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.
![monster box](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_1bbf1d4cfcf34a1d8c01ead86b71b23e~mv2_d_4800_2714_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_554,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_1bbf1d4cfcf34a1d8c01ead86b71b23e~mv2_d_4800_2714_s_4_2.jpg)
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
![what you need](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_0751e38c5ba34a5ca775810d300dbeeb~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_0751e38c5ba34a5ca775810d300dbeeb~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
2. Gluing and Cutting
Glue 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.
![draw a mouth](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_61b10dfb986140f9be930c33784be256~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_61b10dfb986140f9be930c33784be256~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
3. Cutting
Using 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.
![score the box](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_134b46eea4d14c728e3d3a120accc7c0~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_134b46eea4d14c728e3d3a120accc7c0~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
4. Paws, Ears, Tail
Make paws and ears from another tray. Cut a spiral into a coffee cup to make the tail.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_4b0c7ea4f2c84209ad742a57338046ed~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_4b0c7ea4f2c84209ad742a57338046ed~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
5. Glue
Glue the paws, ears and tail on. Now it’s looking like a monster!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_c0369478f8994ee58c9d9c4ee55d94e6~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_c0369478f8994ee58c9d9c4ee55d94e6~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
5. Paint
Paint it. Acrylic paint is best, put it on thick and let it dry between coats. How about a few stripes or dots?
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_a0799601c56842fe9feca04e86588052~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_a0799601c56842fe9feca04e86588052~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
6. Extra bits
Another coffee cup cut into spikes makes a fun hairdo.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_be1617f690184f72bec7263ae5da9928~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_be1617f690184f72bec7263ae5da9928~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
7. He ate all the craft stuff! What a useful monster :)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_cc1abdc600ce41e88af8d24a869a6161~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_779,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/09ef90_cc1abdc600ce41e88af8d24a869a6161~mv2_d_4350_3456_s_4_2.jpg)
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 Colston](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/09ef90_6ecd39280f1349ad9f0f2690d455b530~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_837,h_924,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/09ef90_6ecd39280f1349ad9f0f2690d455b530~mv2.jpg)
Fifi Colston
Fifi 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.
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