Toddler Bowling Pin Game

Cup of Delight used some plastic bottles to made these cute bowling pins for her daughter. I love the cute washi tape prints she used!

 

See the DIY Toddler Bowling Pins.

How to Turn Your Picky Eater Around

 

 I know this isn't craft related, but I know there are a lot of moms here and I just had to share. My 5-year-old is UBER picky. He used to eat everything as a baby but became a picky toddler, mostly due to texture issues, I think. But now it just seems like there's no undoing it. I only wish I had come across some of these ideas from Your Kid's Table before. This mom and Occupational Therapist shares some fabulous tips to help reverse the pickiness.

 

See how to Turn Your Picky Eater Around.

DIY Toddler Step Stool



Making your toddler their very own step stool is such a fun idea. I love the initial that Pink When put on top. I think it helps make the stool their own, especially during that phase when everything belongs to them and they want to do it all by themselves.

 

See the DIY Toddler Step Stool.



Crafting for Baby - Monster Hooded Towel from Hillmade

**Oh my goodness, you guys. I feel awful! This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I accidentally scheduled it for today, and didn't notice until last night when I hopped onto the computer to do blog stuff. I was blogging after midnight and chose the next day when I shouldn't have. I hope Renae will forgive me!! But, lucky you...two projects in one day!!**

I'm a sucker for making things for kids that have animation and personality. I just think they're so cute. That's why this towel from Renae at Hillmade is on my to-do list. This would made such a cute new baby gift!

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Hello! I am Renae and I blog over at Hillmade. Hillmade is a place where I share the things that I make and do. A good majority of it revolves around the fun I have with my two little girls. I also post projects I (or my husband) have done around the house, and occasionally recipes we love. 

I love to sew. In the 4 years since my first daughter was born sewing has really become my passion. I guess I take after my mom, she sewed a lot when us kids were small- she says it was her stress relief. Sewing is where I feel most at home creating. So, today I chose to share with you a pattern I made for an infant hooded towel.

Besides a love for sewing, I also love monsters. I think they are adorable and just plain fun!  Once I spotted this monster fabric at the store, it was pretty much a done deal. The hooded towel became a monster hooded towel. You can use this same pattern to make a non-monster hooded towel, just skip over the applique parts.

Ready to get sewing!?

You will need:

• 1 yard terry cloth
• 1 yard cotton fabric
• scraps of white fabric
• scraps of black fabric
• small pieces of  fusible web (like Wonder Under)
• pattern (found here)

All seam allowances are 3/8" (the edge of the presser foot for me).

Step 1: Print out the pattern, cut out the pieces, and assemble the hood piece (labeled A, B, and C).

Step 2: Cut the terry cloth down to 30" x 30". You will have some fabric left over, save it, you'll need it for the hood pieces. Also cut the cotton fabric to 30" x 30". Take the excess terry cloth fabric, fold it over lengthwise and pin and cut out the hood pattern piece (like in the image below). 

Using the scraps of white fabric, and the white of eye pattern piece cut out the eyes. Use the white fabric to cut out the teeth as well. Do the same with the scraps of black fabric and the pupil pattern piece.

All cut and ready to sew! (This image is missing the teeth, they were an after thought.)

Step 3: Following the product instructions, iron the fusible web to the back of the eyes, pupils, and teeth. Peel off the paper backing.

Step 4: Lay out the eyes and teeth on one of the hood pieces. Make sure the eyes aren't too high or close to the edge, remember the seam allowance (3/8"). I placed the eyes approx. 1 1/2" from the top of the piece, and approx. 2" from the side. See the image below:

Iron in place.

Step 5: Applique around the eye and teeth pieces. I used a zig-zag stitch. I set the sitch width to 2.5 and the length to 1.5. The scrap fabric I used was knit, which doesn't fray, so a small zig-zag works fine. If you use a fabric that fays easily, like cotton, you may want to tighten up the stitch width.

If you haven't ever done applique don't be scared off by it! I hadn't either until this towel. It really is pretty easy, just go slow. Take your time and it'll turn out great! Around the curves, if you need to, don't hesitate to leave the needle down, lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric slightly. Tight curves can be tricky, doing this helps a lot!

Step 6: Now take both hood pieces. With the right sides together, stitch along the bottom of the hood. Turn right side out and press.

Step 7: Use the corner rounding piece to round the edges of the 30" x 30" pieces of fabric (both terry cloth and cotton). Either pin the piece in place and cut around it, or use a pen with disappearing ink to trace around the pattern piece. 

Step 8: With the right sides together, pin all pieces in place. Sandwich the hood between the terry cloth and cotton fabric.

Step 9: Starting in the middle of one edge, sew the towel together. Be sure to leave a 6 inch gap so you can turn it right side out.

It is helpful to mark the gap with double pins, so you don't accidentally sew it closed.

Step 10: Turn the towel right side out and press. Topstitch around the towel, closing the 6 inch gap.

You're done! I know it looks like a lot of work, but it really is pretty simple. The most time consuming part is cutting out the fabric and assembling the monster hood.

Do you share my love of monsters? This isn't the first time I've crafted a monster. Hop over and check out the zipper mouthed plush monsters (or Munsters) I shared on my blog. Say hi while you're there!

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Adorable, right? That little monster face just makes me smile!

 

Don't forget to check out all of the other posts from our Crafting for Baby series and the Crafting for Baby Link Party. So many good ideas!!

DIY Toddler Weaving Loom

Brave New Home has a fun weaving activity for your toddler. An older child could even use this for more advanced activities like making patterns.

 

See the DIY Toddler Weaving Loom.

DIY Sticky Blocks

Mother's Niche turned some blocks into sticky blocks with some Velcro. What a fun idea for the little ones! These would be super easy to travel with too!

See the DIY Sticky Blocks.

How to Make Grippy Socks

Where was this idea when my little guy was walking? At the time, most of our apartment was tiled and he was always slipping around on the floor. Mama Brown Thumb's idea is so easy and cheap, especially compared to buying the store bought grippy socks.

 

Find out How to Make Grippy Socks.