Free pattern – car seat pillow

Nap time. Yesterday I decided to try to get caught up with the dishes during nap. She woke up before I finished. Today I decided to blog instead...

Car seat pillow
Every one of our drivers in China had these on their seats. I seem to remember them being plentiful in Japan when I was there a couple of decades ago. We were lucky enough to get one in the passenger seats in one of our vans. It was so comfortable that I ran out and bought some for my car.
Here's how to make a simple one. You can appliqué or embellish as desired.

Materials:
½ yard fleece
Batting/stuffing of your choice
Contrast fabric for appliqué (optional)
11 ½” length of 1 1/8”width elastic

Directions:
Print out pattern. Cut fabric on fold or print two and tape together.
Cut out fabric. If cutting on fold be sure to just fold over amount needed. Don’t cut in middle.
Appliqué on front side (optional)
Fold strip in half lengthwise face together.
Stitch lengthwise edge ¼ inch seam allowance.
Turn right side out.
Thread elastic through and secure at ends.
Place body face side together with strip centered between.
Stitch around body leaving 3” opening at bottom flat edge.
Be sure to back stitch at opening.
Turn right side out.
Stuff until plump and firm
Hand stitch opening closed.

free pattern recycled sweater pig

Several people have asked for the pattern for my recycled sweater animals.
Here is the recycled sweater pig. Quarter inch seam allowance, print full page 8 1/2"x11" paper.
Directions can be found here

I will up load the elephant soon. I didn’t get a chance to sew it up. I don’t think I will get a chance soon. My daughter is too stressed out to sleep. Means I don’t get to sleep either. We are celebrating four hours of continuous sleep last night! Longest stretch since we’ve gotten to the US.

China trip was amazing, informative and magical.

I am looking for the owl’s pattern. Not sure if I made one or just freehanded it. Feels like a lifetime ago. The paper pattern wasn’t with the pig like it should be. I am so disorganized right now, I’m not sure where to even look for it.

2 t-shirt dress

I really want a simple t-dress for easy traveling. We don’t have any funds to purchase such thing. Here is a great way to up-cycle two t-shirts into a cute dress. I used alternative apparel’s organic T’s. They are a little thin but I think a slip will fix that.

Materials:
1 medium t-shirt (ladies)
1 large t-shirt (unisex)
½” width elastic – 2 - 6” lengths
Fabric paint
Bubble wand

Directions:
Cut Medium -T-shirt at 16 ½” from highest point of shoulder.
Fold 1 ½” under at hem
Place newspaper between front and back
Paint – press bubble wand in small amount of paint
Press painted bubble wand at hem of T-shirt
Repeat as desired
Let dry
Iron as hot as material will allow setting paint
While paint dries, cut body out of Large T-shirt – top width to match width of medium t-shirt hem – or can put darts 3-4” from CF and CB to match width but be sure no larger than 1” darts
Cut pockets out of Large T-shirt sleeves using hem as top of pocket.
Run elastic through hem of sleeve (top of pocket bag)
Secure ends
Stitch 1” inverted pleat at center bottom of pocket bag
Turn edges under and topstitch or zigzag onto body at desired (I put mine too low I recommend about 4 inches from top of body – mine are almost 6”)
Sew side seams of Large T-shirt
With 1 ½” hem turned up inside Medium T-shirt, slide Large T-shirt inside to match
Pin to secure
Zigzag through all 3 layers

Well that’s it for me. I am off to China to get my daughter! I will try to resume in 3 weeks, but who knows…

Egg carton dragon

I set down with my son to make an adorable egg carton caterpillar that I found a great tutorial for. He was not happy. “Why would I want to make a caterpillar?” So I asked what he wanted to make. “T-Rex”
I said, “How about a Dragon?”
So I played around with some random materials I found in the house and here is what I came up with. My son thinks it looks more like a lion. I think if you painted it red it would look like a Chinese New Year dragon.
I also included pictures of what my son came up with.
I had to stop making mine, because he needed someone to “fight” his dragon.
Neither really survived the battle.

Materials:
1 or 2 empty egg cartons
1 or 2 pipe cleaners
Scissors
5 or 6 Cotton balls
2 googly eyes
Paint

Directions:
Cut empty egg carton down the lengthwise center to get 2 bodies.
Legs come from another egg carton high part between the eggs. Set with cups nestled inside.
Head is held on with pipe cleaner twisted through holes punched in carton. Tongue is end of that pipe cleaner sticking out.
Head is cup with corner cut off and reattached with 1” strips of pipe cleaner through hole and bent to secure. Secured part of another cup to back of head and glued ears on that.
Whiskers is pipe cleaner pressed through holes.
Hair is cotton balls carefully unrolled stripped and glued on.

Pencil caddy

Quick and easy and useful craft

Materials:
Small paper shopping bag with handles
12 empty toilet paper rolls
Stapler and staples
Stickers/ pens/ crayons etc. to decorate

Directions:
Cut folded paper bag 4 ½ inches from top.
Cut 4 ½” inches from bottom.
Should have cut out about 1 ½” from middle
Decorate top half as desired
Open both halves
Place handled half over other half
Keep cardboard stabilizer on bottom
Staple top to bottom
Place toilet paper rolls inside, hole side up/down
Place pencils inside
Place on table, carry around with you or hand on wall
Can tape rolls to inside if need more stability

African stone game (Mancala)

I believe this game was originally played with small stones and shallow holes dug into sun baked earth. But here is a recycled indoor version. Great craft to reuse your old egg cartons

Materials:
Empty egg carton
Scissors
Pipe cleaner or yarn w/needle
Awl
48 large dried beans
Tape
Stapler/staples

Directions:
Cut lid and flap from egg carton
Cut 2-3 inch off each end of lid
Fold in sides of cut off piece of lid
Staple down with ends of staples on outside
Tape over sharp ends of staple
Repeat with other cut off section of lid.
Poke 2 holes in center of back edge of each altered lid
Poke 2 holes in short end of egg carton
Thread 1” piece of pipe cleaner or 5” section of yarn through holes
Tie or fold to secure

To play (2 players):
Place 4 beans in each egg cup
Players face each other with game board between the two players. Your collection cup (the larger compartment on the end) is to your right and opponent to the left.
Youngest player goes first.
Player removes beans from one egg cup on their side of the board. Place 1 bean in each egg cup starting at the right of that cup, including your collection cup. Continue around the board. Do not place one in your opponent’s collection cup.
If your last bean lands on your side, you collect all the beans in the cup opposite (on opponent’s side) of the last bean.
If the last bean goes in your collection cup take another turn.
Next player selects an egg cup on his side and continues depositing beans going counter clockwise.
Game is over when one side of board is empty.
Count tokens in collection cup. Object is to collect the most tokens.

Great at building counting and strategic skills

Puff eyes

I think in all the hub-bub of getting ready for the next child, that I have been neglecting my son. The other day he became adamant that he needed the “foam things that we glue”. When pressed for more description he said, “You know the ones that I used to use way back when I was three”.
In utter frustration, I dug up an old bag of foam packing peanuts and handed them to him. “No” he screamed, “the round white foam things.” So I pull out every craft item I have in the house, handing him anything white, round and foam…

Turns out he meant cotton balls.

Once we found that out, he sat right down and made this adorable little thing. I don’t know what it is. I think he was frustrated with me, because he said it was a gift for Dad and wouldn’t tell me what it was.

So this is a self guided craft since I haven’t been crafting much with him lately. I think he misses it. I will have to try to do more with him.

Materials:
Cotton balls
Glitter glue
Piece of paper
Foam sticker

Directions:
Glue stack of cotton balls together
Glue onto paper
Glue sticker on top
Dollop two “eyes” on sticker

I do love what he came up with. I think the eyes are so expressive and creative. Reminds me of the little worm creature in “spirited away”