Never be stuck for something to do! Keep your hands and brain busy with glue, tape and scissors – and have crafty fun with Fifi! Not the monster you ordered? Make your own from the box it came in! A craft for That's Not the Monster We Ordered, by Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones (Puffin NZ). Images from the book used with the permission of Penguin Random House NZ. 1. You will need:

A cardboard box, any size will do
Clean takeout coffee cups and the trays they sit in.
Tape
Scissors and a craft knife
Pencil
Paint
Glue gun

2. Gluing and CuttingGlue the box flaps shut and tape over the edges. Draw a mouth with teeth (as many as you like) a little over half way up the box. Extend the line right around the box sides and back. A ruler is useful for getting this measurement right. Cut one of the flaps off a coffee cup tray. Glue it onto the box for eyes and a nose.3. CuttingUsing a craft knife, cut along the mouth you drew- just the front and sides. On the back, score the line with a sharp pencil. This line will now bend nicely and make a handy hinge.4. Paws, Ears, Tail Make paws and ears from another tray. Cut a spiral into a coffee cup to make the tail.5. GlueGlue the paws, ears and tail on. Now it’s looking like a monster!5. PaintPaint it. Acrylic paint is best, put it on thick and let it dry between coats. How about a few stripes or dots?6. Extra bitsAnother coffee cup cut into spikes makes a fun hairdo.7. He ate all the craft stuff! What a useful monster :)Find out more about That's Not the Monster We Ordered by Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones here. Download the PDF for this craft to take home here. Fifi ColstonFifi Colston is a freelancer with fingers in many creative pies. She is a published junior fiction novelist, children’s book illustrator of more than 30 titles, poet and a long standing television presenter of arts and crafts on firstly TVNZ’s What Now and then The Good Morning Show. Fifi is a veteran of Wearable Arts; a finalist and award winner over 21 years with 23 entries in show. She also works in the New Zealand film industry as a costumier, puppet maker and illustrator. When she has a moment, Fifi visits schools and community groups, inspires budding artists and writers and runs workshops in creative process. You can find her at http://fificolston.blogspot.com.DID YOU LIKE THAT ARTICLE? Check out more great stuff like that here!

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