What’s Inside Your Kit 📦

Let’s check you’ve got everything:

• 6 colours of oven-bake clay

• 4 pencils

• 8 self-adhesive googly eyes (6mm)

• Thread

• Fine permanent marker

You’ll also need from home:

• 1 toothpick (or cocktail stick)

• Scissors

• An adult + an oven for baking

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Choose Your Colours 🎨

Pick:

• 2 colours to MIX (for marbled monsters)
• 2 colours for BASE monsters (solid colour)
• 2 colours for DETAILS (spots, horns, hair, hands)

Step 2: Warm the Clay

Clay is much easier to shape when it’s warm.

• Open each colour (ask an adult if it’s a bit fiddly)

• Squeeze and roll it in your hands for 30–60 seconds

• It should feel soft and flexible before you start shaping

Step 3: Make Your 4 Monster Heads

You’ll now make four pencil toppers.

A) Marbled Monsters (Make 2)

1. Roll your two “mix” colours into long sausages

2. Twist them together like a rope

3. Fold the rope in half and twist again

4. Roll and twist a few more times until you get a lovely marbled effect

5. Shape into a ball — or make it square for a blocky monster

B) Solid Colour Monsters (Make 2)

1. Roll your “base” clay into a ball

2. Choose your shape:

   • Round

   • Square

   • Long rectangle

✨ Make sure at least one side is fairly flat — this is where the eyes will go later.

Step 4: Make the Pencil Hole ✏️

For each monster:

1. Press the back of the pencil gently into the bottom

2. Don’t push all the way through — just make a snug hole

3. Twist slightly, then remove the pencil

4. Re-shape your monster if needed (they don’t need to be perfect!)

Step 5: Add Monster Details 👁️

Time to get creative!

Spotty Monster

• Roll tiny clay balls

• Press them gently onto the head

Horn Monster

• Roll small cones

• Press firmly to attach

• Try 2 horns, 3 horns… or one big one on top

Spaghetti Hair Monster

• Roll a very thin strand of clay

• Zig-zag it across the head

• Press gently to stick

• Repeat with 3–4 strands to fill the top

Wrapped Rope Monster

• Roll 2 thin strands (two detail colours)

• Twist them together

• Roll lightly to secure

• Starting at the bottom, wrap around the monster

• Leave tiny gaps so you can still see the base colour

• Add a small clay “hat” on top to hide where the rope ends

Step 6: Add Arm Holes (Optional)

If you’d like dangly hands:

1. Put the monster back onto a pencil (this keeps the main hole open)

2. Use a toothpick to poke a hole straight through the sides

3. Wiggle gently to widen the hole

You can do this for 1, 2 or 3 monsters — totally your choice!

Step 7: Make the Clay Hands

Make 6 hands (2 per monster with arms).

1. Pinch off a small piece of clay

2. Roll into a tiny ball or oval

3. Poke a hole through each one with the toothpick

Set aside ready for baking.

Step 8: Grown-Up Step – Bake & Cool 🔥

Stop here and ask an adult for help.

Oven Bake (Recommended)

• Place the clay on a foil sheet or ceramic tile.

• Pre-heat the oven to 130°C.

• Put the clay in the centre of the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

• Continue baking at 130°C for another 15–30 minutes, depending on thickness.

  • As a general guide, add 15 minutes for every ¼ inch of thickness.

• Do NOT exceed the recommended baking time.

• Baking must be completed by an adult.

• When finished, remove the clay and allow it to cool naturally.

Alternative Methods (for small pieces only):

Heat Gun or Hair Dryer

• Suitable for small 1–2 inch projects only.

• Blow warm air over the clay for 3–5 minutes, depending on size.

Boil Method

• For small pieces thinner than ⅓ inch.

• Place the clay on a plate, then into cold water.

• Heat the water. Once boiling, keep the clay in the boiled water for 10–20 minutes.

• Purified water is recommended to avoid residue on the clay.

⚠️ Important:

• Do NOT bake the thread.

• Do NOT bake any beads.

• Let everything cool completely before moving to the next step.

Step 9: Add Dangly Hands

Once cooled:

1. Cut thread about 10–12cm per arm

2. Thread it through the side holes

3. Thread one clay hand onto each end

4. Tie 3–4 tight knots at each end so they don’t slip off

5. Trim excess thread

Give them a gentle tug to make sure they’re secure.

Step 10: Add Googly Eyes 👀

1. Peel off the sticky backs (ask an adult if needed)

2. Choose your monster’s personality:

   • 1 eye = funny

   • 2 eyes = friendly

   • 3 eyes = extra monster!

3. Press firmly to stick

You have 8 eyes in total — not every monster needs two!

Step 11: Draw the Mouth

Use the permanent marker to add:

• Sharp triangle teeth

• Big smile

• Zig-zag mouth

• Frown

• Freckles, dots or eyebrows

This is where your monster really comes to life.

You’re Done! 🎉

Your four super awesome monster pencil toppers are ready to sit on your pencils and keep you company while you write and draw.

We absolutely love seeing what you create — ask a grown-up to share your finished monsters using #craftiositykids so we can see them!

Happy crafting, Little Makers 👾✏️✨