homemade toy craft ideas

[Rainbow]

I need some ideas for homemade toys that I can make with the kids. for example, the other day we made shakers/drums out of empty salt drums- paper peeled, stuffed with beans and covered in tissue paper. Came out real cute.

But I'd also like ideas for homemade toys I can simply make for the kids as well... they seem to like the homemade ones better than the expensive ones. lol.

[klondikesky]

A few books that are loaded with ideas...

The Children's Year (general, seasonal, assumes some knowledge of knitting/crochet and woodworking for some projects)
KinderDolls (dollmaking)
Feltcraft (felt balls, finger puppets, dolls, animals, etc...)

These have a waldorf bent, and are all very user friendly... even if you're an utter beginner like me. My daughters love the toys I/we make so much that my dh even made them a Christmas present himself this year (a mobile).

If you sew at all, check out www.weewonderfuls.com for a darling free pattern for 'weebles (wobble but they don't fall down...)'.

If you knit, www.jimmybeanswool.com has really cute free play food patterns.

Have fun!

[OTMomma]

I've made a number of toys for dd. Here's a list of things we've done to get you thinking:
Dolls- I got a kit/pattern from Joy's to get me started
Gnomes- little peg people like the OLD little people from the craft store that I painted and glued some felt cothes to
Play silks dyed with kool aid
Dress up clothes- just made these from Christmas and it was a blast to make! I made tails, vests, aprons and a cape- no pattern needed
Bean Bags
Felt board

I feel like there's more but that's all I can think of right now.

Laura

[sarasprings]

I haven't made a bunch of things with my son except for some of the instruments you mentioned and some other little things that weren't/aren't so long lasting. For him, I've made (many are repeats):

bean bags
bark blocks
cape (this was his Christmas present -- just a half circle with the edges finished and a tie sewn on)
felt board
tepee/tent
playsilks
pillow case for a travel pillow for his bed

I know there are others that I can't think of now. I have some websites, too, on my old computer which I need to transfer for simple things like tops, so I'll get back to you when I get them.

[Kari_mom]

A website that has a ton of ideas is www.familyfun.go.com. OK, it is Disney and mainstream, but there is lots of good stuff too. Crafts, toys, science experiments, they have it all.

[Rainbow]

wow, thank you all so much.... i am thinking homemade toy making will be a big part of our family time. DH and i need more things that compell and interest us while amusing the kids to and all these seem perfect. thank you all so much.

[Rainbow]

what are bark blocks?

For anyone else looking for ideas I made fairy wands out of a thin stick/branch by gluing two star felt pieces together over one end and tying a few ribbons on. I also finished the ends with a thread and needle, but purely for cosmetic reasons. it has lasted longer then I expected it to.

[SunRayeMomi]

Speaking of wands, we make wizard wands out of thick skewers and alternate wrapping them with different colored pipe cleaners and threading beads onto them. They're pretty cute.

[Slabobbin]

What cool ideas! I'm going to have to get on the ball with DS.

[sarasprings]

Originally Posted by Rainbow

what are bark blocks?

Blocks that still have the bark on them. We made ours out of tree branches.

[knittingmomma]

We love, love making hand crafted toys - knitted balls, knitted gnomes, juggling bean bags, regular size bean bags, branch blocks (cut from branches), felted balls (the children love making these), wands with wool felt starts, wool felt animals, hand knit animals.
The books that were suggested are great - along with Toymaking with Children (my absolute favorite)! And, it is so funny, our 21 month old also loves this book - I think it is because she sees us making so many of the toys in the book and recognizes many of them as her own.
Have fun.
Warm wishes,
Tonya

[4evermom]

play food

I made some play food that pleased me (it's not ds's thing, however). Using walnuts, I made strawberries by painting them and glueing a star shaped piece of green felt on the end. I saved a berry carton to store them in. I also made felt eggs (the sunny side up variety). I just sewed a little yellow circle, with a little stuffing underneath, on an irregularly shaped white oval. I sized them a little smaller than real life so they fit on toy plates and INSIDE Easter Eggs. So cute.