Ganesha Statue with Small Planter

I have always been a lover of elephants, but on a recent trip of mine to India I fell in love with a whole new depiction of my favorite tusked mammal, that being the Hindu God, Ganesha.  It wasn't just Ganesha's uncanny resemblance to the elephant the caught me captivated, it was what he represented. According to Hindu religion, Ganesha is not only the remover of obstacles, but also the patron of art, science, intellect, and wisdom. That combined with my boyfriend's excessive confidence in my artistic abilities, and comment "you could make a statue", as though it were some simple crafty task, lead me to take on the mother of all kitschy art projects... the Ganesha statue.



You'll Need:

• About 2 Weeks worth of otherwise-would-be-recycled cardboard (Boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, etc.)
• Masking tape (Must be masking, plastic tape will not work)
• Scissors
• 1 Balloon
• Papier Mache Ingredients

• 2-3 Newspapers, torn into long inch-wide strips
• Large Mixing Bowl
• 4 cups white flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 3 ounces glue
• 4 cups water
• Mixer or stirring spoon
• Hot Glue Gun
• Small mosaic tiles or charms (available at craft store)
• About 6 cups of pre-mixed grout, enough to cover your whole statue
• 1 sturdy plastic cup
• Acrylic Paint & Brushes
• Crystal Clear Spray Enamel
• Potting soil
• Seeds, Flowers, Small Plant, or Ivy
• Ganesha necklaces, scarves and/or bling

Here's How:

1. Using a Ganesha picture as a reference, and your imagination start piling your boxes and carboard into the shape of a Ganesha.
2. Blow up your balloon and use for head.
3. Cut out large pieces of cardboard for ears and crown.
4. Tape the entire thing together with masking tape until very sturdy.
5. Mix your flour, salt, glue, and water in the bowl until consistency is even.
6. Dip your newspaper strips into papier mache glue solution and start covering your cardboard Ganesha with them one by one.  Use several layers so body is sturdy and cover any holes or nooks to make surface smooth and impenetrable.   
7. After the strips are dry, turn Ganesha over and cover the bottom with strips as well.  
8. After all strips are dry, start to use hot glue gun to place decorative tiles or charms on eyes, crown, and any other areas you would like with extra decorations.
9. Once hot glue is dry, start to cover your entire Ganesha in grout, including over your mosaic tiles and your papier mache layers.
10. Wait about 10 minutes and wipe grout off of your tiles and chrams.  Grout should stay in between the cracks, but be clean and shiny on top of the tiles.  
11. Cut a few pen sized holes along one edge of your plastic cup.
12. Hot glue the plastic cup to one of your Ganesha's hands so that the holes are exposed along the back edge of his hand.
13. Once hot glue is dry, apply mosaic tiles if you want, and cover your cup in grout so it blends in with Ganesha's hand.  Don't cover the holes in grout.    *The purpose of the holes is so when you are watering the plant in the grouted-plastic cup, a little bit of water will be able to drain out the bottom of the cup.
14. After grout is dry, paint your Ganesha with festive bright colors and designs.
15. After paint is dry, cover your Ganesha with a coating of Crystal Clear Spray Enamel.  
16. After Crystal Clear is dry, fill Ganesha's pot with Ivy, flower seeds, potting soil, and whatever else you may choose to include.  
17. Give your Ganesha a nice home in your entry-way, your favorite altar, or your garden.  *If done correctly, Ganehsa should be weather-proof, but just to be safe you may not want him to live in the spray-line of your sprinklers, or outdoors during rainy months.
18. Don't forget your Ganesha bling!