Monster Craft

How cute is the Monster Craft!! We love this amazing process art idea from Lucy at Find the Little Mind on Instagram.

We never know where our next process art inspiration will come from. For this monster craft project, it came from the kitchen cupboard! We used various cooking utensils to make bright and bold monster prints, which we then added fun features to with markers and glitter pens.

Supplies Needed:

• A4 white card or paper
• Acrylic paint (we used IKEA MALA paints for their vibrant colors)
• Selection of kitchen utensils such as a large spatula, slotted spoon, and strainer spoon (all purchased from the dollar store)
• Plate or large flat paint palette
• Googly eyes
• Markers
• Glitter pens

This activity needs to be done in two stages to allow time for the paint to dry after the prints have been made. If you are working with a class, it could be fun to make the prints and then read a monster themed book to prompt some imaginative discussion. That would set the children up nicely to be ready to add features to their monster crafts the next day.

Instructions:

1. Squirt several different colors of paint onto a flat surface, such as a plate.
2. Choose a kitchen utensil and gently push it into the paint. Be sure to give it a little rotation to allow all edges of the utensil to be covered in paint.
3. Use the utensil to make a print on the white card or paper. It helps again to rotate the utensil on the card to ensure that all edges touch the card. Try to avoid smudging the paint too much though (not easy with kids!).
4. Encourage kids to make several prints, testing out the different utensils and color combinations.
5. Set aside and allow time to fully dry.
6. Put out the googly eyes, markers and glitter pens, and add some fun and crazy features to the monster prints. Encourage imaginations to run wild with long arms and legs, glittery hair, and numerous eyes.

Once the monsters are done, you could have great fun making up names and personalities for them. This could even turn into a fun class story-telling activity.

Like with any process art, the focus is not on the end piece of art. It is instead on the creative skills developed along the way. For this reason add some excitement and magic to this activity with engaging prompt questions. For example, ‘What if your monster had more than two eyes?’, ‘Have you ever seen a rainbow monster?’, or ‘I wonder if monsters ever have arms for legs and legs for arms?’.

Don’t forget the added development of fine motor and mark making skills as the monsters are decorated. Be as creative as you wish with the range of materials you provide, along with the selection of utensils supplied.

Nothing evokes kids’ imaginations like some magical monster art. We hope your kids love making their monster craft. Enjoy!