Infant R2-D2 Costume Tutorial

For Halloween this year the big kids both decided to dress up as Star Wars characters, so I needed to find an infant Star Wars costume. At first I thought the baby could be Yoda, but my middle boy decided that is what he wanted to be, so baby became R2D2.  After looking in the stores and online I decided to make it for the little guy (3 months old).  It was pretty easy, however, I waited until the last minute so I had to glue it on instead of sewing it (which was difficult for this sewer).  Hope this helps some of you, because I was not able to find anything like this.

Supplies:
2T long sleeve t-shirt
blue felt or  fleece
scrap of white felt or fleece
scrap of red felt or fleece
grey hat or old t-shirt to make one
glue (if you are going to glue rather than sew)

To make the hat:

I used an old stretchy t-shirt and a hat I had as a pattern.  First lay the hat for the pattern on the bottom seam of the shirt(note: have the shirt right sides together so you can just sew right after you cut).  Cut about one inch around the hat and then sew.

Then I cut out the blue felt pieces and glued them on. I used a picture of R2D2 from google as a "pattern." It was pretty easy, becaseu all of the pieces were rectangels or squares.  I would have rather have sewn them on, but I was under a time crunch.  I did not even have fabric glue, I used tacky glue.  Note: if you glue you might want to make the hat a little larger because it does not strech as much with glue. 

To make the shirt/body of the costume:

My baby was 3 months  and I used a 2T long-sleeve white shirt.  Just like the hat I cut and glued the felt pieces on the shirt, using the internet picture as a guide.  For the black parts I used black puffy paint.  Again it was pretty easy, beacuse most of the pieces were retangles.  The top parts I cut  long strips and then cut into each end on a diagonal to give it the R2D2 shape.

Hope you enjoy!  Sorry for the crazy Halloween Tablecloth.

Bean Bag Tutorial with Activity Cards

So the summer was winding down, and the mommy and me class that I teach was almost over.  I wanted to leave them with a gift, but something they could use.  So I thought a set of beanbags and activity cards wrapped in a scarf would be great.  There are many different tutorials and patterns for bean bags, however, this is what I did to make mine.
Supplies:
Fabric Squares (mine were 5 x 5 much bigger would be difficult  for small hands)
Filler: I like using flax seed, it is cheap and feels “neat” and then the bean bag can be used as a boo boo bag.  Something else I like to use is poly pellets, which, can be a little difficult to find, but the beanbags can be washed.  Rice and beans can be used as well.
Thread
Sewing supplies
For some of my beanbags I put the child's picture, using pintable fabric, on one side.
Sewing instructions:
1. Cut fabric into 5  x 5 inch squares.
2.  If putting a picture on the beanbag follow this step if not go to set 3.   Import picture(s) into a word document and resize (mine were around 3 x 3 inches.  Print onto printable fabric and follow the manufacture instruction.  Cut out leaving 1/4-1/2 inch boarder around each picture and press under (so there are no “raw” edges).  Pin onto one 5 x 5 square and topstitch.
3. Pin 2 squares right sides together leaving a small opening to turn.  Sew and turn out.

 
4.  Press all seams.
5. Topstitch starting at the end of the opening and go all around the square stopping before the opening (basically topstitch around the perimeter leaving the opening open)

6.  Stuff with filler of choice.

7. Pin opening closed and stitch closed.


8.  Enjoy playing with you new beanbags.
Notes:
One thing I would like to do is make a set of different shapes (square, triangle, rectangle, circle) which helps reinforce shapes.
Great birthday party favors/gifts

Here is one set of Beanbag activity cards, I will post more later.  They can be printed from your computer or have them printed from a photo website (I used Costco and target because I did not want to use up my ink).  Once printed you can punch a hole and attach them with ribbon, 3-ring binder clip, or small chain.  I wrapped mine in a scarf, which can also be used for playtime (activity card for that is included).









  

Superhero Wristband Tutorial

Being a mom of 2 young boys means that I have learned a lot about superheroes. For example there is not just Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. Oh no, there is also The Flash, Green Lantern, The Atom, Wonder Woman (ok I remember that one), Green Arrow, Robin, and Aquaman. And these are just some of the heroes; I have not even named any villains. Flying around the house pretending to fight crime and the evil villains of the world. So I thought I would help them make the world safer by making some superhero costumes.
I began with reversible Batman/Superman cape and then I thought they needed some more equipment. So a wristband (that can make calls to Batman and can shot bat rays) and a tool belt for all the crime fighting "supplies." So I thought I would tell you all how to make one for your superhero. I am calling it a mini tutorial, because I do not have any pictures, but it is pretty straightforward. Next up masks and superhero tool belt.
Supplies:
Felt (I like using a wool felt blend, but any kind will do)
Felt scrap (for emblem)
Velcro
thread
Stabilizer (optional)
1. I cut the felt into 2 long skinny rectangles about 7.5 X 2 inches each.

2. Sew together (you do not need to sew right sides and turn, because felt does not fray).

3. Pin on the Velcro to each side. Remember to sew the hook on one side then turn it over and sew the loop on the other side opposite from the first.


4. On the felt scrap fold in half (so you have 2 layers) and draw/trace the emblem you want (for this tutorial I am making a Superman wristband so my shape is a “triangle”). Topstitch around the perimeter of the shape.

5. Cut shape to be sewn onto the emblem. Any shape will do here are some suggestions: batman symbol, star, lightning bolt, or letter/initial. Since my Superman first initial is a “B” I choose to sewn a “B” on the emblem.

6. Pin and sew around the shape.

7. Pin emblem onto to the wristband. Sew where the emblem overlaps on the wristband (see picture).


8. Cut off any remaining threads (I always forget this part) and let you superhero save the world (or in our case his little bro)
.
Notes:
- To make a Batman symbol I just copied a picture from Google and pasted it in a word document so I could change the size. Then I printed it out, traced on black felt, and cut. I then topstitched the Batman symbol to the yellow ovals.

-Sorry if my cutting mat looks dirty, I just cut A LOT of fabric on it.
So I know that is hard to visualize these steps, so let me know if something is unclear

My Pillow Buddy

I would like to say that my boys do not watch tv, but they do. Which means that sometimes they hear commercials for all kinds of toys, like Pillow Pets. I have heard the (annoying) song and seen them in local malls and despite the whining I resisted buying one for them. Then I was blog reading and I came across Twelve Crafts Till Christmas and saw that she had created a tutorial for a pillow buddy. Brilliant! I have tried to make stuff animals before with no success, so I was a little worried about making one. However, everyday I would hear "mom did you make my pillow" I could not resist. Also TCTC tutorial was  great and very easy to follow. The only thing I changed was that I did sew on the soft side of the velcro before sewing right sides together (my hand sewing skills are not great).  The hint to look at google images coloring pages of animals really helped me draw the pillow buddy's face.  Thanks Twelve Crafts!

Batter Up !!

I cannot believe that my oldest son is turning 5 in a week. Where has the time gone? It seems like I was just taking him home from the hospital. For his birthday party he wanted a baseball theme party, in particular the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Since being on a t-ball team this spring all he wants to do is play, watch, and talk about baseball. Right now I have been working on the party favors, which have gone from a simple bag to a drawstring backpack. They are fairly easy to make, but it seems like everyone who is invited is coming, so I am going to have backpacks coming out of my ears. I found this easy tutorial from Noodlehead blog. I changed a few things (no zipper and I increased the size slightly). I will be posting more as I decide what to do for entertainment for the little munchkins. Let me know if you have any swinging ideas.