How to Make a Papier-Mâché Knight Helmet

Have you ever wanted to slay a dragon and rescue a princess from peril? You will need an adequate suit of armour or at least a helmet. However, a real suit of armour may be a little too costly --- and heavy --- for the average person. Instead, why not learn how to make your very own knight's helmet out of papier-mâché.

Pour 3 cups of flour into a bowl.

Pour 11/2 cups warm water into the bowl and stir to combine.

Cut the newspaper into strips at least 1 inch wide.

Inflate the balloon until it is close to the same size as the head of the person who will be wearing the helmet.

Dip the newspaper strips into the flour and water mixture; coat them thoroughly.

Cover about 2/3 of the balloon with at least 5 layers of papier-mâché strips. The part of the balloon that left uncovered will act as the opening for the wearer's head.

Allow the papier-mâché to dry completely. This will harden the strips of paper and fuse them together to form a thick shell.

Use the pin to pop the balloon. remove it from inside the helmet form.

Cut the bottom of the form with scissors to make an even chin line for the helmet.

Cut two ovals out of the front of the mask, starting from the bottom and leaving a 1-inch strip running down the centre to cover the wearers nose. The two openings will also allow the wearer to see clearly out of the front of the mask.

Place the helmet on the wearer's head and mark where the nose strip meets the tip of his/her nose. Cut the excess nose strip away to leave a small nose guard.

Paint the outside of the helmet to make it look like metal.

Add authenticity to the helmet by adding a layer of black paint and then wiping it away before it dries. This will create a patina to make the helmet look old. Allow the paint to dry completely before wearing.