Pinterest Love: Fall Nature Crafts

Even though I am in North Florida and the highs are still in the low eighties/high seventies, there is some seasonal change around here.  The Live Oaks are dropping acorns.  Goldenrod is in bloom.  So are Mums.  Red Maples and Dogwoods are changing color too.   


I would love to do some fall crafts with Penelope this year.  We have already done a couple of Halloween ones.


All of these Fall Nature Crafts on Pinterest were so inspiring, I can't wait to try some!

And you all remember my fabric pumpkin debacle on Facebook?  Well, maybe these will be easier??

By Best Kids Health Blog

Handmade Crinkly Baby Toy

I recently made Penelope a cloth, crinkly, clutching toy (say that 3 times fast). I also made one for my friend Lia and her new baby Lucia. Penelope was given one, just like this, from a friend of mine and it was the first toy she showed any interest in. Because it was cloth, she was able to clutch much easier. And because it crinkled, it was endless entertainment. These days she is more into anything that is NOT a toy, but she still likes it.

Ok, so first cut two squares of fabric, any size will do. Then cut out pieces of ribbon. You can do a lot and space them close or farther apart, your call. Then pin them facing inwards like the picture. Then put the right sides of the fabric together and make a little sandwich with the ribbon inside and sew all the way around, but leave a space to turn your toy back inside out. I left a too small of a space and it took me FOREVER to turn in back inside out.


















Insert your crinkly object into the hole opening. I used the stuff you wrap gift baskets in, and I can't even think of the name right now. Penelope got up at 5am this morning ready to party, so who can blame me. But you could use anything else that crinkles.



















Once you turn it back inside out, do a top stitch all the way around. Where you left the hole open, turn the edges and fold them inside. Once you do the the top stitch, you wont be able to tell where your hole was. I did mine in purple thread, even though it didn't match because I was too lazy to change my thread. You could do a much cuter color combo.

Done! Time to play! See what I mean? Penelope is much more interested in Sky than her new handmade toy.