Make This: Monster Slime (and about Beeper's Birthday)

So, no reptiles this year for Beeper's birthday--just monsters.  Which I could totally deal with because I love monsters and always have since I was a little girl (insight into my geeky 12-year-old self: I created a wall-sized monster mural as my 6th grade project).  And I daresay monsters have really found their place in pop culture, between UglyDolls and Percy Jackson and the movie Monsters, so inspiration is not so hard to find if you just do a bit of searching.  Here's what we came up with...

...made these monster cupcakes that look like the lovechild of Cousin It and Cookie Monster--they were largely copied from a cupcake design in this book, but I really only looked at the photo in the bookstore and tried to do something like it at home...

...monster totes made from the tutorial Courtney made for Bloesem Kids, found here (the little monster books inside are from Dover Publications)...

...because it rained and our plans to be outside at the playground for the party were thwarted, alternate indoor activities that would keep the herd of wild 6-year-olds subdued were employed--like the creation of a monster gallery, made using these ready-framed drawing pads that work like sticky notes for you tto slap up on the wall at will (find them here)...

...a homemade monster pinata (made it myself--first one ever--will totally do this again since it was a fun and messy family project, was able to make one much bigger than those found commercially, and it broke open without adult assistance or use of power tools)--got some pointers from Martha here, but here are the 3 lessons I would share: 1) Use the combo of elmer's glue and water (instead of flour and water--which is what is commonly used) as your paper mache paste--we encountered splitting problems due to humidity and I think the glue would have cured this from what I read elsewhere, 2)Make sure you lay your newspaper strips in all directions on the balloon--we did not do this and I think it contributed to the splitting we had to repair later on, 3) and by all means, lay down a tarp when you make the pinata or do it outside because it is messy like you would not believe (but so fun for 6-year-olds).  And the goodies inside?  All from Oriental Trading Company (and yes, all corn-syrupy and likely made in China, but let me tell you finding super balls that look like eyeballs, Sweet-Tarts shaped like skeleton bones, and stacks of plastic vampire teeth in May is not easy, I tell you)...

And finally, the favorite activity of the afternoon--the creation of pots of monster slime.  The kiddos loved this--boys and girls alike.  How could they not love something this un-naturally colored and gloppy with a little rubbery monster sticking out of it?

And now, dear Chez Beeper Bebe readers, you too can create your very own pots of monster slime.  Because a good batch of monster slime is guaranteed to make any old day better.  Like puppies and rainbows and sacks of candy, I am pretty sure there are few things kids love more than this slime.  Inclement weather foil your plans to go to the beach?  Make some slime.  Drop the ice cream from your cone into the gutter?  Make some slime.  Grandma die?  Make some slime (but be sure to add a monster to it as you will need a little something extra for emotional distraction). Slime is, quite possibly, the antidote to almost anything that ails you and your crabby/crying/despondent child...and here is tutorial for you, complete with ready-made labels for you to print...

DOWNLOAD MONSTER SLIME TUTORIAL

And you are welcome.  Enjoy it--just keep it out of hair and the carpet and you are golden.