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 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 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 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

Em's Calm Down Bottle

I've wanted to make calm down bottles like this for a while. I made an I-spy one, with and a glass Voss bottle, rice and random small trinkets, but sadly didn't take any pictures before I gifted it. For this bottle I used a plastic custard bottle and filled it mainly with water plus recycled icepack gel (you can also use clear glue, glitter glue or hair gel). Then added glitter and sequins. I adjusted it with more water to make the glitter faster or more gel to make it slower. It takes a while for it to completely settle again and is very mesmerising to watch or shake up. When it starts out it looks similar to a lava lamp.

There's other things I want to try using the icepack gel. I tried a sensory bag using a zip-lock bag, buttons and duct taped it all the way round but it still leaked and Bubby just scrunched it up. I thought it might be good taped to a window but the gel just collected at the bottom. Taping it to the highchair tray also didn't last before Bubby pulled it off. Still want to try again.

 Bags like these

Em's recycled Baby Toys

DIY rattles with plastic containers

Now I'm a Mother, a lot of my craft ideas are baby related! I'm not going to spend big on toys and have been using plenty of recycled materials and containers for Bubby to play with, which he loves! Household items are also a hit! At the moment he loves to shake and bang anything and the louder the better! So I made some rattles with varies objects inside. Also trying to find different shaped clear plastic bottles was good.

Bubblewrap didn't entertain for long- bigger bubbles might be better

Kitchen utensils discovery basket. This is good to bring out when he's getting bored with other toys as a toy rotation.

This pomegranate juice bottle is such a great shape! Filled with pasta it is a good LOUD rattle. The shape of the bottle lets it spin interestingly too!  

This was a simple toy that he actually loves. A tissue box filled with silky scarves he can pull out one by one. We then also play peek-a-boo. I think he likes the sensory feel of the scarves too.

This is probably my favourite. A small milk bottle that is hexagonal so it doesn't roll away and is easily for him to hold. I filled it with shiny jewels but it wasn't washed enough beforehand so started to smell. I then put water and detergent in to wash it all and it looked fun so left it! The more it is shaken the more sudsy it is :)

I also love this one! A plastic water bottle with ribbons threaded through a hole in the lid with beads tied on the end inside, then all tied together under the lid so they can't be pulled through and the beads therefore stay dangly to create a rattle. I also added a few more loose beads. This is another loud one. via

A drinking choc container I poked holes in and threaded pieces of ribbon through two sides to create a pull toy. I could've made the ribbon longer. He doesn't quite get the pulling yet but loves shaking it around, so I added a piece of Duplo to also make it rattle.

Rain stick! I used a hard cardboard tube, nails and rice. I nailed the nails through the tube at different angles and cut any sharp bits off. After a test run I added more nails as the 'rain' didn't't last long. This make sit quite heavy but sounds great! I then wrapped the whole thing in duct tape. It would be cool to use different coloured tape or stickers to make it more exciting. via

Another toy he's still a bit young for, a posting box. Formula tin with cut up cardboard shapes. I coloured in each shape with Texta but he just mouths it and gets the ink all over him so we don't play with this one much yet. They make a good rattle until he can use it as intended.

The coloured-in square.