Because I’m a weirdo, and I have some strange obsession with cute monsters, I’ve made all of you monsters. You’re thinking, what is she talking about? Is she nuts? Shall I encourage you to come out of lurkdom? Leave me a comment to see your randomly selected monster by your name. I found a wordpress plugin that comes with a folder full of monster parts and randomly picks from those parts to assemble a monster unique to your email address when you leave a comment.  Your specific monster will appear when you leave a comment.  I wish I could let you build your own monster, but for whatever reason, I seem to be the only person that would want such a plugin.  Hmph.

I noticed a while back that FAO Schwarz created a “make-my-own-monster” product where they send a workbook for your child to answer questions about and draw his/her monster. Upon return, they then tailor make your child’s monster according to the instructions/picture. The price tag however is ungodly…coming in at $249! If you google handmade monsters, you’ll come up with several results ranging from adorable premade monsters to websites selling monsters similar to the FAO Schwarz concept, in that it is custom made to your child’s specifications. The smaller companies, often run by a crafty mom at home just like you, tend to make the process a little more personal that FAO.

Etsy shop: CurlyQCuties

MissingMonsters.com allows you to file a missing monster report, and they will find (custom make) your monster. You can even receive the story of how your monster was found and a picture of the location. Kids get to choose an animal that the monster resembles instead of drawing a picture, which makes it a little easier for the younger generation that may not be drawing just yet. You monster arrives in a “handle with care: monster inside” box.

 

Manhattan Toy Co. also has some very cute little stuffed monsters. Etsy is another place to look into handmade monsters if you are looking for a unique gift. I plan to [eventually] put my lack of sewing skills to work to make Caleb one when he’s a little older. I’ll make my own question sheet.

Manhattan Toy’s plush monsters

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This one might take some time to build up a collection, but if your husband drinks chocolate milk (or maybe orange juice in your case) like mine does, it shouldn’t take you too long. Besides “free” has a nice ring to it. These bricks are $40 for just 16 of them:

I recently took up recycling, and Scott loves Nesquik. I’ve been feeling guilty because I had to throw away the cartons, as our recycle center does not currently accept them. I stashed some of them away hoping for a reason to use them, but I quickly ran out of storage room, and threw some away. I only ended up with eight leftovers, which makes four blocks. I’ve informed Scott of his task which he gladly accepts.

Just cut the tops off and push one inside the other. I’m planning to either wrap ours in white paper like a present and let him decorate them, or use gray paper to cover them so that they look like stones. I’m too cheap to buy contact paper. It is one of those items that I never seem to find. Is there some secret place that stores stash it? Colored or clear, I can’t ever seem to locate it. Michael’s has a ridiculously small amount packaged for a ridiculously large price over the in their scrapbook section. So get your family and friends in on saving cartons for you. Make sure to wash them out quickly or at least leave the top off, otherwise the cartons will swell.

Added bonus, not only do these make great large scale building blocks, but also nice bowling pins or monster truck obstacles.

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I have been wanting a feltboard for a long time now. I finally took the plunge. All $6 of it. I had no idea it would be so dirt cheap, or I would have done it a while back! Caleb got a tabletop easel for Christmas that has been pretty versatile so far. A chalkboard, a white board, an easel for painting or drawing, the white board is also magnetic, and now a felt board. I bought a 36″ X 36″ piece of white felt packaged in plastic for $2.99 and 20 different sheets/colors of felt pieces for $0.20 a piece.

I will be able to make ample feltboard creations out of this, and I’m thinking of going back to get more to make play food out of (another project, another day perhaps). I clipped all of these pieces in about an hour last night while watching TV.  Of course I had to start out with a car theme for Caleb, and I also did a build-a-frosty themed set, since we have built a few Frostys recently.  I cut all of these with no pattern, but there are patterns available online if you don’t feel comfortable snipping away.  You can use a similar easel set up (or clip to the fridge, lay on the floor, etc) or give your piece of felt a stiff backing or board. I had originally intended to make an actual board, but now that I realize the easel works so perfectly, I think I’ll just keep mine in foldable form for now. You could use a piece of cardboard or a thin piece of wood to wrap the felt around. You could hang it on the wall. Pop the cork out of an old bulletin board and wrap it with felt for a framed board. Wrap an old white board. A small travel version would make an excellent toy for the car. Make sure to use cardboard for this one, so as not to create a projectile (in other words, don’t use wood, or a hard/heavy material for the backing. Add a ribbon for a handle. If making a folded version, you could add a closure. I’ve also seen an idea to make a little travel board from sandpaper and yarn. The yarn sticks to the sandpaper, kids can create pictures using different colors and lengths of string.

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I’ve had a growing list of “toys” that I’ve wanted to make for a while now. I set out to Michael’s craft store today to acquire supplies. I think the total on this project was about $17. A little more than I would have liked, but the decoupage glue was about $5 I think. Could it have been found cheaper? Quite possibly, but it was the last item on a long list after spending over an hour in a craft store with a toddler. One who was approaching his maximum meltdown limits, whining and whimpering incessantly about which cars he might or might not be allowed to bring home (how he phrases I would like you to buy this). I wouldn’t have cared if it was $15 an ounce. That’s a lie, I’m actually very stingy. Anyway, I got scrapbook paper to use for the pictures. You can use anything you want. Trace and cut out 6 pictures to go on your blocks. If you want to be able to stack your puzzle vertically, and view the picture correctly from both sides, pay close attention to your positioning. I recommend doing one whole side and then flipping the entire puzzle over at one time, and completing the opposite side. Repeat this process three times. Here is the mostly finished product. I did four sides after dinner this evening. It took a little longer than expected, but it will be neat.

Tips: If you are doing this for a young child, try to pick six pictures that have different tones or colors so that it is easier to distinguish what belongs to each picture. There is still plenty of puzzling to be done after all of the sides for one particular puzzle are facing up. If you are doing this puzzle for a toddler, you may want to put a narrow solid border around each picture depending out how complicated the picture if. You could let your child try the puzzle, and if he/she seems to be having a hard time, add a border. Added bonus, this can help to hide little mistakes along the edges! You may want to spray or coat with a finishing spray or varnish.

And if you are the crafty type, this will be like therapy for you. Mommy’s busy, go bug Daddy!

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