Crafting Travesty-I don't know how to paper mache

The trouble with being the Prime Minister's sister is, it does put your life into rather harsh perspective. What did my brother do today? He stood up and fought for his country. And what did I do? I made a papier maché lobster head. - Emma Thompson as Karen in Love Actually

So, it occurs to me while perusing About.com Crafts that I don't know how to papier mache. As a good crafty mom, it seems that paper mache (or whatever you want to call it) is something that I need to know how to do. I mean, I can remember the basics - and if my life depended on it I could probably pull it off, maybe.

It also seems like a good kid craft. Since The Boy isn't sure he likes to get his hands in gooey things - this may or may not go well for us.

No-Cook Paper Mache Glue Recipe this is the glue recipe we're going to use. It includes a tip to add salt to prevent mold in humid climates. Does Houston qualify? Um, yeah. You could say that.

Speaking of The Boy, at this moment (9:11pm) he's fake crying in his bed about having to go to sleep ... it's relatively pathetic. We're at a serious drama, anti-going-to-bed phase. Quite frankly, it's rather irritating. If he's not being dramatic, he's whining.

Back to the paper mache - I don't know, short of maybe a school project why someone would bother to make an ant hill - but this seems to be a popular paper mache project.

The Boy has escalated to actual, pathetic whiny crying. I'm probably going to have to intervene here in a second.

So, what are we going to make in paper mache? Brain storm ... a princess theme pinata that we can make for The Boy's BFF The Ma'am. She's got a birthday coming up... now, let's see if I can find a design idea that could possible be turned into a paper mache vessel that can be covered in frilly pinkness and sparkles, and filled with candy. Hmmmm ... how would we build the form ... and what would the form be? This sounds too ambitious. A pinata would have to be really big - the stress I'm feeling about this makes me think that it would be more work than fun. So ... a GIFT BOX! Something The Boy can make and decorate himself, in which I will put the super snazzy princessy gift I'm designing for her. That's a thought. More on both soon.

Drama intervention commencing.

Drama intervention fail.

We've moved onto a full Boy vs Mom power struggle. Which, I will win ... but it won't be pleasant.

Until next time.