Cookie monster beanbag aim & throw game

This was another monster inspired game that we made and played at Max's monster party. Simple as simple can be, just a cardboard box, painted blue with a mouth cut out and two eyes stuck on to look as much like Sesame streets cookie monster as possible. And some simple felt, cookie shaped, beanbags to toss into the target from a distance. All cobbled together in less than 30mins and cost basically nothing!

Other monster games we played (other than the monster modelling kits shown below), included;

Monster Tag

Pass the monster

Monster statues

Monster dancing to 'monster tunes' such as Monster mash, Lady gaga Monster, She's a monster, a beautiful monster & What's that coming over the hill?Is it a monster?

Monster modelling kits as a Monster party game

More from the monster back log! Here are some homemade monster modelling playdough kits I made as in-party entertainment! They made for a nice change to the usual party games. They were super easy to pull together, I just made a couple of batches of homemade playdough (see the homemade playdough post) and put a couple of balls in a sandwich bag with some googly eyes, pipe cleaners and cut up straws. I then made up a header on powerpoint, printed them off and stuck them to the top of the bags.
We broke them out during the party but you could just as easily give them as great monster party favours.

This was my favourite though!

Monster mouths

What a super cheeky monster1

I just realised there is a load of stuff I intended to post from Max's party that I never finished. So here is one about some special straws I made, to make the monsters that came even more monstery! Inspired by another pin. This one in fact. I made them from foam sheets like I used for the feet, just glueing together with pritt stick and making up some mouth shapes.

Fresh strawberry Bircher's Muesli

This Saturday our family breakfast was a little more summery. We made a batch of Birchers with a difference. This batch was oats, pineapple juice, natural yoghurt, a spoonful of homemade strawberry jam and lots of chopped fresh strawberries.

Junk modelling -Craney truck

Cheese and Chutney Picnic Loaf

We are in the process of trying to pack to move house and we have a whole shelf of homemade chutney. It seems crazy to pack a whole box just with chutney so we need to eat more! This came to me as an idea to use some up....

I made our regular 50/50 white/wholemeal loaf but decided after it's first proof to flatten into a rectangle and spread with nearly a whole jar of homemade chutney and sprinkle with some grated cheddar. Roll it up into a swiss roll type thing and then made into a ring. I left this to rise again before baking as usual.

It was lovely with a hearty stew for lunch. And it was even more delicious cold in packed lunches the next day!

There are all sorts of possibilities for this. I am thinking goats cheese with the caramelised onion chutney, blue cheese and chutney, the possibilities are endless.

Omelette Layer Cake

This was a great way to do something different and yummy with eggs for family breakfast this weekend. I made thin omelette pancakes (using just eggs, milk, and herbs) which I layered alternately with smoked salmon (with lemon juice and pepper) and chopped spinach folded into Philadelphia. There were 2 layers of each and then finished the top with a sprinkle of feta. It was utterly delicious both warm and, later on, cold as leftovers. It was also surprising filling with just a little slice needed to satisfy.

Monster birthday cake

Here is the monster birthday cake I made for Max's Monster Birthday party. It was inspired thanks to this pin.

It was just a regular chocolate sponge, plus some star nozzle piped orange flavour (used squash concentrate) butter icing. The cake pops were made with a chocolate and marmalade cake I baked, mushed with chocolate fudge icing (shop bought), dipped in melted white chocolate with fondant icing eye lids, iris and pupils. The mouth is fondant icing also.

Monster teddies

As there are only a few kids coming to Max's Monster birthday party I thought I would make them each a Monster stuffed toy to take home instead of a party bag filled with crap they don't need and stacks of sweets!
So here they are...
Meet the Monsters!

The idea came from a stuffed toy a friend bought Ollie 6 years ago. I think it was called an Ugly Doll.

The ones I made are made from acrylic felt and the hollow fibre stuffing from a pillow. I just hope they hold up to the battering they get. Surprisingly all three of my boys love them. I was sure the 6 year old would think they were too babyish but he wants me to make him one too!

There will be a few more 'monster' posts over the next couple of days as plans for the party come together...

Monster feet

More monster party preparations.
I made these monster feet from A5 foam sheets purchased at the pound shop.
I am envisioning them wearing them to play monster tag, or monster statues, or monster bumps.
Idea and pattern from here

Monster birthday invitations

Max is 4 next week and so we are having a little birthday tea at ours this weekend. We asked him what theme he would like, if any, and he said a Monster Party. This seemed fitting!

So we cobbled together some monster party invites using foam sheets, black and white paper and pritt sticks;

Elephant Hawkmoths continued

You may remember back in August Uncle Tony gave the boys some Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars. These pupated and have been merrily sleeping in a Quality Street tin in the back garden all winter. The sun is now starting to come out so we thought we had better prepare a home for them to emerge as moths into when they are ready. This should be in the next couple of months. 

This is what we have cobbled together for them.

It involved 1metre of netting fabric (the type you use for underskirts) sewn around a ring I use for drying flowers. I might sew another wire ring half way down to make sure the wind won't blow the net shut on them.

Hopefully they will emerge, mate and lay eggs so we can then release them and nurture some more caterpillars and the boys can experience the great circle of life!

Roman centurion/ Eco Warrior

It was Eco week at school this week and the boys could dress up in something they had made from re-utilised and re-cycled bits and bobs.

Ollie has an obsession with picking up hubcaps at the moment so this seemed a good way to get them out the

Cucumber ice cubes for Hendricks G&Ts

Tom likes a G&T when he gets home on a Friday night. His tipple of choice is Hendricks, which is a Scottish gin that is quite unlike most other gins. It is somehow more savoury and tastes good for you!
Hendricks is traditionally drunk with tonic and a slice of cucumber.
This week I seem to have a surplus of cucumbers as the boys appear to have temporarily gone off it so I thought as a special little treat for this Friday's drink I would make my lovely hubby some cucumber ice cubes. I thought it might be better at infusing its flavour into the gin and tonic and would ensure he always had some cucumber for his drink even if we didn't have one in the fridge.
Method;
Blitz a cucumber with a blender
Sieve the pulp out
Add about 50% water (otherwise seemed too strong)
Freeze in cubes

What could be easier?

 Yum - roll on tomorrow!

Saturday breakfast - Pain perdu and berries

Nothing I can say can tell you how totally scrumptious this was. And I didn't think I liked eggy bread!