{kids can do it!} stuffed animal superhero mask and cape

If your kids are anything like mine, the wonder of summer is starting to wear off. The long, glorious days with hours of free time are starting to get just a bit, well, boring. I'm beginning to hear "Mom, what should I do?" all day long. When the standard answers (legos, read, color, hide & seek, scrub your bathroom!) didn't work one day, I suggest a different activity: let's make superhero masks and capes for your stuffed animals. And then I ammended my suggestion to: how about you guys make superhero masks and capes for your stuffed animals?

So I came up with a simple process that my older kids (9, 9 and 11) were able to complete by themselves to make little outfits for their Build-a-Bears (yes, my older boys all still love their Build-a-Bears. I think it's awesome.) Younger kids would need assistance, but would probably still be able to do enough on their own to feel pretty proud of themselves. (There are my nine year olds hard at work.)

If you have a lazy day just asking to be filled, here's what you'll need:

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sew: kid size travel pillows with carrying case and velcro pocket

We recently drove 14 hours each way to spend a few weeks visiting family. My kids insist on bringing their pillows along on every long car trip we take. They NEED them, they say, to get comfy while they're reading books or watching movies on the ride. I can understand, but we really don't have room in the very full mini van for four pillows. The pillows invariably end up squished on the floor of the van (which is always covered in crumbs by the time we've been on the road an hour or two) and then stepped on for the rest of the drive. I decided we needed a better solution.

And so, I whipped up a travel pillow for each child. I cut an old pillow into four pieces and sewed up the open sides to make four mini pillows. Then I made cases using fun printed flannel (1/2 yard for each). I added a handy velcro pocket on the front so each child could keep a few books handy.

I added handles for easy transport to and from the car.

For just a few dollars and about 30 minutes each, my kids had handy travel pillows just large enough to keep them comfy, but small enough to be convenient on the long ride.

Here's how:

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make a sleeping bag for a stuffed animal

*This post originally appeared at U-create.com*

My son has a monkey named Jim from Build-a-Bear Workshop, and he wants Jim to have every single accessory that store carries. Since that's obviously out of the question, I decided to make Jim a sleeping bag complete with a built in pillow that he can snuggle into at night. The sleeping bag rolls up into elastic loops that fit on his shoulders during the day. (While I was at it I made Jim a new pair of PJs to match the sleeping bag - click here for the tutorial and a free pattern download.)

The sleeping bag is very easy--all you have to do is sew a few straight lines. Plus it's pretty inexpensive to make since it only takes 1/2 yard of fleece. If you buy fleece on sale and have some polyfil on hand, you can expect to spend about $5 on each sleeping bag (gift idea anyone?). It's the right size for all the standard size/shape Build a Bear animals (on any other 18 inch stuffed animal).

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sew: the runway shortie {free pattern download!}

*This post originally appeared at the Ribbon Retreat blog*

I love the look of jumpers/rompers/shorties that I keep seeing on the runway, but there is no way I could ever pull one off, even if I wanted to. You know who can? My baby girl. She can pull off just about anything, so I decided to create a Runway Shortie just for her. It has the cuteness of a dress with the versatility of shorts, so she can run and play to her heart's content.

Do you like it? If you do - get ready to make one for your own little girl! I'll show you how to make your own pattern below, but I'm also offering a FREE pattern download. It's sized at 12-18 months, and fits my little girl (who is a small/average 16 month old) perfectly, so it would probably be best for a baby right around a year old. If your little girl is a different size, just use the instructions below to make your own pattern!

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sew: car visor organizer {from a fat quarter}

If you've been following along with my Take Great Photos of Your Newborn series, you'll know we've already covered the basics and three simple poses, and are about ready to dive into posing the baby with family members, editing, and a fun how-to-get-this-shot. But I decided to take a short break from photography to bring you a sewing project. And so I introduce the car visor organizor:

I have a mini van, and I'm really very grateful to have it. However, it's a pretty basic model. Or maybe really basic would be more accurate. I even have to open and close all the doors by myself (bummer). And there is nowhere (nowhere!) to put my sunglasses, which means they always end up on the floor rolling around hither and thither, which in turn means they are eventually abducted by a young child who either slobbers all over them or snaps them in half. And I really need my sunglasses when I drive. My eyes are apparently sensitive flowers who can't bear the brutal light of a summer's day. Or something like that.

So I thought, hey I'm sure I can come up with some little pouch or pocket or something to put my sunglasses in so they are always within reach and without slobber. And then I thought, hmm, I have a whole bunch of CDs in here rolling around on the floor as well, maybe I can corral them at the same time?

Sure, I could have just gone out and bought a visor CD organizer, but why buy what you can make? With one fat quarter of fabric, no less?

Want to learn how?

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sew: stuffed animal jammies {free pattern!}

I'm guest posting today over at U-Create! I'm sharing a tutorial for making a cute sleeping bag for a stuffed animal - I hope you'll stop by over there to see it!

After I made the sleeping bag, I decided my son's monkey, Jim, needed some new jammies to go with his new sleeping bag, so I drafted a quick pattern and whipped up a pair. They fit all the various Build-a-Bears at our house, and since I made them from scraps, they were a fraction of the cost of pajamas at the Build-a-Bear store.

Want a tutorial? Want to download my pattern for free? Read on!

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Sew: The Runway Shortie {free pattern download!}

I'm guest posting over at The Ribbon Retreat blog again, today with the tutorial for making The Runway Shortie:

I love the look of the shorties/rompers that I keep seeing on the runway (Project Runway, that is!) but there's no way I could ever wear one. But my baby girl can. Complete with shortie shorts, a low gathered waist, and contrasting cuffs and tie, this one-piece is the perfect summer outfit for a little girl.

I've put together a pattern for this cute little outfit so you can make one too! It's sized at 12-18 months, and fits my little girl who is an average/small 16 month old perfectly. If you'd like to make one, download the PDF pattern here!

Then hop on over to The Ribbon Retreat for the full tutorial!

And if your little girl doesn't happen to wear 12-18mo size clothes, never fear! I'll be posting a tutorial next week on how to use a shirt and pair of shorts that fits your girl to modify my pattern, so check back!

Linked up at:

House of Hepworths

Somewhat Simple

A Crafty Soiree

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Tickled Pink

Tatertots and Jello