This summer I have tried to come up with lots of fun and entertaining things to do with the kids while staying inside. I love to create, exercise, and find fun inexpensive things to do. Here is an idea we came up with using bath sponges.

Here is what you will need for the creatures:

• pipe cleaners (chenille stems)
• net sponges (we call them loofahs) from the dollar store
• googley eyes
• glue gun
• crimping pliers used to make jewerly are helpful but not required- (any tool to flatten wire will work.)

Thread the pipe cleaner through the netting in a few places so that it does not rip through. Thread the second color close to the first one but in a different spot. Twist the two colors together to make the desired legs, arms, or antennae. Older children could twist the pipe cleaners together and even thread them through the sponge themselves.

Using a hot glue gun, place a dab of glue on the sponge where you want the eyes to be. Carefully place the eye on the glue spot and use a popsicle stick or other tool to push eye into the glue. This will help you so you don’t burn yourself. When you place hot glue on a netted-sponge, it will spread out when doing this because the surface is not completely solid, so be careful.

Now add any parts to your sponge you desire. We added a little mouth with a small piece of pipe cleaner. If you have small loofahs, you can cut the top strings apart and tie several together to make one big creature. HELPFUL TIP: After placing the pipe cleaners on, bend the ends down just a bit and press together so the wire does not stick out. I found that using some crimping pliers worked really well to get the wires flat so that they don’t poke the kids when they are playing with them.

Obviously, this isn’t meant to be used in the bathtub or shower. It could be used as a puppet, or a quiet toy for those times when you need one. My son (who is 3) just enjoys playing with them and using his imagination. Have fun creating and pretending!