Could we make a list of make-at-home toys? - Page 4

[sunanthem]

Here's a you tube tutorial for making a doll cradle out of an oatmeal container;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu0TSlfoPzo

[sunanthem]

homemade slip n slide!

Water slides aren't just for amusement parks. Make one in your own backyard for some slippery fun.
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Steps
1 Purchase a large roll of plastic, at least 4 feet wide and 12 feet long. Plastic tarps work as well.

2 Choose a sunny area for your water slide, on an incline or hill and within reach of a hose.

3 Unroll the plastic. Make sure no rocks or hard or sharp objects are sitting underneath it.

4 Rake away any grass or leaves around the water slide area, as these will stick to the participants once they are wet.

5 Spray the entire water slide with water and lay the hose at the top of the slide so that water continues to run down.

6 Dress all participants in bathing suits and water shoes and let them slide down one by one.

7 Have people slide sitting, lying on their backs, and head first.

8 Allow the plastic to dry in the sun before rolling it up and putting it away.

[Flor]

Originally Posted by mehndi mama

My dad made something similar for my boys, only for screwdriver skills rather than hammering. He took a block of maple, drilled holes in it, and installed those steel screw-sleeve thingies - they keep the hole from stripping out when you screw a screw in and out repeatedly. Then he put 4 different screws in the block - standard, Phillips head, hex bolt, and hex socket (that you use an allen wrench to move).

We bought one, but when my dad saw it, he said he could have made it.

http://www.montessoriservices.com/st...h=110_130_1679

[MaShroom]

Subbing cuz this is a great thread and must be kept alive!
I found some thin boards at a recycle shop and knew I must have them. Now I've figured out what to do with them! I'm covering them with cloth and sewing fasteners all over them. Strings to tie and braid, snaps, hook and eye, buttons, buckles, velcro, frog closure, and whatever else I can salvage off of clothing I use for recons.
Let's not forget Sculpey people! A multitude of little playthings can be made from this stuff. Dolls, doll heads (make the body from something else), miniature play food, things for dollhouses, jewelry... There is a polymer clay forum on craftster.org, there are many amazing ideas there. They also have a toys, dolls, and playthings forum that I lurve.
I don't know if anyone else mentioned it but playclothes are a popular item at our house. I remember once my mom gave my sister and I an enormous box of thrifted playclothes for Christmas. This was the early 80's and back when thrift stores were full of some kickin' finds. We were in hog heaven!! It would be a little harder to find silver lame thigh high chunky boots which were the favorite item but it's doable. Sometimes I find formal wear in little sizes that can be altered a bit for princess dresses and such. Keep an eye out for square dance petticoats, those rock! And boys do love cool capes. Nice fabric from ratty formal wear can be hacked up to make king, knight, superhero costumes.
So there's my 2 cents.

[CatsCradle]

Originally Posted by alaska

I found a website yesterday where someone made roll up chalk "boards" for on the go. VERY cool. I ordered the chalk fabric yesterday - can't wait to make some. They were made of chalk fabric, another fabric for the back, she used an iron on plastic to protect the non-chalk fabric, made loops for the chalk (I think I'll make a pocket though), bordered the whole thing in wide bias tape and used ribbon to tie it.

I'll see if I can find the site again. HERE - scroll down a little

Alaska: may I ask where you ordered the "chalk fabric"? I love this idea and want to get a bunch made for the holidays for the nieces and nephews as well!

[mehndi mama]

I'm pretty sure www.homesew.com has it.

[mehndi mama]

Here we go - fabric.com has it:
http://www.fabric.com/home-decor-fab...alk-cloth.aspx

[alaska]

that's exactly where I got it, mendhi mama - fabric.com

I've been monkeying around with the "pattern" for the last few days, I don't like the way the chalk is held on with the elastic, and there isn't any place for an eraser (or the microfiber cloths I got and cut down to use in place of...) I think I'm going to put a fabric border around the chalkboard fabric and put pockets that velcro closed on either side in the border.

I hope to have at least one done tonight.

I also made a tool belt/apron out of an old pair of carpenter-style jeans yesterday - I'll post a picture later today

[masherrell]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...3711_0_ALB.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...3711_0_ALB.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...l/100_0025.jpg

I made these two dolls for my DD and my niece. I died the playsilks for my DD and DS. This was part of last years Christmas. I made a doorway puppet theater also.

[KJoslyn78]

i've been looking up free and bought a couple of play food patterns.

For dd#2's birthday we got her a doll baby changing table and i made her wipes and CDs for her doll (which i would like to get replaced with a all cloth doll - ds keeps clobbering people with her hard plastic head!)

here's pics of the wipes and CDs i made:
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...picture181.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...ng/picture.jpg

[cinnamama]

Originally Posted by KJoslyn78

i've been looking up free and bought a couple of play food patterns.

For dd#2's birthday we got her a doll baby changing table and i made her wipes and CDs for her doll (which i would like to get replaced with a all cloth doll - ds keeps clobbering people with her hard plastic head!)

here's pics of the wipes and CDs i made:
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...picture181.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...ng/picture.jpg

SOOO sweet!

[HerthElde]

Subbing to get ideas! I'll find my idea file soon to add some as well.

[Hannahsmummy]

What a great thread! Thanks so much for all the ideas, we are definitely going to make gifts for friends this Christmas.

I've really just started making toys for my daughter but so far she's got a muslin doll, a felt cat, lots of fairy wool people and I have just started a sock monkey.
Together we have made beanbags and a cardboard dollhouse.

Here's the felt cat, she's called 'Chat Rose'
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...m/chatrose.jpg

[alaska]

cute cat!

[nonniecita]

subbing
love the kitty!!!! do you have directions?

Thanks!
Michelle

[LaughingHyena]

For the person asking for a kite pattern

http://www.people.ex.ac.uk/jastaple/....html#template
http://www.easykitesforkids.netfirms...d_air_sled.htm

I've made quite a few of this type using plastic bags (usually heavy duty bin liners) and garden canes. They fly well and survive most crashes! I haven;t tried making them from paper though.

[Hannahsmummy]

Originally Posted by nonniecita

subbing
love the kitty!!!! do you have directions?

Thanks!
Michelle

Thanks!
I actually just winged it.

I cut the body from felt and needle felted on the face with merino wool roving. Then I cut the clothes-basically two rectangles, out of fabric, hemmed them and sewed them on to the front part of the body, just sweing around the edges. Then the front and back halves were sewn together leaving an opening to add stuffing. I used combed wool as I have a full fleece here.
Then I sewed the opening up and added the embelishments by hand.

[mariag]

felt food question:

for those of you that have tried this, how tight should I be pulling the fabric? I tried some strawberries and loved them put now they are pulling apart at the seam????

any tips?

thanks maria

[KariM]

Originally Posted by mariag

felt food question:

for those of you that have tried this, how tight should I be pulling the fabric? I tried some strawberries and loved them put now they are pulling apart at the seam????

any tips?

thanks maria

When I sew felt food that is going to be stuffed I leave it a bit looser to allow for some flexing. I found that the higher quality felt (thicker wool) holds up much better over the long run!

Another thing to watch for is how tightly are you filling them? Make sure to leave a bit of "give" as well.

[sunanthem]

Originally Posted by LaughingHyena

For the person asking for a kite pattern

http://www.people.ex.ac.uk/jastaple/....html#template
http://www.easykitesforkids.netfirms...d_air_sled.htm

I've made quite a few of this type using plastic bags (usually heavy duty bin liners) and garden canes. They fly well and survive most crashes! I haven;t tried making them from paper though.

Thanks!

Here is some new toys I've made

Felt teddy stuffed with rice;
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50.../Picture51.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50/sunanthem/bear.jpg

wool needle felted fairy
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50...Picture195.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a50...Picture196.jpg