Mud Monsters: Painting

Monster Factory  http://www.monsterfactory.net  is a generous Canadian company (e.g., last year they donated almost five thousand plush monsters to kids in Toronto for Christmas).  When we saw that they were sending monsters around the world to celebrate the release of their first game “Monsters Everywhere”, we jumped at the chance to create with one of their monsters.  The kids have been seriously enjoying the mud this spring, prompting us to make some mud monsters with our new pal!  (Well, technically they are sand, but you get the idea!)

Materials

• Thick paper
• Craft sand
• Thick, stiff paint brushes
• Craft (white) glue
• Shaving foam
• Container
• Embellishments (chenille sticks, button, foam- scissors to cut)

• Wipes (It is VERY important that you use wipes on your hands etc. rather than washing them in your sink as the sand may clog your drain.)  You could do this activity outside if you like too.

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Don your smock.  Mix your glue, shaving cream and sand in a container, going with approximately 3 equal parts.

• Use your brushes or hands to create your monster shape with your paint mixture.

• While your paint is wet, add embellishments to create your monster’s face, arms, legs etc.  Give your monster its own personality!  If there are two layers- such as the pupil for the eye, simply glue the pieces on top of each other.

• Allow to dry overnight.

• As mentioned, be sure to use wipes on your hands or for any spills to avoid washing sand down your drain and potentially clogging it.

• Hang up your monsters!

Purpose

• Experimenting with different types of paint.  This one can provide a varied sensory opportunity.
• Cutting various materials.
• Re-framing things that may be scary (e.g., monsters) and making them friendly.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors with care and adult supervision.
• Small parts such as buttons can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.
• It is VERY important that you use wipes on your hands etc. rather than washing them in your sink as the sand may clog your drain.