the monster bash....

Clara has fallen in love with sewing after the camp she was in this summer. She decided then that she wanted to have a sewing party for her birthday. However, we weren't sure where we would have it or what they would sew. This fall she started taking sewing classes with friends at the local Joann Fabric store. We saw that they did parties as well, so we asked. In the list of different parties they could do, the education coordinator mentioned Ugly Dolls. Clara jumped on that one... she loves Ugly Dolls!! We decided to push the party back a week after her birthday so it could be on Halloween and we would have a "Monster Bash"!!

Here is her invitation...
(made with the Monstrocity Bundle by Dani Mogstad @SweetShoppeDesigns.com)

When we were at Joann's one day for class we saw these bright colored bags and thought they would be perfect goodie bags (with a little modification of course) :-)

I printed out buttons from the Monstrocity kit on sticker paper. I intended to punch them out with my large circle punch but I couldn't find it... so we improvised by using my Mickey Mouse head punch and cutting off the ears. They were a little lumpy, but it was all okay.

Clara had fun drawing the different mouths on with a Sharpie....

Inside the bags....
... I filled bags with jelly beans and used the treat toppers which were also part of the Monstrocity Bundle. We also included sewing supplies like embroidery floss, buttons and a spool of ribbon.

Once the kids started to arrive, it was time to learn the basics of sewing on a machine...


Then they were paired up to start sewing...

Alex is very intense with his sewing....
Clara and her friend playing with their dolls (making them dance to the Halloween music mix we had going on my ipod)...

Alex stitching his Ugly Doll closed....
Some of the girls stuffing their dolls....




And now decorating....


Alex and "Drop Dead Fred"...

While some decorated their dolls...

Those that were done with their dolls, moved on to decorating cookies and cupcakes...


I love how creative the kids got with their dolls....
Then it was time for "Happy Birthday" and time for Clara to make a wish...

And open presents...
and read her friends' beautiful handmade cards...

The sock monkey hat!!!!

Reading more cards...

The kids with their Ugly Dolls.....
Clara had a great time and I think her friends did too!! After the party, a few of her friends went back to our house so we could go trick-or-treating together..... those photos coming soon!!!