Oh, Brother!

Here’s a very special nightlight to put in your bedroom and turn on when it’s time to go to sleep. Put it on a nightstand so you can switch it on and off without leaving your bed.

Before you begin making your bedtime buddy, think about what you want it to be: An angel? A ladybug? A goofy alien? Do you have an idea? Let’s get started.

Here’s the stuff you’ll need:

• Standard-size brown or plain-colored lunch bag
• Craft foam sheet or poster board
• Craft supplies to create your character face, such as yarn, pipe cleaners, charms, ribbon, glitter, beads, etc.
• Scissors
• Household glue
• Hole punch (optional)
• An inexpensive standard-size, lightweight plastic flashlight
• Rubber bands

Here’s the fun:

1. Cut out craft foam sheets or poster board in eyes, nose and mouth shapes. Cut out holes in the middle of the eye and mouth pieces to eventually allow light to shine through. Glue these features to the front of the bag. When dry, an adult may use a small, sharp scissors to cut out the center of the eyes and mouth on the bag.

2. Add details for personality. Glue on rickrack eyebrows; attach lightweight junk-jewelry earrings or pipe cleaner antennae, depending on who you are creating. Add some glitter for cheeks, or outline lips with shiny beads. And don’t forget the hair! Add braided yarn and fashion a major ‘do. It’s also fun to use a hole punch to make additional features or patterns on the bag that will be revealed when the flashlight is turned on.

3. When complete, carefully slip the bag over the top of the flashlight and secure it with a rubber band, just above the switch. Your buddy will be on and off bedtime duty when you say so!

EXTRA IDEA: Light and decorate the walkway to your porch with several spooky characters for a “Monster Patrol” on Halloween night. Or, if you are having a party, set them on a windowsill to peer at your costumed guests.

CRAFT TALK
Have you ever thought about how great it is that we have both light and darkness? If it was light all the time, we couldn’t sleep. And if it was dark all the time, we couldn’t see colors and lots of beautiful things. What do you like most about the day and about the night?