I finally stopped my lazyness and did it!

As I receive many PM's and e-mails asking for how to's on my toys, I decided to open a DIY thread with instructions for toy making.

Those who love to make toys for their babies themselves, have fun!

Those who have new ideas, please feel free to add your step by step instructions with pictures here.

And those who prefer to buy their toys, we have wonderful vendors!



Fleece Flower



You will need:

Thick electrical cable (whichever length you want the stem of the flower
Double the length of the stem times 3 fleece strips about 4" wide.
20cm x 5cm bunch of fleece strips
One link to hang the flower
2 x medium sized zip ties
1 x large sized zip ties

Instructions:

1. Cut the electrical cable to the desired length.



2. Cut 3 x fleece strips double the length of the electrical cable.



3. Cut a bunch of 20cm x 5cm fleece strips.



4. Attach your link to the one end of the electrical cable. Then cover both ends of the electrical cable with a square sized piece of fleece, and secure with a zip tie.



5. Tie the 3 (double length) fleece strips together, and start to braid around the electrical cable until you reach the other end.





6. Tie the bunch of 20cm x 5cm fleece strips together, and at the same time to the stem you just finished braided.

Toy Around



You will need:

2 meter Thick Electric cable
4" Fleece strips
One hook to attach spiral to cage or glider room.

Instructions:

1. Cut 4" strips of fleece.
2. Twist the strips of fleece all the way around the electric cable until you have covered the entire cable.
3. Take an additional strip of fleece and tie it around the end where the cable stops, in other words, to secure the ends, to prevent any sort of injury.
4. Finally, twist the cable around a bottle shape to achieve the spiral look.

Forage Around





You will need:

1 Hoola Hoop
Beads
Foraging cups
Bathtub ducks
14" Fleece strips

Instructions:

1. Cut 14" wide strips of fleece to cover the entire hoola hoop.
2. Fold the fleece in half lengthwise, cut 1.5" x 5" fringes, leaving the folded end uncut.
3. Tie double knots with the matching fringes around the hoola hoop.
4. Add foraging cups, ducks, beaded strings and whatever your gliders like to play with.

Thanks so much for this Liezl. I bookmarked this thread and can't wait to take advantage of it.

Ball Pit



You will need:

75cm x 20cm landware net
Zip ties
2 x (28x28cm) landware net
Fleece strips
Balls


Instructions:

1. Cut the 75cm x 20cm landware net.



2. Form a circle and secure the landware net with zip ties.



3. Place the circle on top of the 28 x 28 landware net and secure with zip ties.



4. Cut an entrance in the other 28 x 28 panel of landware net.



5. After securing the circle to the bottom net, cut the access net off.




6. Wind the strips of fleece around the edges on the bottom where you attached the net.



7. Continue all the way around and up the side.



8. Cut another entrance on the circle itself and wind fleece around the edges.



9. This is what it should look like at this stage.

Ball Pit Continue:

10. Wind fleece strips around the entrance of the other 28 x 28 panel of net.



11. Secure the top panel with the entrance to the circle, cut the edges like the first panel, and wind together with fleece strips.



Insert the balls, and there’s your ball pit

Play Tunnel

A Big Play Tunnel:


Or a smaller one for the cage:



You can make the Play Tunnel any size you want.

You will need:

landware net
Zip ties
Fleece strips

Instructions:

1. Cut the landware net in a rectangle the size you want it.

2. Bring the two ends together and secure the landware net with zip ties.



3. Wind the strips of fleece around the edges where you attached the net. Continue all the way around and up the side.



8. Cut one or a few entrances in the panel of landware net, and wind fleece around the edges.

Foraging Fun



You will need:

62cm x 10cm landware net
5 x Zip ties
2 x (120cm x 5cm) fleece
Foraging cups, bells etc

Again, you can make this any size you like.


Instructions:

1. Cut the 62cm x 10cm landware net.



2. Form a circle and secure the landware net with zip ties.



3. Wind the fleece strips around the edges of the landware net and continue all the way around. When you get to the starting point, include the starter fleece and continue through the center of the circle.



4. Tie the ends together with a secure knot.





5. Add you accessories!

Pom Poms



You will need:

Fleece
Cardboard
Plastic chain

You can make these any size you like.


Instructions:

1. Cut lengthy strips of fleece and tie together.

2. Cut two circles out of cardboard with a hole in the center.

3. Wind the fleece strips around the cardboard edges until there is almost no space left.





4. Cut around the edges until you reach the center.

5. Pull the cardboard slightly to the sides to expose the center. Tie n knot around the center piece with a strip of fleece.



6. Remove the cardboard pieces.

thanx those are awesome!!!

Most excellant, thanks for sharing. Is the electrical cord okay for chewers?

Thanks for sharing. Heres a picture of the ball pit I made thanks to your instructions. Not bad for a newbee. Working on the tunnel next

You've inspired me to make a tunnel for my tent!

Clover is a brand of crochet/knitting tools, they make a GIANT pom-pom maker that I think is easier to use than the cardboard pieces, but I haven't tried it with fleece yet. Will have to report back on that!

Thank you Gizmogirl for the instructions!
So nice of you to share with all of us!

Thanks!

I don't have chewers. I would think it will take them some time to chew through it, and they will have to get through the fleece first. If you don't feel safe about it, rather not risk it. I haven't had any troubles, and the spiral toy is one of their favorites.

These are great! Thanks for posting! I want to try the ball pit! :-)

You are all welcome.

Thanks for posting this! I'm not craft at all so this helps! haha.

Thanks for posting this and sending me the link for it in the pm I'll be trying out most of these toys. There's so many to choose from I'm not sure where I'll start lol! I'm excited!

Oh wow!! Thanks for sharing all these ideas Lizel!! I can't want to try that flower one! All of these are really great - I'm bookmarking this thread...

Looks like my girls and I will be busy this weekend!
Thanks for the pics with instructions.....I always need visuals with things like this!.

I am having trouble braiding around the electrical cord without the cord showing through in spots. Is there a secret to this?

Where do you get the small 'chain' that you have in 'Foraging Fun'?

This was soooo long ago. We got it from a USA based supplier but unfortunately we do not have contact with her anymore. We are not sure where she got it from.

Ahh oh well. I'll look at the craft store and also the party shop tomorrow.

Let me know if you find some Megs, I would also like to know where I can get it.

I'm so in love with this thread. Bookmarked!

Where can I get landware net? I've looked around but had no luck.

I got the landware net in the garden section at Lowes. And there was a link here on GC that sold the small chain but I don't remember what or when.

Edited: I searched... Critter Hill sells plastic chain. Sorry I don't know if they ship to Africa tho.

I know they sell the chains on ebay if you search plastic chain they have diff sizes and such for decent prices diff colors or rainbow of colors:)

I got landware at Home Depot - it was in the back corner by the lumber.

Will do.

Tell ya what.. If I find any here locally and you want some, I'll send you some. Just reimburse me the shipping.

We ship pretty much everywhere!

Here's the link to the toys parts/chain if anyone needs it: http://www.thesugargliderstore.com/ToyParts.html

Sorry Liezl, couldn't find anything here. Spent a lot of money on craft stuff, but no chains. Guess Critter Hill will have to expect an order from me here in the near future.

Thank you. I think I'll put my order in.

WOW!!! Thanks Liezl~
Im so excited!!! This stuff looks SO great!! AND do-able Hooray!!
Question~ what size is the chain? I know I read somewhere that the chain should be a certain size so they dont get their feet/hands/toes/fingers? caught up! That idea terrifies me
I saw some chain at Lowes the other day but I didnt know if it was safe???
Also, does anyone know if metal chain is ok?



PS They do NOT carry plastic chain at Michaels or AC MOore. fyi.

Here are some links to toys I made recently with some beads plastic toys and balls:)

http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/pp358...-1695193210.jpg

http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/pp358...04-19130346.jpg

http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/pp358...04-19130205.jpg

http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/pp358...04-13175615.jpg



http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/pp358...04-19130103.jpg

http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/pp358...04-19130140.jpg

Plastic chain suppliers that sell by the foot lengths. There are many others that sell in bulk.

WindyCityParrot (1/2" links and up)

Nalani Toys (3/4" length and up)

Well then Lyndsey, if it's do-able, I want to see your end results in the Home made toys let's do it thread! Get to it girl!!

Teresa and others posted some great links for the chain.

I don't use metal chain at all.

Crystal, I love your toys! Please show is your instructions on how to make them as well. If you do not wish to share the how to's, please post your cute toys in our other great thread Home made toys

Where can I buy Balls?

birdsnestonline.com

I've gotten toy making supplies here....good prices, pretty fast shipping too

anywhere locally?

KMART...I am going ball shopping tomorrow! DO they actually play with them?

What kind of balls are you talking about? The wiffle balls? Walmart has them in the sporting good section, usually just the white ones tho. I've not yet found the colored ones locally.

Ashleigh....do you have any specialty bird stores in your area? That sells just birds, cages, toys, etc? There was one near me years ago and they had toy making parts as well, but I think they closed down. You could hit the yellow pages and see....

I've picked up all the balls for my toys in the pet area actually, there are bags upon bags of them in the cat area. Some have bells in them and some are wiffle ball type and they are smaller too.

My suggies love the ones with the bell in them, I think cause they can make the cat think his toys are moving by themselves when he hears the jingle...

I apologize for not getting back here sooner!!! I just tried to write out a simple explanation which did not stay so simple so I deleted the whole thing and have gone back to just saying sorry!

I will definitely post some pics when I manage to get the toys actually made ... and have the cord for my camera OR a new camera...

As for the chain, thanks for the links! I also wanted to know the size that was ok or safe or the ones that are not. I did get some at Lowes that has huge links, size?, so nothing will get caught in it. I definitely need some smaller though and will be ordering some for sure! I just am terrible at waiting! Learning though... these boys are good teachers! I wouldnt wait this much on anyone. LOL!!

Ha ha, these cute little rascals will definitely teach you patience. The 1/2" chain works great. I use both the half inch and the bigger links, not sure of the size on them either. Have fun Lyndsay!

hmmm... I am confused on how to do this??? I got my hula hoop, got fleece, beads, craft lace stuff, some bathtub buddies... I still need to get the little shotglasses - I found some before in a town 1/2 hour away but let my daughter use them for a presentation at school as I thought they were the wrong thing (6th graders doing shots!!
~Of coconut juice. LOL)

I am confused on the fleece cuts... 14" x what fleece strips? 14x14? and then wrap it around and leave the ends which will then be about 5" and cut them 1 1/2 inches wide to wrap around? I think as I was thinking this through I got it but with my luck these days I will be wrong so I would just love to know I got it b4 I actually start cutting.

and with the flower ~ if I fold the end and attach a carabiner (sp?) and then fold some fleece over each end... how do I use the carabiner?

Lindsay, let me cut some fleece and take a pic for you. Give me a few minutes.

Sent you a PM.

I think most people generally use 1/2" (2mm), 3/4" (3mm) or 1" (4mm).

I did read years ago, of a glider being injured with larger chain where toes were caught between 2 chain links.

Thank you!! and ugh to the larger chain... I guess I could use it on stuff that wont go in the cage though ~ where I would always be right there just in case. Man, I thought I at least had that down ok

I appreciate the input!!

Thanks for the heads up.

guess what I plan to do tomorrow as a good mommy??? finally...

I found some multi colored shot glasses at a store called five below or five above... something like that!! SO excited!! hula hoop and twisty thing going to get done tomorrow. I know they have real names but I am having severe computer problems and no sleep last night so I am giving it my best right now. LOL!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY ALL YOU WONDERFUL SUGGIE MOMMYS!!!!

Happy mothers day to you too!!

Can't wait to SEEEEE!!!!!!

Bump for newbies

What is the best way to wash the toys like the ball pit that are made of the landware net and fleece? Thanks!

I normally wash the ball pit in the bath, scrub it down, rince it well with the handheld shower nozzle. Then I squeeze out the excess water absorbed in the fleece and sun dry.

These are all so cOol. My boys are going to love them!

Shrek's Swamp



You can use any theme or color to make this toy just the way you like it.

You will need:

1 x Plastic theme plate ( I used a leaf)


1 x character ( I used Shrek)


6 x 10 inch plastic chain, any color, and
4 x 5 inch plastic chain


2 x Foraging cups

7 x Plastic links


8 x Animal links


Instructions:

1. Drill 4 holes in the plastic plate, equally apart and opposite from each other. Drill two more additional holes on the plate, one on the far left and one on the far right for the chain with the foraging cups.

2. Attach the 6 x plastic links to the plate, leaving one additional link to attach the 4 chain strings at the top.

3. Attach the 4 x 10 inch chain strings to the links already connected to the plate, and link them together at the top with the remaining link.



4. Attach the remaining two 10 inch chain strings to the links on the plate at the far left and far right. Note that the chain in step 3 should go upwards and the chain in step 4 should go the opposite direction. (downwards)

5. Now you can attach the 4 x 5 inch chain downwards to the 4 equal links on the plate.

6. Attach your character (Shrek) to top link.

7. Drill holes in your foraging cups and attach them to the 10 inch plastic chain on the far left and far right, bottom of the plate.

8. Attach 2 x amimal links to each 5 inch chain.

Have Fun!!

Love it!

LOVES this one! OMG, so awesome! You always come up with some awesome toys!

Thank you Cole, I had to make a new toy for my Frog theme cage and Shrek and the swamp fits right into that category.

where did ya get the SHREK!!! lol I him

Could totaly go farther and do an entire shrek/swamp cage! lol (well...a perdy swamp...lol)

He was sitting all alone looking for someone to buy him in a bunch of Shreks at the cashier, so I took him home.

Maybe I'll go get the others too.

Yes, go for it, make a Shrek/swamp cage, a perdy set.

Seems so easy to make! Where do you buy the plastic chains? Although I will be doubt my techniques at making toys... LOL

I got it from Here

Meg - that plastic chain is REALLY expensive! $1.50 a foot! No way!

You can find it so much cheaper! Go to The Sugar Glider Store that Liezl linked - cheaper!

If anyone needs toy parts links - I have tons!

Thank you all!

I made these out of beads and poker chips



Waiting for a better creative mood to strike

Hey that's pretty neat! I wouldn't think to use poke chips for anything other than poker!

I used:

-Fleece
-C-links
-Large Tube Beads
-Lanyard Hooks
-Rainbow Peace Signs
-Frisbee

I can give instructions as long as this is made for personal suggie use and not sold without permission from me first.

Holly and Erica, as this thread is all about do it DIY with instructions, it would be awesome if you guys can provide step by step instructions.

I don't mind vendors making and selling my toys, but as you stated you do. Just put a friendly reminder with the instructions.

I would love to make both your toys for my babies.

I wasn't able to find my cable to my camera (to upload the instruction pictures). I can either try to explain the steps without pictures or wait until I get the cable. It might be super complicated without the pictures involved. The picture I posted was taken with my camera lol. SOO I will get the instructions posted ASAP!

That's for the large chain, not the chain used by Liezl.

From the link that Liezl uses for her chain, it's $1.04 per 2 feet, or 52c per foot.
On the site I linked, it's 45c per foot, or 90c per two feet, so the link I posted is actually cheaper.

great stuff.

I meant to say that the picture posted was taken with my camera on my phone. I will get instructions up tomorrow hopefully.

No worries, I figured that's what you meant to say.

THIS ITEM IS NOT TO BE SOLD WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST!!


OK, I can't find my darn cable! I had made the instructions for a girlfriend, but we just moved so I'm still trying to find everything. SOO I am going to attempt the instructions without the pictures. I found some stuff on Suz no sew accessories that may help my instructions a bit!

1. Get a frisbee, or if you have an old wodent wheel the front/back panels work as well! Drill 5 holes spaced out evenly into the frisbee. If you have the front part of a wodent wheel with the holes for them to enter use that! It makes the trampoline into a little lounger too if you don't make the fabric too taut then it allows the suggies to 'sink' into the holes of the wodent wheel panel. (hope that made sense )

2. Set the frisbee on top of your fabric and cut approximately 3 inches wider all the way around. Cut out two cirlces

3. Pin the two circles around the frisbee. Try to keep the frisbee centered while doing so. Sew all the way around the frisbee sewing as closely to it as you can. Make sure that whatever fabric you want on top is placed on top of the underside of the frisbee (underside of frisbee shown below). This step can be skipped if you do not sew, it is just easier to cut the fabric and keep the frisbee in place.



4. Cut the excess fabric into strips all the way around, be sure to NOT cut into the seams (picture used from suz no sew trampoline).


5. Knot all the strips like so (picture used from suz no sew trampoline). Do this all the way around.



6. Feel the frisbee for the holes that you previously drilled, cut tiny holes all the way through both pieces of fleece (you may need something to push the fabric up through the hole). Do this for each hole.

7. Take the c-links and insert them into the holes in the fabric & frisbee. Take a large tube bead and put it on either end of the c-link. Do this for each drilled hole.



8. Make the c-link tube bead chain as long as you want until it eventually meets in the middle.




10. Attach 1 c-link tube bead to the underside of the frisbee. You should have room to attach it to the first c-links you put in. Attach a lanyard clip to each of these c-links and then attach the rainbow peace signs.



Final product:

THIS ITEM IS NOT TO BE SOLD WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST!!


I apologize for the crummy pictures, they're used from suz's website, a picture of a frisbee found online, and the one final product picture I zoomed in on portions LOL! Additional questions send me a PM!

Erika, Trampoline type toys have been made by MANY different people over the years. There is even a no sew version on Suz's website. I've even made some very similar but I used chain instead of c links.

I'm sorry but I doubt you'll get to hold any "exclusive" right to that one.

I know that, I would just prefer that the peace signs not be put on if people want to sell it they can. It just took A LONG time for me to find those peace signs. I put it on every one that I make. I'm not trying to hold any claims to the idea itself, just to putting those peace signs on it and then selling it. Does that make sense? I know it sounds weird lol, but I searched for peace signs that would fit onto lanyard clips for a few months. SOO, in other words, I do not care if people make this and sell it, just don't put the peace signs on there.. it's my little trade mark.. stupid I know.

JMO, but peace signs have been used before, so I personally don't think it's original enough for people to need to get your permission to put peace signs on their trampolines and sell 'em..

Never saw it before, didn't know. Just took a super long time to find those peace signs, and I have a bit of an obsession with them .

To be honest, I have never seen a peace sign in any toy I have ever seen. I would love to buy some !! All the cage sets I made are in a peace sign fleece .

I just find it odd that you can use Suz's photo (even though credit is given) for your idea and then try to claim no one else can make and sell them, peace signs or not.

Most things that are "exclusive" are very unique, not just a take on someone else's idea. Such as the Sissy Pouch or so many of Karin's fabulous Floppy pouches (and so many other awesome things).

I'm not trying to be rude or hurt your feelings, honestly. I just see so often when someone gets upset over an idea that really isn't original.

Oh, and Connie (suggiemom_1980) has quite and obcession with peace signs too!

All of these ideas are great! and very helpful. Thank you ladies and/or gentlemen for taking the time to share them and there instructions with us.

OMG I LOVE PEACE SIGNS LOL .. she's got good tastse heh.

You're not being rude, I understand, and I made sure I gave credit to Sue. I would have posted my own pictures but I can't find my cable.. I'd lose my head too if it weren't attached.

If I thought it was an 'original' idea then I would be a complete moron lol. And if I didn't want to share the way I made it then I wouldn't have posted it. I don't know.. I guess I really don't care at all if people make them the same way and sell them. I'm just so used to people on here/anywhere taking claim to anything and everything (even if they weren't the original makers), that I started doing it myself (monkey see monkey do I suppose).

I never said my idea was new and original. And I'm sure people have done something similar with making a trampoline a lounger as well (I used a wodent wheel panel so suggies can sink in and lounge on it too ). I guess I just like the peace signs and have never seen any other toys/toy ideas with peace signs.

I don't know if any of that made sense.. I'm on a medication and can't tell my head from my butt lol.

these are great! I will be trying these out as soon aswe get paid