Friday, May 28, 2010

Homemade toys - trap door bucket

I made this trap door bucket for my son in just a few minutes out of supplies I had laying around the house. He loves dumping the toys out and putting them back in over and over - which is great when I need a few minutes to do other things;-)

Supplies:
Ice cream bucket or similar
Cutting tool (scissors, knife or razor blade)
Contact paper

Simply take a clean ice cream bucket and cover with contact paper (this is optional really - it just makes it look a little nicer) and cut a flap in the lid to drop small toys into. The nutrition panel was an easy outline to follow. Putting contact paper around the bucket can be a bit challenging given the slanted sides. I found it helpful to cut out a larger piece of contact paper then needed and then trim it down once I had it stuck on the bucket.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Homemade baby toys - sewn fabric learning book

I didn't make this cloth baby book but rather discovered it at a garage sale. It's great for restaurants where you want a toy that's quiet and engaging. It's a good thing too because I can't sew to save my life:-) Even though I didn't make it I thought I would share it here for those of you who know your way around a sewing machine and would like to make one. I can't offer instructions but hopefully the pictures will be enough to get you started.

Peek a boo eggs



Cover






Match the shapes with pocket

Make the clowns face

Pockets of various sizes to put things in.

Match the colors.


Count to ten or move beads up and down on their strings.



Make a ball puzzel.

Ladybug with zipper and baby ladybugs inside pouch.



Tie the shoes.

Put flowers on the buttons




















Learn about stop lights, put the lights in the right place.