okay, so I’m post happy today! Hahahaha!

Just got back from Michaels because I wanted to see if they had these cool number stamps from the Martha line. I saw them over at Jennifer’s blog and immediately thought of the two birthdays I have coming up next week.

While we were there, I let the boys each pick a paper bag puppet kit to make. They sell them individually and I knew they’d enjoy making one. Perrin picked the Bunny and Owen picked the Lobster (but he tells me it’s Mr. Krabs!) Well, I was disappointed in the results.

To begin with, the bags are small! Like the size you would use for a Genie Bag, only a little smaller. Owen’s little hand fits in there pretty snug, but Perrin’s is too big so he forces it in so the puppet can talk. Perrin is only 6. If I knew the bags were so small, I would have walked over to the party supply and bought them each a bigger sized bag. There is nothing on the packaging that tells you the size of the bag, and with the way it’s packaged you can’t see the paper bag when you flip it over.

All the pieces are “self adhesive”, but the don’t stick very well at all. The Lobster eyes did have reinforcement circles for the back, not that it worked very well. I ended up securing every piece with either packing tape or Mono Multi. So much for not needing glue!

They do look pretty cute and the boys are playing happily with them. However, the next time they want one of these paper bag kits, I’ll save my money and have them make their own at home with lunch sacks and construction paper.

On a side note, I’m a big Martha fan. My Grandma used to tape the shows for me when I was first married so I could watch them after work. When I was in Hawaii earlier this year, it was a treat for me to watch her new show while Don was at work. I’ve been exposed to some of my favorite chefs thru her shows, and have been inspired by the projects her crafting department comes up with. I’ve ordered product from her online store, including projects and items for the home. When I walk down the Martha isle at Michaels, I drool! I love it all! So when I review this product it’s makes me sad that it didn’t live up to what I was expecting.

Bottom line: save your money on the paper bag puppets and make them yourself! Hopefully this product will be improved as the line evolves, because they really are very cute.

Do you have experience with this product? If so, I’d like to hear how the product worked for you.