If you have little boys in your life, you also have MONSTERS in your life. I know this. Personally. During the twenty-some years I lived with three daughters, the "M word" was never mentioned. Not once. No reason for it. We were even passed up by those critters who make their living lurking under little kids' beds, grunting and scratching in the middle of the night, alerting parental five alarm flashlight rescue brigades. And we were all okay with that.
But now I have grandsons in my life. And along with them came MONSTERS! And I'm okay with that, too!
I can't really say that they are an obsession here, but certainly they are noted. Pointed out in books. Discussed. Wondered about. Not feared really, but just regarded as curiosities that are part of everyday life. And when you are a grandma who is involved in the everyday lives of your grandsons, monsters have a way of creeping in and becoming part of your everyday life too! On that authority I suggest that it's never a bad idea to have some on hand. But where do you get monsters? And what do you do with them once they arrive? Well, my dear, read on.....!
Unlike ghosts and skeletons, monsters are not confined to the celebration of Halloween. Monsters are welcome all year around. They appear at birthday parties and on the jammies of three year old boys. You'll find them peeking through windows and showing up, uninvited, for story time. They hide in the woods behind grandma's house, just at dusk, so you can hold tightly to mommy and daddy, flashlight in hand, and go out searching for them like we did last spring.
Monsters not only make fun, but they are fun to make, mostly because you can never make a mistake making a monster! Forgot the nose? Cute! Eyes falling off? Cooool! Three arms? OMG adorable! Dripping glue and paint? LOL HILARIOUS!
I make my monsters from papier mache. Basic needs are newspaper, masking tape, glue, flour, paint...and a handfull of the fun stuff you have in your junk/craft box.
The monster you see here is "Zippy." His mission is to crash your Halloween party this year! At 33" tall, he might be a formidable guest to dislodge. Oh, let's just let him stay! He says he loves grilled cheese and those little "witch's toes" appetizers he saw on Pinterest!
If you would like to make a monster like Zippy or any of his clan, here's where I have step-by-step instructions for you!
Happy Monster-eeeen!
Those are amazing! I want to make some with my kids one day but I want to stay away from the flour. I could use glue you think? I have never heard of that final paper towel layer. It is dipped in the papier mache solution like the newspaper?
ReplyDeleteConnie, thanks for your nice comment!
DeleteWallpaper "wheat paste" also works on this type of papier mache, but flour is usually substituted because it is much cheaper.
I am not sure if just glue would work. It probably would not saturate the paper strips enough to make them flexible for wrapping nicely around the armature.
The paper towel strips are applied the same way as the others are. I will change the instructions to clarify that! Thanks for alerting me!
very cute thanks for sharing at our fall fun & Howling Halloween party
ReplyDeleteOMG I don't think I've done paper mache since I was a kid! I THINK that is what we used in geography, anyway... in 4th or 5th grade we made worlds or something with it. What a blast. I am going to go to the tutorial and see if I am up for it. HA HA
ReplyDeleteBut you are right about boys and monsters. I am used to that since I had three boys so I fall right into it with Brent. We probably turn into monsters several times a day when he is over. ROAR!!! AAUGGGH ...MUHAHAHAH and in the end someone gets tickled.
Oh my, I SOOOO know what you mean. Boys and girls are definitely from "different planets" but oh so special and fun, each in their own way. And wow! I'm so impressed. I tried papier mache once, long long ago - the first time we tried making our own scarecrows. It was a fun memory but I've never tried again. And ours didn't look ANYWHERE near as WONDERFUL as yours! Bet your grandkids LOVE them. Thanks for a fun visit. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post! Makes me want to go monster- spotting, not only in books and in the woods, but pretty much everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there are monsters in toilet cisterns and in dark corners of under- sink cabinets in old kitchens? Hmmm...
I'll now hop over and see how you created your gruesome group and maybe make my own :)
This is such a great idea! May I write about you and your idea on my site (Grandma Ideas)?? These are fabulous monsters!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Monsters were indeed the highlight of my past weekend with the grandsons. We read as many monster books as we could get our hands on and created monster like crafts. Yes, with three daughters there was rarely an M word said. With the grandsons, it's a constant theme, especially this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for linking to the GRAND Social, my friend!
I love the idea of a monster hunt in the woods! Aren't grandkids the best? Now following you, feel free to visit me too. http://forwhatitsworth-jeannie.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteYou are a STAR today! I'm featuring you over at I Gotta Create! Thanks so much for linking up at the party. ;)
ReplyDelete<3 Christina
http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/2012/10/jeepers-creepers-peepers-and-more.html
I have said it before but I repeat - You are so talented! I love all your monsters and I agree there is no right or wrong. Awesome monsters!So imaginative. You need to make a one eyed, one horn, flying purple people eater -- and teach the kids the song!
ReplyDeleteThis is another awesome project from you! You are so creative, and your grandchildren are lucky to have you. I hadn't thought about the gluten in paper mache until I read someone else's comment. I guess I'll have to find a gluten-free recipe somewhere, because these look like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI’ll be featuring your project on OneCreativeMommy.com tomorrow. Please feel free to stop by and grab a featured button.
So cute and so creative. Love your creativity and man it has got to be awesome to have a grandma like you. I love the colors and that they actually look like monsters.
ReplyDelete