Material (Fabric) & Sewing Crafts
for Kids and Adults

No-Sew Sock Dolls and No-sew Sock Animals ©2009, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

What you will need:
	Socks - Children's stretchy socks in a variety of colors and designs, the stretchier the better. I used socks that were 75% cotton, 22% polyester and 3% spandex from K-mart. They were on sale, 3 pairs for 50 cents. Poly-fil - for stuffing the socks, Tiny rubber bands (You can find this in the hair accessories section of your department store.) 8 mm eyes, and other decorative items, (The eyes for these projects were purchased from CR's Crafts.) Scissors, Hot melt glue gun - One that uses low temp. glue sticks.
What to do:
	1. Flatten a sock so that the heel part of the sock is facing up. 2. Roll a wad of poly-fil into a ball about one inch in diameter and stick it inside the sock so that it is in the toe area on the bottom left-hand side as shown in the diagram to the right. Use your pointer finger to press the ball up against the side of the sock so that you can see your finger shape from the outside of the sock. Grab the ball of Poly-fil from the outside of the sock and wrap a rubber band around the ball to form a foot as shown in the diagram to the left. Do the same thing to the other side of the toe of the sock to form the other foot of the sock critter.
	3. Roll up two more wads of poly-fil and place them just below the heel of the sock. Form them into arms just like you did the feet. See the diagram to the left. 4. Place a rubber band just above the arms to form the neck. 5. Put in more stuffing to form the head and secure the top with a rubber band. Once you have the body the way you would like it, you can replace the rubber bands with heavy thread. This basic shape and technique was used for many of the sock critters shown below.

	Sock Turtle Use the directions above except start by making the head in the toe of the sock. The cuff of the sock is the turtle's tail. Use the heel of another sock for the hat and the toe for the shell.		Sock Octopus Cut off the cuff and heel. Make the head in the toe of the sock. Cut slits in the top of the sock for the legs.
	Sock Bunny Make as in the directions above. Cut two ears from the cuff of the sock and use a marker to color in the inside of the ears. Use the bottom of a sock to make the body suit and the top of a sock to make the skirt. See diagrams below.		Sock Cat Make as in the directions above. Cut two ears from the cuff of the sock and glue them together to close the top of the head. Use the cuff of a sock to make the dress. See diagrams below.
	Sock Baby Make as in the directions above. Fold down the top of the sock to make the baby's cap. Cut a square from another sock or piece of material to make the baby's diaper.		Sock Snowman Make as in the directions above, except do not add the feet. Cut the cuff part off the sock after placing a rubber band on the top of the head. Cut the cuff off a red sock and put it on the head as shown. Use a red rubber band to finish the top of the hat. Cut a 1" red strip from the red sock to make the scarf. Use tiny pompoms for the nose and eyes.
	Sock Dog Make as in the directions above. Cut two ears from the top of the sock and glue them together to close the top of the head. Make the hoodie from the bottom of a sock. See diagrams below.		Sock Doll Make as in the directions above. Fold down the top of the sock for the hair and cut slits to made the individual strands of hair. Use a marker to color the hair. Use the toe of a sock to make the bikini bottoms and the top of a sock to make the bikini top. See diagrams below.
Sock White Whale Stuff the a sock almost all the way to the top. Tie off the cuff with a rubber band to make the whale's tail. The top of the head is the heel of the sock. Push in the toe of the sock to make the mouth and glue it shut. Cut fins from fun foam.	Sock Fish Stuff the a sock almost all the way to the top. Tie off the top for the tail. The top of the head is the heel of the sock. Cut off the toe of the sock and roll the end of to make the lips. Glue them closed. Cut fins from fun foam. Add spots with a magic marker.	Sock Snail Stuff the toe of a sock to make the head. Then bring the sides together and glue to make the head smaller. Stuff the heel for the body and fold down the cuff of the sock over the heel to make the shell. (See Directions.)	Sock Fairy Make as in the directions above. Glue on doll hair and use lace to make the dress.
	Sock Elephant Make as in the directions above. Twist the top of the sock and glue together to make the trunk. Cut ears from another pair of socks or felt.		Sock Penguin Make as in the directions above except don't make the feet. Cut feet from orange fun foam. The beak was make from the finger of a yellow glove.

Two-Socks, No-Sew Sock Dolls

What you will need:

1. Socks - Two child-sized socks that compliment each other
2. Poly-fil - for stuffing the socks,
3. Tiny rubber bands (You can find this in the hair accessories section of your department store.)
4. Eyes, and other decorative items, (You can find these at CR's Crafts.)
5. Scissors,
6. Hot melt glue gun - One that uses low temp. glue sticks.

What to do: 1. Flatten a sock so that the heel part of the sock is facing up. 2. Roll a wad of poly-fil into a ball about one inch in diameter and stick it inside the sock so that it is in the toe area on the bottom left-hand side as shown in the picture to the right. Put your hand inside the sock and use your pointer finger to press the ball up against the side of the sock so that you can see your finger shape from the outside of the sock. Grab the ball of Poly-fil from the outside of the sock and wrap a rubber band around the ball to form a foot. Do the same thing to the other side of the toe of the sock to form the other foot of the sock critter. 3. Make two ball shapes for the arms just above the heel of the sock as shown in the picture. Use a rubber band to close off the top where the neck will be. Cut the top off the sock just above the rubber band.
4. The head and cover for the body is made with another sock. If you want to make ears, make two ball shapes near the heel of the second sock and then fill the sock with poly-fil to just below the heel of the sock. 5. Cut two very small slits (1/4") just below the heel of the sock where the arms will emerge. The slits should be very small because the sock material stretches a lot. If you make them two big, the material underneath will show through.
7. Now place the head sock over the neck of the body sock and force the two arms through the tiny holes you cut. 8. Pull the cuff of the top sock all the way down to the legs and glue the edge of the sock together between the legs as shown in the picture to the right. 9. To finish glue the arm holes around the arms forcing the material up against the arms so that none of the under sock shows through around the arm holes. ©2009, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

Sock Doll Dog

Follow the directions above for the two-sock sock doll.

To make the muzzle and mouth defined put a line of hot melt glue from the nose to where you want the mouth. Squeeze the sides of the face together to cover the glue line. Then squeeze up on the chin area to make the mouth. Glue the sides of the mouth closed but leave the middle of the mouth open where the tongue goes. Cut a tongue from pink fun foam and glue it to the inside of the mouth. To make the eyes look inset, insert a needle with thread down into the head where you want the first eye bringing it back up where you want the second eye. Poke the needle back down into the head and back up again to where you started. Pull the thread tight to form the indents. Cut off the needle and tie the ends of the thread together. Glue the eyes in the indents.

Striped Critter Sock Doll

Follow the directions above for the two-sock doll. Cut a small, round circle from piece of fake fur and glue it to the top of the head. Sew a pink bead on for the nose. Form a mouth by bringing up the material under the chin and gluing it closed on the sides. Glue a tongue cut from pink fun foam inside the mouth.

©2009, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

See more samples below:

Cat Sock Dolls

What you will need: Socks - One sock for each cat. Poly-fil for stuffing the socks, Uncooked rice or small pebbles 12mm Cat Eyes, and other decorative items, (You can find these at CR's Crafts.) Scissors, Hot melt glue gun - One that uses low temp. glue sticks. Needle and thread or sewing machine. Ribbon for the collar and a bow, ribbon flower, or pretty button. Feather Boa to make the tail and hair between the ears. Pink fun foam for the nose and tongue.

What to do:

1. First fill the toe of the sock with 1/4 cup of rice to make the bottom heavy so it will stand up easier.

2. Fill the rest of the sock with poly-fil to just above the heel of the sock.

3. Cut the cuff of the sock off making ear shapes as you cut. (See diagram to the right.)

4. Glue or stitch the top of the head closed between the ears.

5. Glue or stitch the ears closed at the top of the head making the head rounded. And then glue the rest of the ears together.

6. Cut the cuff of the sock so that it has straight edges and then cut it in half long ways to make the arms as shown in the picture. Turn the material inside out and fold it in half. Sew the long side and one short side of the arms and then turn them right-side out again. Stuff them with poly-fil.

7. Glue the arms on the cat at the neck. Glue a piece of ribbon around the neck and over the ends of the arms to make the collar and hide the unsewed end of the arms. Glue a pretty bow, ribbon, button, or other decorative item over the end of the ribbon.

8. Cut a small section of feather boa and glue it to the top of the cat's head. Cut a longer piece for the tail and glue it to the back of the cat. Glue the end of the boa tail so that it doesn't come apart.

9 . Use a needle and thread that matches the color of your cat to make the face features.

1. Start by inserting the needle where you want the mouth to be.
2. Bring it up through the inside of the cat and back out where you want the left eye to be.
3. Poke the needle back into the cat right next to where you just came out.
4. Bring the needle back up and out where you want the right eye to be.
5. Put the needle back in next to where it just came out.
6. Then bring it back out at the mouth where you started. Pull the thread tight and tie a couple of knots to secure it. Do not cut the needle off the thread yet.
7. Bring the thread up to where you want the nose and insert it into the cat.
8. Then bring it back out at the mouth again. Pull the thread tight and tie a knot to finish.

10. Cut a nose from pink fun foam and glue it to the cat. You can also cut a tongue from the pink fun foam and glue it inside the mouth.

©2009, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

Sock Monster Sock Dolls

Anklet Sock Dogs (The directions to this craft is available to members only.)

No-Sew Sock Caterpillars - These little guys are very inexpensive to make. You can make one for less than $2.00. If you buy socks at second-hand stores or garage sales, you can make them for even less.

What you will need:

1. Colorful knee-high socks
2. Polyester fiber for stuffing
3. Small rubber bands (You can find these in the hair accessories section of your local department store.)
4. Googly eyes and pipe cleaners
5. Permanent marker
6. Scissors
7. Low temp. glue gun.

	What to do: 1. Turn your sock inside out and place a rubber band just below the heal of the sock.
	2. Turn the sock right-side out. (You can cut the toe off the sock right below the rubber band and use that part of the sock for another project if you would like.) Fill the head part (heal) of the sock with polyester fiber.
	3. Make a small ball about one-inch wide with the polyester fiber and stick it inside the sock just below the right side of the head. Push the fiber out, stretching the sock with your finger. Grab the ball from the outside of the sock with your other hand. 4. Wind a small rubber band around the ball to form the first foot. Do the same thing on the left side of the caterpillar. Fill the caterpillars body with stuffing just above the new feet.
	5. Continue making feet down the whole length of the sock, filling the body with the polyester fiber as you go. 6. When you get to the end of the sock just close it off with a rubber band. You may want to cut off the band around the top of the sock if it is too thick, but it isn't necessary. 7. When you get to the end, you can add a rubber band between each set of legs to make the body sections stand out.
	8. To finish glue on googly eyes. Cut two very small slits in the top of the head and glue sections of pipe cleaners in the holes for the antennae. Curl the ends of the antennae around a pencil. 9. Draw a nose and mouth with a permanent marker.

Sock Clothes for Sock Dolls and Sock Critters

Sock Clothes are very easy to make. All you need are some old socks and some scissors. Follow the diagrams below to cut the clothes. When cutting holes in the socks for the arms and legs, cut them much smaller than you think you need because the socks are very stretchy and the holes will stretch to a much bigger size than you cut. You can also glue on lace, buttons, sequins, and pompoms to decorate the clothes. The dog to the right was made from a pair of work gloves. The directions to make it and 13 other critters can be found in the book, 'Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves" .

Learn how to make even more cute animals, dolls, and critters from these books:

Kangaroo iPod Pouch

This simple sewing project is great for children eight and older. The pouch can be used for iPods, business cards, or Bible verse cards. Instead of using felt, you can use fun foam and just glue the pieces together, and instead of using a button for the nose you can use foam and use velcro for the clasp.

What you will need: Brown or tan and pink felt squares, embroidery floss, large sharp needle, googly eyes, black shank buttons, straight pins, and scissors.

What to do:

1. Print out the patterns and use them to cut the pieces from tan or brown felt squares. Cut inner ears from pink felt and glue them to the top of the ear pieces.

2. Sew a straight stitch at the top of the pouch piece (Curved edge)

3. Stack the piece one on top of the other starting with the back piece, the front pocket and then the pouch on top. They should match up at the bottom as shown in the picture to the left.

4. Stick the arms and feet pieces between the back and front pocket pieces and use straight pins to hold them in place. Sew all the pieces together using a small straight stitch as shown in the picture by the red dotted lines.

5. Fold the top of the back piece forward to form the flap and decide where you want the button nose. Mark the place with a marker on the front pocket piece. Sew the button on by reaching your hand inside the pocket and using embroidery floss. Stick the needle through the felt and the buttonhole and then back through the felt to the inside of the pocket. Bring one end of the floss all the way through and tie the two ends together to secure it in place.

6. Fold the flap down again and mark where the button should come through. Cut a small slit the same length as the button through the material for a buttonhole.

7. To finish glue on googly eyes and ears. You can also use embroidery floss to sew on a mouth. You may also want to add a rope to the pouch to carry it on your shoulder.

©2009, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

With just a small piece of color burlap and a few simple steps you can bring nature indoors to display some of your favorite outdoor “finds.”   This hanging can be made in any size and decorated with whatever you like. If you'd rather use a theme other than the “outdoors,” just gather up whatever items you would like to decorate with and create a hanging that displays your interests and reveals your personality.  Burlap comes in many colors and can be coordinated with many themes, making it perfect for an afternoon project.

What you will need: Color Burlap, Scissors, Stick or wooden dowel, Yarn, Shoelace, Large eye needle, Items to decorate – sticks, feathers, pods, leaves, etc.

What to do:

1. First, determine the size of hanging you wish to make and cut color burlap fabric to that size. Remember, the stick or wooden dowel you use as a hanger, should be at least two inches wider.

2. Once you've cut the burlap, fray the sides by pulling long vertical threads completely out of the weave of the burlap from each side.  Do this until you've frayed the edge at least ½ inch. Then, to fray the bottom edge, pull horizontal threads completely from the weave of the burlap from the bottom, again until you frayed the edge at least ½ inch.  Keep the longest threads to use in the next step.

3. Fold the top of the burlap over the stick or dowel. Thread the needle with a thread you pulled from the sides and use this to sew down the fold. Do this twice, making two seams, just under the stick or dowel.

4. Now, to decorate your hanging pull horizontal threads in random sections, creating open sections ½ to 1 inch deep, depending on the size of your hanging and the decorative items you will use to weave back into the hanging. Once you've created the horizontal open sections, weave other sticks, leaves, pods, feathers, bark or other nature items through the sections. To create an open effect, do not weave anything through one of the sections, instead, divide the vertical strings into equal sections and tie each section with a small piece of yarn, creating diamond-shaped openings across the hanging.

5. To finish your project, tie a shoelace to each end of the stick or dowel to create a hanger. Rather than using the shoelace, you could also braid together some of the longest threads to use as a hanger. Once you've completed the braid, tie the braid to each end of the stick or dowel. For a more rustic look, natural burlap can also be used.

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About The Author: Kay Kristenson loves new and exciting crafts that she can share with her children and readers. To read about some of her other burlap-inspired craft projects, visit the craft fabric section of Onlinefabricstore.net.

Sock Doll Clothes

Use old socks to make clothes for your dolls and stuffed animals. These are cheap and easy and take very little time to make. Most of them where made without any sewing. Go to Danielle's Designs page for directions.

"Jesus Loves You" Beanbag Craft

What you will need: Felt, Cold peel T-shirt transfers such as Wyndstone Jet-Pro (Do not use the hot peel transfers on felt because the felt stretches when the transfers stick to the felt. If you can't find cold peel transfer that will work on your printer, use a poly/cotton material instead of the felt), pinking shears, iron, embroidery floss, embroidery needle, small dried beans or rice.

What to do: 

1. Print out the pattern onto T-shirt transfer material
2. Cut around the edges of the smiley faces.
3. Cut 2 - 4 1/2" circles from felt or material for each beanbag.
4. Iron one of the smiley faces onto one of the circles.
5. Put the circle together and use a straight stitch to sew the two circles together leaving an opening to insert the beans.
6. Fill the beanbag with the beans and close up the bag.

©2004, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

Angel Kisses Bag Craft - These little bags are great to use as treat or gift bags for special occasions.

What you will need: Material, T-shirt transfers, string, red heart pony beads, iron, sewing machine.

What to do:

1. Print angles onto T-shirt transfer material.

2. Cut out the angels with the words attached close to the pattern.

3. Cut a piece of material 11" x 4 1/2".  Fold the material, right side out, in half to form a rectangle 4 1/2" x 5 1/2". Position one of the angel transfers on the folded material 3/4" from the folded edge.  The folded edge is the bottom of the bag. Iron the transfer on.

4. Fold the material wrong side out and sew one side 1/4" from the edge of the material.  Sew the other side the same way except start 1 1/2" down from the top.

5. Cut a piece of string 20" long.  Fold (iron) the top edge of the bag over 1/4" to the wrong side.  Fold it over again 1/2" to make a casing for the string. Sew the casing closed with the string inside.  Put a red heart on each end of the string and tie a double knot to finish.

Patterns for this craft are available to Members of Danielle's Place. Click here for patterns.

©2004, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

Stuffed Fish (Yellow Tang) Craft - Children of all ages will love painting or coloring these adorable fish. 

What you will need: White polyester stretch material, wiggly eyes (optional - do not use if you have very small children), pinking shears, thread, and polyester stuffing, glue gun, sewing machine.

What to do:

1. Print out the fish pattern.

2. Fold the material in half with right sides together. Pin the body, pectoral fin, and pelvic fin patterns onto the material and cut out the patterns on the solid lines. Pin the dorsal fin and anal fin patterns onto a single layer of material and cut out the patterns on the solid lines.

3. Pin the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins onto the body patterns with rights sides together matching up the points. The fish pieces will be laying on top of each other.

4. You can sew the pectoral fins on at point G now if you would like. Or you can just use hot melt glue and glue them in place when you are finished stuffing the fish.

5. Place the other body piece on top of the body piece with the fins sewed on (right sides together). The fins should be laying flat against the body material so that they are inside the fish.  You will be sewing over the same stitches you used to sew the fins on.

6. Sew the fish together starting at one end of the caudal fin and ending at the other. Leave the back of the caudal fin open.

7. Turn the fish inside out and stuff with fiber fill.  Sew the end of the caudal fin closed and use pinking shears to clip close to the seam.

8. If you haven't sewed on the pectoral fins you can glue them on now.  Glue the wiggly eyes in place to finish. Do not use wiggly eyes with small children.  They could come off.

9. These fish can be colored with water paints, magic markers or fabric markers or a combination of all three.  I like the Crayola washable markers because even young children can safely complete this project.   When the children are done coloring their fish they can paint over the fish with water to make the colors blend together. If the child goofs or doesn't like his work, you can wash off the markers and start again.

10. A string can be added to hang the fish.  A fish mobile can be made by hanging a collection of fish from a plastic hanger.

©2004, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

Stuffed Star Fish Toy Craft 

What you will need: White polyester stretch material, wiggly eyes (optional - do not use if you have very small children), pinking shears, thread, and polyester stuffing, glue gun, sewing machine.

What to do:

1. Make a copy of the pattern and cut it out.

2. Fold the material in half with right sides together. Pin the pattern onto the material and cut on the solid line. 

3. With right sides together sew the pieces together at the long dashed lines.

4. Turn the starfish right side out.  Push some fiber fill into each arm and then into the center of the fish.

5. Sew the starfish closed with a needle and thread.  Glue on wiggly eyes.  Do not use wiggly eyes if you have young children. They can be pulled off.

Stuffed Sea horse Toy Craft -

What you will need: White polyester stretch material, wiggly eyes (optional - do not use if you have very small children), pinking shears, thread, and polyester stuffing, glue gun, sewing machine.

What to do:

1. Make a copy of the pattern and cut it out.

2. Fold the material in half with right sides together. Pin the pattern onto the material and cut on the solid line.  Use pinking shears to cut the outside edges of the fins if you would like.

3. Mark the darts where the fins should be attached at point A and B on the wrong side of the cut out pieces. 

4. Sew the darts where you marked them on the fabric. You can sew the pectoral fins on at point B now if you would like. Or you can just use hot melt glue and glue them in place when you are finished stuffing the sea horse.

5. With right sides together sew the pieces together at the long dashed lines (the front part of the sea horse).).

6. Turn the sea horse right side out. Stuff the tip of the tail, the nose, and the coronet with some fiber fill.

7. Stuff the rest of the sea horse. Pin the dorsal fin in place and finish sewing the sea horse closed.

8. If you haven't sewed on the pectoral fins you can glue them on now.  Glue the wiggly eyes in place to finish. Do not use wiggly eyes with small children.  They could come off.

©2004, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

Jonah Beanbag Doll Craft - for ideas on how to use this with your lesson go to the Jonah and the Whale Lesson Ideas.

What you will need: White material, hot melt glue gun, pinking shears (optional), black sharpie or fabric pen, and beans or rice.

What to do:

1. Print out the pattern and trace it using a black fabric pen or black permanent marker onto the white material using a light box or window. You can also use carbon paper.

2. Fold the material over so that you have a double thickness.  Cut out the pattern around the outside lines using pinking shears.  Glue the two pieces together around the edges using hot melt glue or fabric glue.  Remember to leave a place open to put the rice or beans in.

3. Fill the bag with rice or beans and then glue the rest closed.

4. Have the children color Jonah with crayons or child safe markers.

5. If you have a safe place to use a hot melt glue gun in your class, wait until the children have finished coloring their beanbag and then fill it with rice then glue closed.  This will make it a little easier to color.

6. If you don't feel like tracing the pattern onto the fabric, you can print the pattern onto T-shirt transfer material and iron on the pattern to the material.

©2004, Digital by Design, Inc. -* See Copyright Information

Bob the Tomato Beanbag Craft - These little beanbags can be used to play games at your next Veggie Tale Birthday party and then be given away as prizes.

What you will need: Red and green felt, computer iron-on transfer paper, white Speedball Painter marker, embroidery floss or thread, dried beans, pinking shears (optional).

What to do:

1. Cut two 5-inch circles out of red felt for each beanbag.

2. Use the pattern to cut the leaf hair out of green felt.

3. Print out the face pattern onto iron-on transfer paper, cut them out and iron them onto one side of the beanbag.  Sew around the edge of the beanbag about 1/2" in from the edge leaving enough space open to fill it with dried beans. Sew the beanbag closed. Use pinking shears to cut the edge and even every thing up.  Fold over the green leaves on the top of the tomato's head and use green embroidery floss to secure it to the beanbag.  Use the white Speedball Painter marker to color in the eyes and teeth.

 

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No-sew Bible Costumes - Play acting seems to be one of the best  ways our children learn their bible lessons so we try to do it as much as possible. The children always seem to remember the lessons that we act out better than any of the other lessons. These are cheap to make and take very little time.

What you will need: Buy cheap fabric that won't fray too much (cotton polyester blends work well). These sizes are for 3 year old children. You will want to make them a little bigger for older children. Just make sure you don't make them too long so that the children won't trip on them.

What to do:   To make the tunic cut out a piece of material 28" x 56" and cut a hole in the center just big enough for the child's head to fit through. To make a belt cut out a piece of  material 5" x 36" or a little longer. To make a head cover  cut out a piece of material 20" x 46.

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Rice Bag Bed Buddies -  Do you  complain about cold feet or hands, or get really bad headaches?  Do you use a  heating pad a lot, but are worried about its safety?  Well here is something that just might help.  Just  pop them in the microwave for a few minutes until they get hot enough.  Depending on the size you make, they will stay hot up  to 3 or 4 hours.

What you need: Heavy material such as canvas or denim, Two pieces at least 10" x 11" for the back or  5" x 12" for your neck.  Some light weight material like cotton or a poly/cotton blend for the cover (cut slightly larger than the canvas).  You will need at least 3 cups of rice to fill the bag  (don't use the minute rice) and potpourri, spices or herbs for a  nice smelling bag (optional).

What to do:

1. Cut the heavy material to the size  and shape you want (you will probably have to  experiment a little).  Then cut the light- weight material a little bigger to match (this will be the cover since you can't wash the rice bag).

2. Sew up all the sides with right sides together until you have just enough space left to pour in the rice. 

3. Pour in the rice and sew the ends. If you don't like the smell of rice, you can add some herbs or potpourri. The smell of cooked rice goes away after you use the bag several times. These are great  for children when they have an ear ache. Use cute material or make it in an animal shape.  Or take the inside out of a stuffed animal and sew the rice bag in. Just make  sure the animal doesn't have any parts that will melt in the microwave and be sure you don't  get them too hot.

4. Make the rice bag cover.

Here's a quick and easy way to make a rice bag sent in by Bethany Davis of Birmingham, Alabama.  I took one of my husband's old athletic socks that was too stretched out to use anymore. (clean, of course!) Fill the sock with rice and tie a knot at the top. Instant rice sock, we call it. It's the perfect size for wrapping around your neck or shoulders, or for the small of your back in the car on a cold day. And even those of us who are sewing machine impaired can make this one!

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"No Sew Sock Sheep Puppet

What you will need:  Sock, plastic lid from the top of a cottage  cheese or sour cream container, pink , black, and white felt, wiggly eyes, sheep wool for hair, glue gun, piece of 1/4" foam

What to do:

1. Bend the plastic lid in half and push it into the sock all the way to the toes to see that it will fit.  Remove.
2. Put some low-temp glue on the inside fold of the plastic lid and carefully inset it again.   Position it so that it looks right.  Carefully press in the toe of the sock to meet the inside fold of the lid where the glue is.  Hold in that position until the glue dries.
3. Cut a piece of 1/4" foam in the shape of half of the lid and insert it into the face area of the puppet to give it a more rounded look.
4. Cut a nose from a piece of black felt.  Cut a tongue from a piece of pink felt and two ears from white felt.  Glue them into place.
5. Glue the wiggly eyes in place.
6. Glue on some wool hair  and draw a mouth to finish.

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Peek-a-boo!"  T-shirt - This is a great T-shirt for very young children.  The photo transfer is sewed to the inside of the T-shirt and a slit is made so that the T-shirt can be pulled apart so that  the child looks like she is peeking through the T-shirt. © Carolyn Warvel

What you will need: T-shirt or sweat shirt (any  color), photo transfer of child's face (blow up the face to measure  4" to 5", sewing machine, white felt, buttons or bows.

What to do:

1. Scan the child's photograph into your computer. Blow it up to about 4" x 5". Copy and paste the hand drawing onto the same page. Type in the word "Peek-a-boo!" onto the same page. Use an eyedropper tool to get a sample of the face color and use the paint bucket tool to fill in the hand pattern so that the hand will match the face. Print them out onto photo transfer paper.  Iron the face and "Peek-a-boo" saying onto separate pieces of white material that will not shrink leaving several inches around the outside of the image. It is best to pre-wash the material before you iron on the transfers.  Iron the hands transfer onto white felt and cut out around the hands.

2. Fold under the edges of the material with the face and saying on them twice so that there are no raw edges and sew.

3. Position the face transfer inside the front center of the T-shirt so that the face will be facing out when you cut and open up the slit. Pin the transfer in place. With the T-shirt inside out sew the face transfer in place. Turn the shirt right side out. Carefully cut a slit  from the top line of the stitches to the bottom line of stitches. Pull open the T-shirt and tack  down with thread. Position the hands that you cut out over the tacked area and sew down the hands by hand.

4. To finish, position the peek-a-boo words across the T-shirt so that they cover up the stitches you made to put the face in.  Sew a bow or button on the top part of the slit. You can also sew buttons or bows on the top of the shoulders.

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Spray Tie-Dye - This method is so easy and versatile. We had great results our first try and it only took us about half an hour.  Make bandannas, pillows,  hats, T-shirts, etc.

What you will need:

Spray dye kit (I bought a kit from Michael's Craft Store for about $15.00 that says you can make from 3 - 14 shirts depending on the intensity of the colors.  Cotton shirt, bandanna, or  material. Lots of paper towels, newspaper,  plastic, and things like leaves or different shaped items. Dharma Trading Co. sells  textile crafts supplies like T-shirts, bandannas, hats, canvas bags, socks, tie dye kits and just about  anything you can think of. They also sell books on tie-dying, batik and other textile crafts.  They will send you a complete catalog within days of ordering it.

What to do:

Complete directions come with your kit. I  particularly liked this method because you don't have to worry about pouring dye into bowls and you use very little of it.  It  all stays in a neat little spray bottle. You get great results the first time. You can also get the tie-dye effect by winding up your material. Basically, you just put the leaves or what you want to use onto the wet material, starting with your lightest color spray on the dyes changing the location of some of the leaves between each application. It's that easy.

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Child's Artwork Keepsake Quilt - Here's a great way to  display your child's artwork and still save the originals. © Carolyn Warvel

What you will need:

Child's artwork to copy and print on to transfer paper, material, buttons, bows, Rick Rack,  ribbon, felt,  embroidery floss, or anything you want to put on  the quilt.

What to do:

1. Reduce and copy your child's pictures onto transfer paper.   Iron the transfers onto light colored cotton material. I used  slightly different colors for a variety.

2. For the backing material I just used material that was already  quilted. (I'm not a quilter so I did it the easiest way possible.  If you are a quilter, you probably won't want to do it this way.  Place the images on the material and pin them down. Leave room  for buttons, bows and rick rack. It is best to lay everything  on the quilt before you start sewing to see  how it will look.  When you have everything in place, sew everything down. Sew on  a matching border.

"Cute  as a Button!" T-shirt - These make great gifts.

What you will need: T-shirt, t-shirt transfer, and  buttons.

What to do:

1. Pick out a cute picture you want to use on the T-shirt. Transfer  the picture onto transfer paper using a scanner and computer   printer.  Iron the picture onto the t-shirt.

2. Sew buttons all over the t-shirt. (I used all round buttons, so I made the picture round.) If you are using different shaped  buttons, you wouldn't need to make the picture round.)

Scrunchie Snakes and lizards

What you will need: material, 12" pipe cleaner, hot melt glue  gun, eyes, foamie sheet, felt for legs (optional), 30" string

What to do:

1. Cut a piece of material 27" x 3" for the snake  or 27" x 4" for the lizard.

2. Cut out the mouth from a sheet of foamie and 4 legs from a  piece of felt if you are making the lizard, using the patterns.

3. Put a knot at the end of one end of the string and attach it to one of the long ends of the material either by sewing it on or pinning it on. The string will help you turn the material right side out once you have finished sewing it.

4. Fold the material long ways right sides together. Place the string so it runs down the inside of the material. It should  be long enough to stick out the other end.

5. Sew up the long end of the material leaving the ends open.

6. To turn the material inside out pull on the string while gently pulling down on the material at the other end. When you have the material completely turn inside out, you can cut off the string.

7. Fold down one end of the pipe cleaner about 1/4' (this will  help it slide better into the material) and insert it into the  material until it is all the way in. Now glue that end of the  pipe  cleaner to that end of the material. Fold over the material and glue again. This will be the tail end.

8. Push the rest of the material down over the pipe cleaner by scrunching up the material at the tail end. Continue this until  the pipe cleaner comes out the other end. Fold in the rough  edges  of the material.

9. Now you are ready to insert the mouth. Poke a small hole in the center of the mouth just so the pipe cleaner will fit  through. Fold the mouth in half and insert into the mouth end of the snake fold first making sure the pipe cleaner goes through  the tiny hole. Pull the pipe cleaner through and fold the end over twice and glue together so that it cannot pull back  through the hole (This is the snakes tongue). Glue the mouth  in place by putting some glue between the mouth and the material.  Glue on the eyes.

Fuzzy Felt Board Sheep- The children in our Sunday school love to play with these fuzzy sheep on the flannel board. We also use flowers, trees, sun, moon, etc. so they have a lot of fun rearranging them. This gives us  an opportunity to tell them about David and his sheep or any  other story that has sheep in it. You can make your own flannel  board characters by cutting out pictures from your Sunday school  lessons and gluing them on to felt. You can also scan and print  pictures you or the children make onto t-shirt transfer paper and then iron them on to felt. This works great! They will loveillustrating and telling their own story.  See the Bible Lessons Page for scripture  references and suggested books. © Carolyn Warvel

What you will need: felt (black or white, or any color  you want your sheep), fuzzy fake fur material (black or white),  glue, tiny eyes.

What to do: Print and cut out the patterns.  (You can enlarge the pictures to make larger  sheep) Cut out the  patterns from the type of material indicated on the pattern.  Glue the felt pattern to the back of the fuzzy material. Glue on eyes and ears. You can also use these characters with the activates on the Games and Activities Page. (return to index)