This adorable ice cream scoop is made with papier-mâché and the cone is a laundry basket covered in brown kraft paper. Colorful ping-pong balls are scattered everywhere, and a red knit hat with a green pipe cleaner makes the cherry on top.
Cut the bottom of the laundry basket.
Cut newspapers and brown bags into 4" x 4" or 4" x 6" strips. Cutting the paper into strips takes little time, but it speeds up the process and the results are better. Use two different colors or types of paper to make it easier to identify the different layers. Wrap a beach ball in plastic wrap. This will protect the ball by keeping paste out of it and helps the mold slide when dry. Two or three layers of plastic wrap should be enough. Put the ball over the basket. Use the magic marker to draw a circle around the ball at the point where it meets the basket; This will define the area to cover.
For the papier-mâché paste, pour the glue into a large bowl and mix in water with a 4:1 glue to water ratio. Stir well with a wooden spoon or brush until the paste is smooth and of good consistency. Start with either newspaper or shredded brown paper. Brush both sides of the paper with a thin layer of glue and stick it onto the ball.
When you are done with the first layer, switch to the other type of paper. We alternate between newspaper and paper bags.
Continue until you have covered the top half of the ball in six layers of paper. For the last layer, use coffee filters instead of paper.
Let the papier-mâché dry overnight. To remove from the ball, deflate the ball or make small cuts in the papier-mâché base and gently pull the mold up and over the ball. Make sure the glue is dry, then paint the mold white (or whatever flavor you prefer). Let dry for about an hour or according to the directions on the paint container.
Use a string to measure the size of the head of the person wearing the costume. Add two inches for comfort. Place the rope in the ice cream mold and mark the outline with a marker.
Use a knife to carefully cut an X in the center of the head outline and gently pull it open.
Repeat this process for both armholes.
Make the shoulder straps by looping through two opposite slots on the basket. Wrap the basket with kraft paper using the drum of the basket as a guide to ensure a cone shape. Secure with tape, cutting and tucking in extra paper as needed.
Place the scoop of ice cream on top of the cone. Use hot glue to attach the ping-pong balls to the popsicle mold. Start with one color of ping pong balls to make sure all the colors are evenly distributed.
Add additional color sprinkles.
Wrap the tulle around the base of the ice cream cone, looping at least twice.
Push a green pipe cleaner through the top of the red knit hat to make the cherry. We paired the ice cream cone with a white ruffled long sleeved shirt and brown leggings and boots.
