Welcome to another Wacky Workshops project – marvellous monsters.

Not just fun to create, two of these projects are games that will entertain the kids way beyond finishing the crafts.

The other will make a wonderful addition to your Halloween decorations and is a great way to encourage creative thinking.

MARVELLOUS MONSTERS KNOCKDOWN GAME

We couldn’t stop playing with this one when we finished it.

Children will need help creating the mini shooter but they will have oodles of fun creating their monsters.

Please be mindful that, though the little ‘ghosts’ used to knock down the monsters are lightweight, as with any projectile they can cause injury if they land in an eye, so it’s best to warn the kids to be careful where they aim and supervise them if you have any doubts.

MATERIALS

• 6 x small cups – plastic, foam or paper
• Paper scraps
• Scissors
• Glue
• Thick cardboard (like from a cardboard box)
• Box cutters – for adults only
• 2 x rubber bands
• Large crafts sticks
• Paint or markers

METHOD

• Have the kids use the paper scraps to decorate the cups with monster faces
• Meanwhile, adults should create the shooter by cutting three rectangles about 8 x 10 cm.
• Create a T-shape with one by cutting rectangles from each long side of one of the original rectangles.
• Glue these cut out rectangles to either side of the second original rectangle, lining them up with the bottom edge of the second rectangle
• Place the third rectangle on top of the second and cut both of them along the top to the top of the smaller rectangles you glued on as per the picture.
• Remove the third rectangle and cut a square in the centre of it then glue it on top of the second rectangle
• The long part of the first rectangle (T-shaped) should fit in between the second and third rectangles.
• Place a rubber band around all three
• Cut a small section from the craft stick and paint/decorate it to look like a ghost
• Place the ‘ghost’ in the square cut out on the top of your stack
• Pull the middle rectangle out, aim and release so that the ‘ghost’ flies out
• Stack the plastic cups – three on the bottom, then two on top and the last on top of those
• Aim the ghost shooter at the stack and see how many monsters you can knock down.

MARVELLOUS MONSTERS GOBBLE GAME

This one is fun to practice your aim. You can use lollies or mini pom poms for the monster to ‘gobble’.

MATERIALS

• Plastic, paper, or foam cup
• White paper
• Coloured paper scraps
• Glue
• Scissors
• Lollies or mini pompoms

METHOD

• Trace a circle around the opening of the cup onto the white paper
• Create another, slightly smaller circle inside this
• Cut the outer circle out
• Fold it in half and make a hole, then open it and cut around the inner circle
• Make zig-zag cuts around the inner circle to represent teeth
• Glue the paper onto the cup opening
• Have the kids design their own monster body and help them put a hole in the centre so it can be slid from the bottom of the cup to just behind the teeth. Glue into place.
• Use the pompoms or lollies to take aim at the monster’s mouth. See who can get more in the cup.

MARVELLOUS MONSTER FACE

• Hang onto your egg cartons for this one.
• Cut the top section away from the bottom
• Have the kids cut sections of the bottom part of the egg carton to create facial features.
• Then they can glue the features onto the top section and paint if desired.

Halloween is such a fun time to be creative. I hope you have fun with these crafts. If you’d like more ideas, follow my Halloween Pinterest board.

Happy crafting and have a gleeful week, Tamuria.