Inspired by Oliver’s children’s book ‘Heart In A Bottle’ Branar have created a magical, moving and heartwarming puppet show, called ‘Awakening A Heart’, taking children on a beautifully heart-warming journey into the world of a little girl and her Gran.

The story goes that grandad is not in his chair any more… and granny packs away her life’s memories in boxes while the little girl takes all out again and breathes new life into them. In this magical story they explore the relationship between young and old.

I have had the serene pleasure of seeing one of Branar’s shows with Molly in Jan 2011, it was simply stunning – so exquisitely simple with breathtaking detail – see here

SO if you plan on being in the neighbourhood of Limerick on Wednesday June 5th @ 6pm you just have to grab some tickets, while there are a few left, and join MollyMoo in the front row. I can’t wait!!

PS well done Lime Tree Theatre for bringing Branar back to Limerick xx

click here to secure your tickets for ‘Awakening A Heart’
and if you’d like more info on Branar’s productions click here

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I have fallen in love with these simple homemade handprint art cards by WillowDay, a new blog discovery.
I just want to get a little group of kids together and make portrait handprints….. eeeeeeeh!!

Click on over to WillowDay for the photo tutorial on how to make the his and her cards:
DaddyCard
MommyCard

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Design Finds

The design find of the week has to be Klocc For Kids the curious and imaginative containers, which can be used for sorting, as furniture or as a personal mascot :) The pieces of the collection can be hanged or packed into each other, to promote the creative thinking. originally found by kickcanandconkers

more eye candy:
Otto – stackable cardboard chairs
The family drawing table
Mow Objetos paper design dolls and animals
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Going Outdoors

(above left) A perfect DIY garden can game for endless challenging fun
or (above right) how about a game of Painted Stones Tic-Tac-Toe

and continue the fun with:
Bubble playdate recipes and ideas
Fun science experiments for kids
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Quick Crafts

(above) Toilet roll and washi tape crowns

and I’m swooning over these also:
Fishing game from paint brush handles
Woodland Fairy Paper Bag Tiara
Pom Pom Cupcake Garland
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Follow mollymoo on Pinterest and discover awesome pinterest finds like these every day :)

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Ive rounded up a few of my favourite pom pom craft finds – make sure to follow me on Pinterest and discover awesome finds like these every day

An incredibly gorgeous hanging pom pom display for windows and doors via marshagolemac
Pretty pom pom floral bouquet via craftandcreativity

Fun and colourful chandelier for kid friendly spaces by the awesome smallforbig
Elegant DIY wrapping idea via wipperberry

Pom Pom wreaths, all fluffy and welcoming via thinlyspread and meandmyshadow

…… and OMG just feast your eyes on these tissue paper pom poms
they bring an such an air of lightness and whimsy to any occasion, so so pretty.

tissue paper pom pom garland via candacetodd
beautiful pom pom headband via thelucychaseproject
click here for instructions on how to make tissue paper pom poms

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So to start me on my path, and because the last time I made a pom pom was in primary school and my memory isn’t what it used to be!! I decided to do a round up of pom pom crafts for kids AND a few cute ones for us mums too.

Here are a few of my favourites:

Top left: Pom Pom Owls by Club ChicaCircle
Simple to follow photo tutorial, all you need is wool, craft foam and some googly eyes

Top Right: Pom Pom bouquet to say thank you or I love you. I think these are so perfect for mother’s day, birthdays or when saying thank you to teacher at the end of the year. via stephlovesben on etsy

Lower Left: simple and sweet pom pom and necklaces for the littles – so pretty and perfect, by one of my favourite bloggers smallforbig

Centre: of course pom pom animals are always a hot favourite with kids, and they don’t come much better than this goofy cuddly bird via amazon

And lower right we have Miss Charlotte, the elegant pom pom spider with the perfect lips and eye lashes. Very simple to make for hours of play and chat via inna’s creations

More for the kids

Pom Pom Trees for Fairies via SimpleCrafts (I just adore these)
Cute pom pom monster, he wants a hug via inna’s creations
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A fashion forward animal pom pom and bead necklace via petitapetitandfamily
A wise old pom pom owl by simplecrafts
Pom pom snowman cake toppers, fab idea via hostess with the mostess

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Single pom pom owly fun for the littles by Singing in the Rain
Pom Pom Party via the awesome resource that is spoonful

Cute pom pom and felt bunnies, such a simple one for very young kids by redtedart
Pom pom funny love bugs by east coast mommy

I just love these giant Allium flowers by buzzmills
And finally another cute harmless looking pom pom spider via Inna’s Creations

So, how do you make a pom-pom? It’s easy….

One Crafty Mumma shares her tutorial for making pom-poms with cardboard circles.

I’ve ordered these nifty plastic tools like you see in this tutorial from Country Living.

The simple kitchen fork yarn wrapping method is shared by Petit a Petit and That’s What She Said

Or go really simple and use your fingers to wrap the yarn as shown in these instructions from Bella Dia.
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Pom Pom Fun For Mums……. adding now :)

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Pat first explained the toolkit, how to handle the wool, blend colours to create a colourflow if we wanted, demonstrated how to make one bead and then turned it over to us….. her vast experience in teaching and demonstrating the craft was evident as we all, without exception, felted bead after bead, getting ever more adventurous with colour and pattern as the class progressed.

I brought my little bag of beads home and let Molly decide what she wanted me to make for her with them, necklace?, garland for her bedroom? but she decided on a bracelet. Here’s how it turned out, we both LOVE it :)

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Molly apologises for the ‘state’ of her nails!!

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I am delighted to host this special craft roundup, in honour of the humble hen, by some of the most wonderfully creative members of blogging communities that I am a member of. The ladies took up my fun challenge to create paper hens, inspired by my ever popular Handbag Hens post, that best reflected them, their sense of humour, where they live etc etc and share them here on mollymoo. What a talented bunch:)

We’ve got Twin Travelling Hens, Converse Hens, a Hoser Hen from Canada, a Nodding Hen, an English Rose, some Handbag Hens, a Happy Meal Hen, a Rooster Basket, Rocking Chickens, Paper Plate Chickens, Calgary Stampede Hen, Heavy Metal Hen and a Fireman Hen…..

Please show your support for our character-rich hens by sharing and pinning :)
Our Pinterest Board

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Before you go – here is a short little clip of the papier mache hens I created for the challenge :)

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Working up from Miss6′s Paper Plate Chickens I decided to add ‘a bit of leg’.
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First I bent and twisted some modelling wire. I then taped the wire onto the underside of the hens and built up the thigh, legs with newspaper.
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I then cut little boot shaped pieces of cardboard and packed in newspaper around each foot.

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When all taped up I sealed it all in with one layer of papier mache.

When dry I really enjoyed painting, stamping on the polka dots with a wine cork and the yellow circled with a toilet roll core. I used some handmade paper for the red tails and yellow beaks, and a little black sequin dot for the eyes.

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I think I look well as a hen :)

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I love the humour, the folded indignant arms, the hair rollers and scarves – I’m thinking these would make a great gift for a friend. I for one want Polka Dot Betty.

Thanks to Mari of smalltobig who found them first :) nice one Mari xx

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There have been many many welcomed requests over the past few months for more information on how to make and a pattern, so I finally got my act and time together to create
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Some of the Key Steps:

1) The pattern is available here
1) Transfer the pattern onto mounting board preferably, or cereal box board. Mounting board makes for a very smooth rigid body.
2) Cut out the shapes with a craft knife or scissors, depending on the thickness of the board
3) First tape together the sides and base and fold up to the head and use a thin strip of tape to just hold the head together
4) If you are using mounting board you will need to soften the board for the sides, front and back, over the edge of the table to achieve a smooth curve of the board
5) tape up the back piece to the base and sides
6) secure the sides and base with more tape to ensure the shape is ‘locked together’
7) tape down the curved top again securely as possible to hold the shape, and continue on around the head, slotting in the comb as you go in whatever angle suits your hen’s character :)
now only the front panel should be open
8) through the front panel place in a plastic bag and into this stuff crumpled up newspaper, getting into all the corners, and filling out the hen to give her a nice plump and solid shape, without putting too much pressure on the seams, seal in the bag opening
9) now tape up the front panel, curving right up under the beak and again secure all gaps to ensure a solid join

Now it’s time to papier mache….

use this papier mache tutorial for tips on making the paste and the technique of applying papier mache

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Decorating Your Hen

You can paint, paper or decopatch your hen.

- For paints I recommend using chalky matt household paints – I LOVE tester pots of Farrow & Ball and Little Green.
- For paper I use large scrapbooking paper or nice wrapping paper if I can find it
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Tips on Papering

1) lay your templates again on your paper and cut out each piece, leave one centimeter border all around on the front, back, base and top pieces (to fold over the edges – you don’t want any gaps) and cut the sides accurately to the size of the template
2) make little cute along the one centimeter borders of the pieces as shown so as to create smooth neat edges

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3) glue and smooth down these little tabs

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4) for the beak and comb I use handmade paper for texture, just rip and glue with pva

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5) now back to the wings and wattle, there is no need to papier mache these bits, just cover in the handmade paper and glue on with fast drying glue, such as copydex
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My Papier Mache Hen Pattern is available on the main menu Pattern Page just click here :)

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Please come back and share your Papier Mache Hens on my facebook page

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