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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Re: Re: DO IT YOURSELF - TOYS - PART ONE
[Re: Gizmogirl]
#1089450 03/23/1110:13 PM03/23/1110:13 PM
Most excellant, thanks for sharing. Is the electrical cord okay for chewers?
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.
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...
Re: Re: DO IT YOURSELF - TOYS - PART ONE
[Re: Gizmogirl]
#1098834 04/12/1101:01 PM04/12/1101:01 PM
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.