Make a Waterfall from Papier-mâché...

Children can make some very charming toys from papier-
mâché. I must warn you, however, once they get started on
 projects like this one, their enthusiasm has no boundaries!

       Do your little ones collect dinosaurs to play with? Most American children love plastic dolls like these and what better craft activity for busy little hands than one that helps them to explore and shape a world where their toys can come to life?

       Gather the following supplies from your craft supply to begin shaping a similar "waterfall" for your plastic toy dinosaurs, jungle animals or action figures:

Supply List:

• a tall, empty circular can (like a oatmeal box)
• masking tape
• white school glue
• green tissue paper
• brown paper bags
• brown paper that reminds you of rock textures
• fabric that looks like printed water
• newsprint
• Mod Podge (optional)
• a small paint brush

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Start by forming the shape of a papier-mâché cliff from crushed newsprint, masking tape and an empty oatmeal carton. Crushing and mashing newspapers into round rock shapes is easy to do.
2. Wrap your rock shapes with masking tape as you go and attach these to the empty oatmeal can in a random placement. Don't worry about the tape so very much until you've got a cliff that you like. This is a messy project!
3. When you have finished with something acceptable, neatly apply small pieces of masking tape to the entire structure. Overlap some of the masking tape as you go.
4. Now cover the entire form with generous smears of white glue and shredded brown paper bags. You are essentially layering the paper in order to strengthen your form. Let this dry overnight.
5. After everything has dried, you are going to decorate the structure by alternating green tissue paper and the brown or grey looking paper that has texture. Use white glue or Mod Podge to attach the paper to the papier-mâché surface. 
6. Attach the fabric that looks like water to an area of the papier-mâché cliff where you think it might be running between the rocks. I shaped a little pool at the bottom of my cliff where my dinosaurs could drink.
7. Apply a generous amount of glue to the entire surface of your finished waterfall to give the overall project strength. After the surface has dried, store your papier-mâché in a large plastic tub along with your dinosaurs and play mats. Special storage not only keeps your toys picked up, but helps to preserve them for future play as well.

Above, you can see the stages of application for my papier-mâché water fall. I used a bit of artist's gel to apply the fabric water because I was worried about it adhering well. However, I found that after many applications the Mod Podge  and white Elmer's glue worked just as well. Don't be afraid to experiment with different glues, you'll find that there is a big difference in the cost of this project depending upon which glue you choose.

A toy stegosaurus followed by his euoplocephalus companion drink from the papier-mâché pool below. 
A tapejara balances at the top of the cliff waterfall.

Craft projects like these are excellent ways for older siblings to make a special gift for a
younger brother or sister's birthday or other holiday celebration like Christmas.

Close up of the textures used in the papier-mâché water fall.

How to make a more advanced waterfall model...