My daughter (age 6) is just learning to sew. Together we made this felt baby dinosaur and egg for her brother for his birthday. We worked together to draw the egg and then the baby dinosaur, we had to be careful to make sure he would fit nicely inside. She was able to do the sewing pretty much herself, I just started and ended it for her. She was thrilled with the result and loved being able to give a gift that she had made herself!

Learn To Sew | How To | Felt Baby Dinosaur and Egg

Supplies:

• Green 9×12 Felt Sheet
• Cream 9×12 Felt Sheet
• Cream Embroidery Floss
• Green Embroidery Floss
• Black Bead for Eye
• Sewing Needle
• Sewing Pins
• Scissors
• Polyfil Stuffing

How To:

1. Work with child to draw egg and baby dinosaur shape on paper to create a template. Trace shapes onto felt using fabric pencil.
2. Double felt over and cut out shapes. You should have two identical pieces for each shape.
3. To create your egg, pin identical egg pieces together. Next, thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread. Start sewing on the top corner of the egg. Remember to keep the top (cracked) part of the egg open so your baby dinosaur can fit inside. Tie a knot to finish. Repeat this step for other half of the egg.
4. To create your baby dinosaur, pin pieces together. Next, thread your needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread. Start sewing at the dinosaur’s nose and sew along the bottom of the dinosaur. When you get up to the top of the tail add stuffing to the legs and tip of the tail. Continue sewing and adding stuffing as you go. Tie a knot to finish.
5. Play with your new baby dinosaur and egg or give it as a gift to your brother!

The post How To | Felt Dinosaur and Egg appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

This week we are gearing up for the start of school next week. We will be meeting L’s teacher tonight for the first time so we made her a handmade gift. This toilet paper tube pencil has a chocolate bar hidden inside. You never know when the teacher might have a bad day and need a bit of chocolate!

How To | Toilet Paper Tube Pencil

Supplies:

• Toilet Paper Tube
• Yellow Paint
• Paper
• Paint Brush
• Clear Tape
• Masking Tape
• Black Book Binding Tape or Electrical Tape
• Pencil
• Scissors
• 4″ Square of Pink Tissue Paper
• Letter Stickers
• Download: Pencil Tip Template

How To:

1. Paint toilet paper tube yellow and let dry. (Pic.1)
2. Download and print Pencil Tip Template. Cut pencil tip from paper (I used recycled newsprint to get the right color). Shade the tip of the pencil tip with a pencil to make it look like a pencil tip.
3. Form a cone shape with the paper pencil tip. Use clear tape to hold it together and secure it to one end of the toilet paper tube.
4. Cut a 6″ piece of masking tape. Cut the long edge of the masking tape into a zig-zag pattern. (Pic. 2)
5. Wrap masking tape around toilet paper tube where pencil tip and the tube meet. (Pic. 3)
6. Use a pencil to draw lines down the side of the toilet paper tube. (Pic. 4)
7. Cut out a 4″ square of pink tissue paper. To form the eraser tip, wrap the tissue paper over the open end of the toilet paper tube. Wrap a piece of masking about 1.5″ from the top. (Pic. 5)
8. Remove tissue paper eraser from end of tube. Trim off the extra tissue paper that is below the masking tape. (Pic. 6)
9. Add candy or chocolate bar to the inside of the pencil tube. (Pic. 7)
10. Slide tissue paper eraser back over the end of the pencil tube. (Pic. 8)
11. Secure eraser to pencil tube using black tape.
12. Add teacher’s name using letter stickers.
13. Add a tag or note that reads, “If you have a stressful day, break this open for a chocolate treat.”

* Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.

The post How To | Toilet Paper Tube Pencil appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Are you looking for a cheap project that will keep your kids busy for an hour or two today? You will love letting them paint rocks because it is so simple and you can let them do it outside. What could be cheaper than collecting some rocks and painting them? This project also works for a variety of age groups. Even my 2 year old had fun painting all over the rocks.

My kids also enjoy making painted rocks for gifts. (I know that sounds sorta funny.) We made painted rocks for Father’s Day, Dad now has a rock paperweight display on his desk at work.

How To | Painted Rocks

Supplies:

• Rocks
• Paint Brushes
• Acrylic Paints/Watercolor Paints
• Wax Paper
• Paper Plate
• Toothpicks
• Water

How To:

1. Collect rocks. Look for rocks with a flat side.
2. Wash the rocks with water. If your kids are outside use the hose to spray them off. Set the rocks in the sun to dry.
3. Let each child have a piece of wax paper, paper plate and paint brush. Use the wax paper as a place mat to set the rocks on while they are being painted. Add different colors of acrylic paint on the paper plate so they can dip their brush easily into the paint.
4. Paint away! Wash off the paint brush in between colors (here is where the hose comes in handy again).
5. If you use watercolors let them paint out of the tray the watercolors come in. After the rocks are painted, you can wash the rocks off and paint them again. This works well with really little kids!
6. For detailed areas let child use a toothpick to paint with.
7. Let rocks dry and add decorated rocks as a border along your flower bed or give them as a gift (they make great paper weights).

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