Category Archives: Kids

Felt Tooth Fairy Pillows

Posted in Kids, Sewing, Stuff to make by

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I was under deadline to make these little pillows. My niece and nephew are now six and their milk teeth are bursting out of their mouths like microwaved popcorn. I was working fast and late at night, and although I wasn’t drunk, I was certainly punch drunk. Which proves that felt is very forgiving–as is the Tooth Fairy.

If someone you know is losing their teeth (in the cute way, mind you), whip up this Tooth Fairy Pillow and pair with these terrific picture books: April and Esme, Tooth Fairies by Bob Graham or Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions Around the World by Selby Beeler and Brian Karas.

Felt Tooth Fairy Pillow

What you will need:

  • 3 pieces of felt (not the synthetic stuff!) in 3 colors
  • Scrap of ribbon
  • Cotton stuffing
  • Sewing machine (although you could sew by hand, using a blanket stitch)

1. Trim two 6.5 x 4.5″ pieces of felt in contrasting colors. One piece will be the front of the pillow, the other the back.

2. Trim one 3 x 3″ piece from the third color of felt. This will become the pocket.

3. Sew the ribbon to the pocket, making sure to wrap 1/4″ of ribbon over each side to hide the ends of the ribbon.

4. Place the pocket right side out on the front of the pillow. Align the bottom edge of the pocket with the bottom edge of the pillow, centering the pocket across the width of the pillow. Edge stitch the sides and the bottom edge of the pocket to the pillow. (Leave the top open for tiny teeth and cash!)

5. Place the pillow front and the pillow back wrong sides together and machine stitch with 1/4 ” seam around the edge of the pillow leaving about a two-inch gap.

6. Stuff plumply. Machine stich the gap closed.

 

VW Bus Pillow, Part 2

Posted in Fabric printing, Kids, Sewing, Stuff to make by

VW bus pillow complete! Since I only had a fat quarter of border fabric, I patch-worked the backing. Serendipity! I like the way it worked out. The pillow looks a little lonely on that window seat, though. Don’t you think it needs a friend? A VW bug pillow, perhaps?

DIY: VW Bus Pillow, Part 1

Posted in Fabric printing, Home Design, Kids, Sewing, Stuff to make by

After many pleasant minutes ogling fabric online for Zeke’s VW bus pillow, I ended up with a print I grabbed at whim at Gather Here (370 Broadway, Cambridge). The print is geometric & groovy, flower-like without actually being flowery. But I only found a wee scrap–a fat quarter! I don’t care. I’m forging on.

I considered using linen for the VW bus print, but fabric paint is tricky stuff, and I wasn’t sure how it would sit on linen’s bumpy texture. Instead, I went for Kona natural cotton and neon orange fabric paint.

Is it boastful to say that I found my VW bus stencil from a couple of years ago helpful? I printed it out and cut the freezer paper stencil following my own instructions (you are being kind and optimistic if you think I could have retained this information unaided). I will post the complete pattern for the pillow when I’m done (for future me!).

Easy and Fun Valentine to Make with Kids

Posted in Free Tutorials, Holiday, Kids, Paper by

Arrow through the heart? Make that, Number 2 pencil through the heart! Our valentine project this year is totally old school: super simple, low cost, and homemade from stuff we have around the house.

What you need:
Pencils
Washi tape or masking tape in different colors (we used Scotch masking tape from Michael’s)
Construction paper
Scissors
X-acto

Optional: Stamps and stamp pad

Step 1: Cut out hearts from construction paper (about 5 x 5″). Let the kids do this step. Lopsided? Looking more like a liver than a heart? Remember: it’s part of the charm!

Step 2: This is a step for a grown-up. Cut two 1.5″ slits with your X-acto, one in the upper left quadrant of the heart shape, one in the bottom right quadrant.

Step 3: Decorate with stamps, stickers. Go crazy, kids! Bedazzle!

Step 4: Wrap pencils in strips of washi tape. Don’t worry, your valentines will be able to sharpen their washi-covered pencils.

Step 5: Insert pencil through your valentine heart. Now repeat 24 times–fewer, if you’re lucky enough to have lower class sizes at your school. . .