How would you make a paper mache heart shaped box?

I would build a thin cardboard form first (or get one from a craft store) and then paper mache it to make it stronger. Make two hearts the size you want the box to be (one top and one bottom) The heart for the top should be a little bigger than the one for the bottom so the lid slips over it. Make a strip of cardboard the height you want the box to be and the length of the outside of the heart. Make another thinner strip for the lid. Fold the strip in half and put the fold at the point, and wrap it around the edge of the heart so that the two ends meet at the v in the top of the heart. Fix with masking tape (you can mache over it) Do this for the top and the bottom. You shouldn't need to use a form inside of it with this method. Printer paper is not as porous as newsprint and will not hold as much paste. It gets soppy and slick and does not adhere as well. If you want to avoid the mess of newsprint I would suggest using the plain kind of newspaper you can get at the craft store. Good luck. Hope this helps.

Hi, I am guessing saran wrap would be a disaster! Newspaper is horrible, try something lighter in color and use tiny pieces dipped in Elmer's and water 1:1 ratio. I have an old Godiva heart shaped box and that would be a fast easy way to make the paper mache~ box and take out alot of the guesswork! After it dries, simply paint it with watercolor!

I did a few paper mache projects back in high school, and I always used balloons as my base and then covered them with strips of newspaper dipped in a flour mixture (as someone else said it should be the consistency of pancake batter), and applied it the balloons. In this case two balloons with their long ends facing each other could be taped together to get the heart shape. After you cover the surface entirely you have to let it dry completely. It's been awhile, but I think it usually dries over night. After a couple of layers you pop the balloons. Do around 4 layers, although this is pretty flexible, so basically until it seems sturdy enough. I made pinatas so after I was done with the paper mache part I used party streamers cut into squares dipped in Elmer's glue to decorate it and cover the newspaper. As for the lid, there are several ways, but I like the cardboard idea that others have suggested; you could also cover it with paper mache to make it bigger/sturdier if you prefer.

how about using a heart shaped party balloon cast in two halves with a lip placed around one of the halves?

Your method would work, or you could buy a small heart-shaped tupperware container or candy tin. (Christmas is over - I'm sure some stores already have their Valentines displays up) For the lid, you could trace the finished paper-mache box on a piece of cardboard and cut it out, cover the box in saran wrap and place the cardboard heart over the BOTTOM. Paper mache the lid making sure to hang the strips over the egde and let it dry. Using plain white paper should not be a problem. Sounds like fun.

i'm not sure how to make a heart shap, but for the paper maché cut ( or rip ) newspaper into strips about 1in. wide. dip them in a glob made from flour and water ixed togeather (about the consintacy of pancake batter) and then put them on the mold. let dry and repete, the more layers the stronger the box.

The answers about making or buying a heart shaped box seems to be the easiest way to go. I suggest trying a different methos of paper mache to get a really textured look. use pieces of paper, colored or not and put them in a blender. Add some water and turn it on. You get this gooey kind of mud. Once you have this made apply it to the box. if you use your fingers you can manipulte it better and get some really interesting textures. It will take a while to completely dry out, but it works very well. the paper fibers kind of rebond when it dries so there is no need for glue. Be careful with the blender...mix in short bursts. Seems the blender people didnt really expect them to be used for paper and they tend to overheat. :-)