Paste and Paper Pickles

Our paper mache seed pods have inspired me to repeat the project in December and use them as Christmas pickle crackers. I wish I had paid more attention to the initial layer of paper and paste. It should have been red or deep pink tissue paper. One idea for our botanical mystery party is that the seed pods are actually insect space ships. If I had know that a few days ago, I would have used xeroxed circuit board blueprints for the first layer. Unlike a pinata, a small paper mache object needs attractive insides as it lays there like orange peel in your lap.

This project also reminds me of the Horseshoe Crab Bag from The American Girls Handy Book, which reminds me of a purse made from a coconut that my grandma brought back from Hawaii. Wouldn't a small gourd purse be lovely for Fall? Everybody's carving them and turning them into lamps and bowls.

How about an eggplant purse made of paper mache with several layers of varnish? I'd like to get some of that fancy art store paper pulp mix and make purses from chocolate molds, or ice cream molds. That's it! a purse modeled after a Venetian ice cream bombe that sits patiently in your lap throughout dinner and never melts. I'm going to think on this some more.