DIY // Flat Stanley
Ever heard of flat Stanley?
The 1964 children’s story behind flat Stanley is great.
Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother Arthur are given a big bulletin board by their father to display pictures and posters. He hangs it on the wall over Stanley’s bed. During the night the board falls from the wall, flattening Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his altered state, and soon he is entering locked rooms by sliding under the door, and playing with his younger brother by being used as a kite. One special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope. Stanley even helps catch some art museum thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. Eventually Arthur changes Stanley back to his proper shape with a bicycle pump.
Now there is a flat Stanley Project where kids mail flat Stanley’s around the world to kids from other countries.
One of the many advantages of sending “flat” visitors is that they can visit friends by traveling in an envelope. Students’ written work goes to other places by conventional mail and e-mail. While it might seem similar to a pen pal activity, it is much more. In a standard pen pal exchange, students rarely know how to begin or what to write about; with a Flat Stanley or another “flat” character (such as a female version, Flat Stella), it is as if the sender and the recipient have a mutual friend, and writing becomes easier and more creative for children.
The idea is great! Basically you make yourself (or a friend) flat
by printing out a picture and putting your picture on a paint stick.
When I lived in SF and was far away from my besties in GA my co-blogger Lauren and I made both of them into flat Stanley’s. So they could come to my Birthday party obvi!!
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| Flat Chelsea drinks |
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| flat Lindsay and Chelsea getting into the limo |
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| flat Chelsea and Lindsay in the limo celebrating my birthday |
Now, why not take this idea a little bit further and make yourself into a flat Stanley. I think they make a great gift or even just a funny way to hide yourself into your loved ones suitcase if they are going out of town for work. You can even give one to your parents so they stop calling so much.
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| Flat Ady checking emails |
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| flat Ady hanging out at work |
Take it one step further and use for a surprise or Birthday Party! Crazy how much your group will get hit on this way. Way better than crowns and sashes and such a conversation starter.
Can you find the real Flat Julie?
