Em's Marble Maze

 

I made these super easy marble maze fidget toys for the kids. Bubby loves mazes and so it was very fitting. A bigger one might be good once he's older too. I sewed 2 pieces of felt together and then made the maze pattern with marble sewn inside. The pattern really could be anything (as long as it's a possible maze). I obviously kept with the size of the marble, although one part is quite tight (The felt might stretch..). I think it would be a good fidget for other ages and even a good toy for arthritic people.

Em's Where's the Green Sheep craft

 

 This was an easy recycled toilet paper roll craft. I used this tutorial to create the sheep. Cut the shape out, then painted them and added the faces and details once dry. We made the green one asleep :) You could make a lot of different animals this way. Dogs, horses, foxes, tigers, rabbits, reindeer, dinosaurs even giraffes.

Adventure walk tree frame

This was a great craft activity. We went for an adventure walk, each with a bucket to collect all sorts of leaves. Then made a cardbord frame with 'tree trunk/s' and used contact to make a sticky surface. We then covered the surface with different leaves we collected to create our trees. Bubby still brings it up as a suggestion to do again.

Em's Cardboard Crocodile Jigsaw

This was a quick cardboard jigsaw puzzle to make. I got inspo from here. And used a folded over piece of cardboard from a sheet set that happened to be exactly the right size and had the white on one side, which I like. Bubby helped me paint it once I had cut it out. It's great with the numbers on it and may be even better if we had put it in rainbow order.. 

 

Another idea

Em's mending

 Since having kids I have learnt that kids definitely grow very quickly and need new clothes often, but also, that it is lucky they grow out of their clothes so fast as they wear them out so quickly! The toes of shoes are often holey while the rest of the shoe still looks new! Or the Velcro doesn't last. I have been known to replaced the Velcro on some. I just had to buy a pair of light up digger sandals from an op shop that needed the Velco replacing!!

As well as shoes wearing out, pants, or the knees of pants, wear out so quickly! All the climbing and playing! Bubby had a whole pile of pants with holes in the knees and a whole lot more that are wearing thin. (many were second hand clothes to begin with) So I have tried patching in all sorts of ways, which has been fun! I still have more ideas I want to try so am actually looking forward to the next pair getting a hole in them! His little brother will have to wear patched clothes all the time, hopefully I have actually made them more interesting and not peasanty!

These jeans were the first I patched. They were used as his outdoor crawling pants, so understandably wore out on the knee. I used some superhero fabric I had from some old boxer shorts and patched it behind as if Superman was bursting through. Idea from here.

I tried embroidery to cover up a hole starting out on some jeans. The other knee is already wearing so I also put a matching star on that side. I just hope it doesn't just weaken where I've stitched, but if so I get to try another technique!

I then tried a darning style woven patch. I could've used a more colourful, fun thread being kids clothes but I love how this green thread worked on these pants. It was very confusing to weave the right way, so took a lot of concentration. The other knee on these pants are also wearing thin so it will only be time before I need to patch the other side. Inspo from here. A great post on visible mending.

I then tried a Japanese Sashiko style mend, something I've always wanted to do. I had to distress it a little more so the actual hole was big enough to see more of the dark blue fabric behind. I love them!

I then tried an applique patch, which was super simple and effective! Tracing a star shape (some interesting or fun material would be cool next time- I was trying to match his PJ top that goes with these pants- yellow and grey), double sided interfacing ironed on and then zig-zag machine stitched all around the shape. Idea from here. I also like this reversed style patch.

 These jeans were wearing thin at the knees with the a hole in the left knee (always seems to be the left knee!). I cut up some old daggy PJ's with dragons on them with the same easy method as the applique star. I couldn't fit the pants over the sewing machine arm, so turned and sewed it awkwardly but it worked out. They were quite daggy jeans anyway so was just a bit of fun.

The last mend in the pile was a jumper I had gotten with a second hand bundle of clothes. It was in good condition except it had been drawn on by a kid. The drawing looked kinda like a rocket so I decided to cover the texta marks with appliqued fabric of a rocket. Some texta mark on the back was turned into a shooting star. It turned out so great!! It's a little off centre and I was contemplating putting a star on the front to centre the image but it still looks awesome!

Before with texta marks

After-front

After- back

Close-up

Em's Egg Carton Dragon

We made this egg carton dragon, which was a great activity for a 3 year old. We mixed the colours to make green, he could paint the pieces I cut out and then he could thread them onto the rope after I put a hole in them. We also used pencils to make it a puppet.

We also made some fire breathing dragons from toilet rolls. They were really effective and you could blow through them to make it look like fire!

 

 

Via: Egg carton dragon and fire breathing dragon

Em's Construction Cake

 I've been looking forward to trying a digger/construction cake for a while! Myles' 3rd birthday was a perfect time for it as he loves all things digger/construction! Not sure if he was more excited to eat it or play with it!! I was nervous about cutting into the cake and what chocolates to use but it was very easy in the end and effective. I made two round cakes on top of each other, then roughly ripped some of the top off and placed it on the board. I then iced it all over (it didn't matter if cake crumbs got mixed in the icing as it looked like dirt anyway). I then used crushed choc ripple biscuits to cover the 'hole' with 'dirt', added broken honeycomb and Malteasers and placed the mini construction vehicles on. The only problem was the honeycomb shrunk due to moisture being in the fridge over night, so needs to be added last minute to keep it's colour and shape.

After cutting the back of the cake off we let him play in the crumbled down bit, which he of course loved!

Em's Cardboard Car Wash

We went through the car wash to entertain Bubby the other day, which was a hit! So we then made a cardboard car wash with a tissue box, toilet rolls, string and crepe paper. He loved it "washing" all his cars, animals and then blocks or whatever fit through.. Using a more sturdy box would've made it last longer as it is already getting squished and ripped but he still loves it.

Em's Sock Monkey

I have always wanted to try making a sock monkey using this pattern. They are so neat and tidy. So when a pair of patterned socks were being thrown out I decided to try it. It was relatively easy, just need to be patient to get it neat. I cut the top of the socks off by accident somehow so his legs and arms, I think, are too short! :( I really want to make another one now I have practiced with this one. I have so many cool old long stripes socks I can use!

So many cool ideas!

Bubby loves playing with the button eyes. I made sure I sewed them on well!

Kids Stuffed Toys

There are so many cute DIY ideas for making kids stuffed toys! I love the sock monkeys/animals and elephants always seem to be my favourite but rabbits, giraffes and Octopuses can all be so cute! I made the tag dinosaur and a sock monkey. If only I had enough time now to make more of these for Bubby. Too bad he takes up my time now! 

Sock Animals:

Sock monkey- Love these!! So cute! I made mine below based on these

Em's own first sock monkey- want to make another one! (instructions via)

Sock elephants- Gotta do this next!!

Sock Kangaroo- with pattern LOVE these!

Glove squirrel

Baby Tag Toys: 

Lion, Sun, Bear

My own tag dinosaur- easy and cute (pattern via)

Felt Dinosaur- great bold colours

Giraffe- with pattern

Hedgehog

Elephants:

Elephant- with pattern and picture instructions- This is on my next to do list!

Or these Sock elephants

Elephants- Love the patterned fabrics!

Elephants

Elephant

Felt baby elephants

Contrasting fabrics and stitching

Elephant

Unavailable on Etsy but may be able to replicate using an old jean pocket!

Octopuses:

Octopus

Octopus- gotta make this once Bubby is older!

Braided yarn Octopus- not a stuffed toy but still cute and simple

Braided Yarn Dolls- Similar simple yarn toys!

 

Other Toys:

Hedgehog doorstop- or could be a lighter stuffed toy!

This is mine I made as a door stop

Koi free pattern download- I've always wanted to make this!

Stuffed balloon animals- similar technique to my knot pillow

Cute owl bookends or Stuffed toys

Felt Chooks

Patchwork Scottie Dog

Toy Dachshunds-
love the folksy patterns on these fabrics designed by Alice Apple

Animal Patterns