One More--no, TWO More Tiny Monsters

As soon as I signed up for the One Tiny Monster Swap on Craftster, I started imagining what sort of monster I might make.  Before I got my partner's questionnaire, I was thinking of making something with a matchbox, just because I love working with matchboxes! Inspired by the Monster Book of Monsters in the Harry Potter books, this is what I made:  a matchbox, covered inside and out in book-themed scrapbook paper, then "monster-ized" with the addition of fake fur, polymer clay teeth, and bead eyes. But what's inside?

...Another monster, of course! You can see that I cut off one side of the matchbox and glued the drawer to the cover, so it would open like a book.  But I thought it would be cuter to have another monster inside than to have book pages, so that's what I went with!

The one-eyed purple guy is hand-sewn from wool felt.  I think they are a great pair!

After getting my partner's swap questionnaire, I decided to make her a different tiny monster, but this duo was perfect to send to my Harry-Potter-loving partner in a Blythe doll swap I was also participating in.  So now everyone is happy--especially me, because I made another one of these for myself!  When I put it on the shelf above my computer, I realized that I have the beginnings of an altered matchbox collection, since I've made a couple of other ones and I've received a few in swaps. I will photograph them all together and show you my collection next week.

One Tiny Monster

The best thing about craft swaps is that they often compel me to make things I wouldn't otherwise think of making.  They broaden my crafting horizons. That's how it was in the One Tiny Monster Swap I just participated in on Craftster.  My good friend Susan forced insisted suggested I join it along with her; normally, the creative part of my mind doesn't think about monster-making, but I like knowing that it can if I need it to.

When asked to describe her ideal monster in three words, my partner for the swap wrote "fun, colorful, horns". She also said her favorite colors are purple and blue, and she prefers cute monsters to scary ones.  Looking at her Pinterest was helpful, because she had quite a few cute monsters pinned there.

So here he is! The only rule was that is had to be under 4" in each direction, so I started by drawing a 4" square and sketching a design inside it. Then I cut out the drawing and used it for a template. The purple fabric is fleece, which is great for making stuffies, because it stretches a bit when you stuff it, resulting in a nice firm creature.

I was thinking of adding spines down the back and tail, but I accidentally sewed that part before adding the spines, so I added a series of spots instead.

I LOVE how the horns came out! They are made of wool felt (as are the spots, belly, nose, and area around the eyes.) I'm sure I would not have added horns if my partner hadn't specified them, so that is a perfect example of how craft swaps help me grow and develop new skills.

This little monster fits right in with the color scheme of some of my Blythe dolls! I might have to make one for them to keep!

Monsters and Pin-Back Buttons

It was back in March that the Monster Pouch Swap ended on Craftster; I sent packages to two partners.

This one went to CraftyMamaBee.  In case you couldn't tell, she loves pink, and cupcakes!  I made this girly monster to fit her Kindle Fire.  I also included a lavender sachet with a scripture quote, because she likes both lavender and scripture, and a piece of fabric with cupcakes on it.

I made a pin-back button for the monster to wear:

I had a second, unofficial partner, Photochris.  She hadn't been a member of Craftster long enough to be eligible for the swap, but when she sent me a message inquiring about it, I was interested in her as a person (she is German, but living in Russia with her husband and children, and has recently spend four years in New Jersey!) that I wanted to do this swap with her as a personal swap.  I sent her a package similar to CraftyMamaBee's--the pouch was the same size and style, in colors she likes, and with a slightly different monster face (I guess a third eye is only slightly different, if you're a  monster!)  I also included a tissue cover with tissues, and a piece of scissors-print fabric.

Her monster also wore a pin (it's either "his" girlfriend or "her" boyfriend...I'm not sure if this monster is a girl or a boy...)

Here's a group shot (below) with the first monster pouch I made in the middle.  After making it I realized that the teeth were wool felt, and CraftyMamaBee is allergic to wool!!  So I made the pink one for her, and used the gray one in my Seven Days of Giveaways in March.

The cupcake monster arrived at her new home in California on March 8th, a few days after I sent out both packages.  But--the blue monster IS STILL IN TRANSIT!!  Yes, that's right, today is May 4th, and still no sign of it.  Apparently, mail to Russia moves slower than a snail's pace.  I received my package from Photochris about a week after it was mailed--but she mailed it from Germany, where she was visiting her parents.  I haven't given up on it though; maybe she will get it for a Christmas present!

 And now, a gratuitous repeat of the picture of the pin-back buttons I made for all the bloggers who gathered for Craft Gossip's Fork and Talk luncheon in Little Rock two weeks ago.  It came to my attention that the quilting editor, Scarlett, ran a short post about these buttons yesterday!  So if you are visiting my blog from that Craft Gossip post, welcome!  You can read my post about making these buttons here.

Hmm, that gets me to thinking...maybe I should do a button giveaway sometime?