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Tag Archives: marshmallow craft
most marshmallows + marshmallow craft!
Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins (2019).
This picture book exudes creativity, both in the story and the illustrations that help tell it—photos of marshmallow-people in various scenarios!
It’s the simple story of “most marshmallows.” The ones who watch TV and celebrate birthdays and go to school and all that stuff most people do too. But it’s also a story of those marshmallows who aren’t like most. Because some marshmallows secretly know that all marshmallows can dream big. And this book tells them to do just that.
(click image(s) to enlarge)
The art is where you really spend your time with this one. The adorable marshmallows. And the vignettes, mostly cut paper, but all sorts of other items that are fun to identify and wonder at.
Most Marshmallows is creative, quirky, unusual, and encouraging. It demonstrates with both text and visuals that most things are done a certain way—books even!—but that some marshmallows dream up ways to do things differently. Daringly. Imaginatively.
And you, little marshmallow reader, you can too.
Big thanks to Chronicle Books for the review copy and images!
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Rowboat Watkins’s books often shout craft (as in the one I made for Rude Cakes). In this case, marshmallows? Yes, please.
Rowboat was kind enough to share some tips about how he created those marshmallows. Mainly: let the marshmallows get stale first! That way, they harden and become an easier surface to draw on. He also let us in on the pen he used: a brown Micron 01. I opted for a thin, brown marker instead as I found it a little easier to maneuver and plus, my marshmallows were only 0ne-week stale. Little hands might find a marker easier as well.
What you’ll need:
Stale marshmallows (I used jumbo)
A marker or pen (I used these from IKEA in brown, but I’m sure there are many that would work)
That’s it! But you can also use construction paper, tape, and markers to whip up party hats if you would like.
I left my marshmallows out on a plate for about a week. Then, I was ready. I simply drew on each one, trying to get them at least somewhat like the book version. Then, I cut some circles from construction paper and rolled and taped them into party hats.
You may also like this Beekle marshmallow craft!
one word from sophia + marshmallow giraffes from the decorated cookie
One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck and Yasmeen Ismail (2015).
This book has a wonderful, sophisticated group of family members. It has loose, lively illustrations (aren’t they lovely?). And it has Sophia, who wants a giraffe for a pet.
Sophia’s one true desire is a pet giraffe. Her four problems are “Mother, who was a judge, Father who was a businessman, Uncle Conrad, who was a politician, and Granda-mamá who was very strict.”
Each family member’s occupation comes into play with how Sophia tries to convince them about the giraffe. Each gives her rhetorical advice that boils down to: use fewer words.
It’s so much fun to see Sophia make charts and graphs and poll her stuffed animals. Sophia is determined. Sophia is smart. Sophia is creative. We as readers have a feeling Sophia will come out all right in the end.
I rarely give away the exact ending of a book, but I just have to here. So, spoiler alert, Sophia gets a giraffe. I love that! In a book so rooted in exactness and elocution and making realistic arguments, Sophia ends up with a yellow, brown-spotted, very tall pet of her own. Of course she does. She said that one word from the title.
This is the perfect book if you want challenging vocabulary. If you want to craft compelling arguments. If you want [insert true desire here].
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Meaghan over at The Decorated Cookie is a whiz at making delightful food crafts. So when she agreed to make a real life marshmallow giraffe just like Sophia’s, I was thrilled!
So cute, right?!
You can see the whole tutorial over at The Decorated Cookie. And while you’re there, check out some of her recent creations like mini donut candy pops, birthday cake on a stick, and marshmallow cat faces! And she’s got a book too: Sugarlicious!
Big thanks to Meaghan for collaborating with me over our shared love of picture books and adorable, kid-friendly crafts! Also, marshmallows!
the adventures of beekle + marshmallow beekle craft
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat.
What a magical book. A heartwarming book. A brave, enduring character, that Beekle.
click image(s) to enlarge
An imaginary friend looking for the friend who’s going to imagine him. Traveling all the way from his imaginary friend world to the real world. The real, gray world. (Except it’s colorful and bright where kids play! The use of color in this book is masterful and such a joy to behold.)
A celebration of imagination and play and the inventiveness of a child’s mind. And a celebration of friendship, even the kind nobody else can see, but is the real deal.
I’m confident you’ll see when you read it (or read it again). Yes, you will.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Beekle has elements of two of my favorite picture book creators, Shaun Tan and Oliver Jeffers. It’s like Lost and Found meets The Red Tree meets Santat’s particular magic. Agree? Either way, Beekle is an original and full of almost unimaginable wonder.
Thanks to Dan Santat for images!
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Could this be the easiest craft ever? Okay, maybe not, but it’s pretty simple. Not only that, but you get to keep an adorable marshmallow Beekle around as an unimaginary friend. For real.
When I see Beekle, my mind immediately goes to marshmallows! Puffy, lovable marshmallows. (Also, while totally artificial, they smell really really good!)
Just looking at this little guy makes me smile. And remember the magic of the book. (Isn’t he sweeeeeet?)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut two toothpicks in half (remove and discard the sharp side so no one gets poked).
2. Slide a flat side of toothpick into small marshmallow; do it again with the other one.
(Again, be careful not to get poked.)
3. Insert toothpick/feet into jumbo marshmallow.
4. Draw Beekle’s face with a Sharpie.
5. Fold/cut gold paper into a crown by cutting it into a strip and cutting out triangle shapes along one edge; then fasten it together with tape.
6. Put the crown on Beekle’s head and tada!
The great thing about marshmallows is, well, they’re probably not going to rot! I’ve got my Beekle on a bookcase in my apartment and every so often I just want to give adorable Mr. Puffy a little squeeze!
*warning: this craft is not edible despite being made from marshmallows*
