as old newspaper into something entirely new.