Sparking Creativity with Monster Fun

Hey there, Creative Monsters! Our friendly blue monster guide is super excited for Week 20, because it’s time to spark some amazing monster fun together! Sometimes, the best way to get our creative gears turning is to make something completely new, something from our very own imaginations. And what’s more imaginative than a brand-new monster friend? This week, let’s get ready to craft our very own unique monster buddies out of everyday materials!

Materials Needed

To bring your one-of-a-kind monster to life, gather these supplies:

• Paper plates: The plain, round kind work best!
• Washable paints: A rainbow of colors, or markers/crayons if you prefer less mess!
• Construction paper: Various colors for cutting out features.
• Googly eyes: All shapes and sizes! (If you don't have them, no worries, you can draw or cut out paper eyes!)
• Glue stick or liquid glue: To hold everything together.
• Kid-safe scissors: For cutting out shapes.
• Optional fun extras: Yarn, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, feathers, glitter, cotton balls, or anything else you can find to give your monster extra personality!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ready to make a monster? Let's go!

1. Prep Your Plate! Find a comfy spot to work and lay down some newspaper or an old towel if you’re using paint. Grab your paper plate – this is going to be your monster’s body!
2. Color Your Creature!
   • Dip your brush into your favorite paint colors and paint the back of your paper plate. Does your monster have stripes? Polka dots? Or is it one magnificent solid color? Let your imagination run wild!
   • If you’re using markers or crayons, draw all sorts of fun patterns and designs directly onto your plate.
   • Once you’re happy with the colors, set your plate aside to dry completely if you used paint. This is a good time to think about what kind of monster you're making!
3. Give Your Monster Features!
   • Eyes, Eyes, Baby! Time for googly eyes! How many will your monster have? One big one? Three tiny ones? Ten scattered all over? Glue them on! If you don't have googly eyes, cut circles, ovals, or even star shapes from construction paper and glue those on.
   • Mouth Me Crazy! Grab your construction paper and scissors. Cut out a silly smile, a big surprised "O" mouth, a zig-zag frown, or even a mouth with tiny fangs! Glue it onto your plate under the eyes.
   • Horns & Ears! What kind of ears or horns does your monster have? Pointy triangles? Squiggly antennae? Big floppy ears? Cut them out from construction paper and glue them to the top or sides of your monster's head.
4. Add Monster Flair!
   • Hair & Fur! Cut strips of yarn or construction paper and glue them to the top of your monster's head for wild hair. You can also glue on cotton balls for fluffy fur!
   • Arms & Legs! Cut out funny shapes for arms and legs from construction paper. Glue them to the back or sides of your plate. Maybe your monster has long, wiggly arms, or short, stubby legs!
   • Decorate, Decorate! This is where those "optional fun extras" come in! Stick on pom-poms for a nose, twist pipe cleaners into crazy antennae, or sprinkle on some glitter for a super sparkly monster!
5. Meet Your New Friend! Once all the glue is dry and your monster is complete, it's ready to play! Give your new buddy a name, tell it a story, or find the perfect spot to display your amazing creation.

We absolutely love seeing your monster masterpieces! Ask a grown-up to share a picture of your unique monster friend with us on social media. Keep on creating, you magnificent monsters of imagination!