Pat Maché is the ready-made papier mâché from the Spanish brand Jovi. You get a 680 gram block wrapped in foil, a light greyish-white mass that is ready to knead straight away. No tearing up newspaper, no mixing paste: you break off a piece and start.
Children model little figures from it or make masks. You can also lay the mass over a shape - the packaging shows how a flat cardboard silhouette turns into a solid little animal. Moulds and modelling tools work with it too.
The packaging names the two things you need to know: 'ready to use', and a drying time of 24 to 48 hours at room temperature, no oven. Once the piece is dry you paint it; with a coat of varnish over the top you can fix small objects onto it as well. Whatever is left goes back into the foil so it does not dry out.
A welcome addition to the craft cupboard at home or in the classroom, and enough material to see an afternoon of crafting with several children through.
