How to Sew a Sock Monkey.

This classic American sock monkey is affordable, easy to make, and a ton of fun for crafters of all ages. We made ours with the Red Heel sock - but of course you can make them with any sock!  This sweetie was featured on Creative Juice in the Monkey Business episode. 

Supplies:

One pair of Rockford Red Heel Socks

Polyester fiberfill

Red yarn

Red thread

Sewing machine

Hand sewing needles

Black embroidery floss

 Diagram is from The Rockford Red Heel Company.

Turn the sock inside out. Working on sock #1 - Sew a seam 1/2 inch on both sides of the center of sock starting three inches from the white heel and across the end of the top. Cut the sock between the seams and to within 1-1/2 inches of white heel. This leaves an opening in the crotch. Then turn the sock so the seams are on the inside and use the crotch opening to stuff the head, body and legs.

 Turn the monkey body right side out. Break off small clumps of stuffing and begin stuffing the body and legs of the monkey. Add stuffing until the monkey body and legs are firm.


The rest of the steps are working with sock #2. The Rockford Red Heel sock monkey diagram is included here.

ARMS: Cut the upper part of the sock into two pieces. Seam, rounding the ends and stuff the arms. Hand-stitch to the body.

 TAIL: Cut a one-inch strip, taper to end of cuff on length of front of sock. Seam and stuff. Hand-stitch to the body.

MOUTH: Cut the heel from the sock, leaving a brown edge around the white. Fasten on lower part of the face, whip-stitching around the bottom; stuff and finish sewing around the top. The mouth can be improved by a running stitch of either black or white across the middle of the lips.

EARS: Cut the ears from the remaining brown part of the sole of the sock. Hand-stitch to the head.

EYES: embroider with black thread.

The monkey is finished at this point, but you can continue to sew costumes for her or him!

Resources:
Rockford Red Heel sock

Kids Craft: Paper Flowers and a Chip Tube Vase

Kids crafts ideas are always a hot topic for us.  I get letters from parents and grandparents asking about crafts they can so with kids.  So today I am sharing this chip can vase with flowers.

We just used a little Mod Podge, scrapbook paper, paint and coffee filters {{plus some other goodies}} to make both the vase and flowers.  Kids will love designing their own flowers.

For complete instructions:

 Visit our project page at PLAID!

DIY: Doll Bed from a Breakfast Tray

Recycled Doll Bed - perfect for American Girl Dolls

Yep.....this little dolly bed is made from breakfast tray that was flipped upside down and transformed with just a few screws.  The linens and pillows are made from fleece and flannel and are no sew - just a drop or two of fabric glue is all we used.

DIY: Altered Composition Notebook with Mod Podge

This is seriously easy and the design ideas are endless!   

One question I get all the time is what would be a good craft for a slumber party or a group of tweens......well I think this is perfect!  I see the comp style notebooks on sale all the time and you only need two sheet of scrapbook paper.  Of course you could also magazine clippings, old book pages, wrapping paper, etc.  The letter was made from a reclaimed cereal box!

Make it: Grown Up Paper Beads and Rose Quartz Necklace

 On the set of Creative Juice...making beads and stringing them up.

  

Make it: Paper Beads

Re-Craft tiny scraps of paper into pretty beads.

Materials:
Mod Podge - gloss
Colorful wrapping or scrapbook paper (glossy works best)
Scissors
Bamboo skewers

1. Cut paper into triangles approximately 1" or less across the bottom and approximately 2" long.

2. Apply Mod Podge to the back of the paper.

3. Starting at the wide end of the paper, roll it tightly around a bamboo skewer.

4. Apply glue to the last 1/2" of the paper (the pointed end) and roll into place. Once it dry, apply Mod Podge over the surface of the beads to create a glossy finish.

Make it: Paper Bead and Rose Quartz Necklace

Materials:
2 paper beads
clasp
chain (long enough to make necklace the desired length)
decorative beads (here, two beads were used, one large and one small rosy quartz)
2 jump rings
2 crimp beads
wire cutters
round-nose jewelry pliers
1 head pin

1. Cut a length of chain to use as the base of the necklace.

2. Slide rosy quartz beads onto a head pin. With the wire cutters, snip off the head pin excess, leaving enough to make a loop. Use round-nose pliers to form a loop at the end of the head pin.

3. Locate the middle point of the chain and attach the bead charm you just made to this point. Use pliers to open the loop of the head pin and attach it to the link in the middle of the chain.

4. Slide paper beads onto the chain, putting one on each side of the charm.

5. With round-nose pliers open up the jump rings and attach one to each end of the chain. Attach one half of the clasp to one of the jump rings and the other half of the clasp to the other jump ring. Close the jump rings with the pliers.

Kids Craft: Saucy Monster

Kids Craft: Saucy Monster

I have a great new project for kids - they are kind of like Japanese characters meets Cousin It. I am calling them saucy monsters. Boys and girls really love this project. They also double as banks, secret spots etc. - because you can lift the hair out and place coins (etc) into the bottle.

Plus if you have any "eyelash" yarn it is great way to use it up. I really love the glow in the dark Mod Podge and kids really love it!

They are made with a plastic salad dressing bottle or a Gatorade style bottle.

Here are the instructions:

1 plastic bottle (large opening at the top)
1 yard cheese cloth
Mod Podge - Glow in the dark
Crazy yarn
Googley eyes
Craft glue
Foam paint brush

1. Clean the bottle and peal the label off as best you can.
(you could spray paint them black if you want to)

2. Unfold the cheese cloth and begin attaching it to the bottle with the Mod Podge. Wrap like a mummy and keep adding the Mod Podge. Use your fingers to press down. Set aside to dry.

3. Make the hair by wrapping crazy yarn around a 10" piece of cardboard (or you could use a yellow note pad) until you have a full amount if hair. Cut a small piece of yarn and place it towards the top, bring it through all the loops and tie a secure knot. At the other end, use scissors to cut the hair loose.

4. Glue googley eyes to the front.

5. Add the hair by placing the knot side into the opening on the bottle. You might need to trim the hair of your monster.

Milk Mummy

another variation using milk cartons

make it: Play Cake

This little cutie is is calorie free and loaded with sweetness! 

What you will need:

3 Styrofoam Circle Disks

Apple Barrel - Pink Paint

Apple Barrel - Yellow Paint

Paintbrush

Hot Glue Gun Heleprs

Hot Glue

Ribbons

Paper Flowers

Silk Flowers

Pom Pom Trim

Small Canned Food

Lid To a Plastic Tub

Let's Make It!

 Paint two of the disks pink and paint one of the disks yellow.  The Apple Barrel paint sinks into styrofoam making it the perfect choice for this project.  Bonus...this paint is also one of the least expensive acrylic craft paints!

Add hot glue to the top of on of the pink disks.

 Layer the yellow disk on top of the pink disk.

 Hot glue the second pink disk on top of the yellow disk.

 Working on one of the disk seams, hot glue a band of ribbon around the cake.

 Repeat for the other seam.

 Hold the paper flower with the HGGH tweezer. 

Add hot glue to the back of a paper flower.

 Position around the top of the cake.

 Continue around the cake.

Working in between the the ribbons, add flowers to the sides of the cake.

Hot glue a jumbo flower to the top of the cake.

Use the paddle so you don't crush the flowers.

Working on the bottom of the cake, hot glue pom pom trim around the cake.  Use your finger cap so you don't burn your finger!

 Remove the label from the can.

 Hot glue ribbons around the can.

Hot glue the lid to the top of the can.

Use the press wand for a firm press.

Link Parties

New twist on Coffee Filter Flowers.

I have been making coffee filter flowers with kids for years!  We showcased a version of them using food coloring to dye them on episode 110 of Creative Juice.   Now we are using paint and glitter paint to add the bold pop of color to the flowers.  For the vase we recycled a chip can. The can was coated in Mod Podge, wrapped with paper and decorated with Popsicle sticks and paper flowers.  This project was designed for Plaid.....Please visit this link to see all our Plaid Projects.

Let's Make!

For the Vase:

Flower Print Scrapbook Paper 12X12
Chip Tube - Cleaned (Pringles works well)
Scissors
Ruler and Pencil
Foam Paintbrush
Mod Podge ® Matte
2 Wood Popsicle Sticks
FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Citrus Green
Craft Glue
Paper Flowers, Buttons, Scrap Ribbons

Steps:

1. Wrap the scrapbook paper around the cleaned chip can. Trim the paper to fit around the can with a little over hang on the ends. Coat the back of the paper with Mod Podge. Position the paper on the chip can. Top-coat with a coat of Mod Podge. Use your fingers to press out any air bubbles. Smooth your brushstrokes. Allow to dry.

2. Paint the Popsicle sticks Citrus Green. Allow to dry. Cut one of the sticks in half. Glue the sticks to the chip can in the style of flower stems.

3. Glue flowers and buttons to the flower stems. Glue ribbon around the top of the chip can.

For the Flowers

Scrap Ribbon Coffee Filters (2 per flower)
Wax paper
FolkArt ® Extreme Glitter™ - Turquoise
FolkArt ® Artists Pigments™ - Aqua
Foam Paintbrush
Bamboo Skewer (1 per flower)
Green Yarn (1/2 yard per flower)
Instructions

Steps:

1. For each flower you will need to paint two coffee filters. Open and flatten the filters. Place them on wax paper. Dry-brush paint the flowers. Begin with a small amount of Aqua paint on your brush. Lightly paint the filters working from the inside of the circle to the outer edge. Leave white spaces to add highlights to the flowers.

2. Add glitter highlights by randomly painting a coat of Turquoise Extreme Glitter over the filters.

Place the two filters wrong-sides together. Pierce the center with the bamboo skewer. Slide the filters to almost the end of the skewer. Add a drop of glue and scrunch the filters to form a flower.

Tie a piece of yarn around the bottom of the flower. Wrap the yarn around the base of the flower and to the skewer-stem, tie the end in a knot to secure.

Plaid Craft TV: Kids Play Kitchen and Toy Cake

Learn How! Watch the Video

A dream-come-true for budding chefs: a pint-size kitchen made with love and FolkArt acrylic paint! Games, make-believe and simply sweet décor have been specially created for the younger set. Stay tuned for all three Kids' Activities segments and bonus projects, too!

For Complete Instructions Visit This Link

bonus idea below!

This bonus idea is perfect making toy cakes, pies or cupcakes.  For this we used recycled elements, paint and styrofoam disks.  For the instructions for the designs pictured visit this link.

Kids Craft: Chip Can Rocket Ship

Kids Craft:
Chip Can Rocket Ship

Transform an ordinary chip can into an amazing, imagination-blasting rocket! All you need is a tall chip can, construction paper and imagination!  Kids will love personalizing their rocket-ships.

Materials:
potato chip can
Folkart silver craft paint
construction paper
glue stick
rubber band
small scraps of paper
glitter paint
corrugated paper
Folkart silver craft paint

Steps:

1. Glue construction paper around the can; hold the paper in place with rubber bands until dry.

2. Add an oval window, star details and glitter.

3. Cut a half circle out of construction paper, slit halfway up from the flat edge, twist together to form a cone and glue in place.

4. Cut a paper towel roll in half, cover with construction paper and glue to the body of the rocket.

5. Add cut triangles of corrugated paper for fins. Paint them silver, let the paint dry and attach them to the rocket.

6. To make the rocket zoom across a room, cut a drinking straw in half and attach with hot glue to the center body of the rocket. Thread monofilament through the straw and run the line across the room. Pull the rocket to one end of the room and push across the room.

DIY Tricked Out Suitcase

Trick out your suitcase with paper cutouts and Mod Podge!

Visit this link for the instructions.

Kids Craft Archive

Make a Toy Kitchen

Play Cake

Chip Can Rocket Ship

Clay Bugs

Mini Sponge Cake and Pies

Felt Book

Sofa For Barbie

Felted Critters

Yarn and Tissue Trees

Milk Jug Pinatas

Gumball Slippers

Mod Podge Barrette Holder

Hand Print Wreath

Bath Time Puppets

Recycled Doll Bed

Kids Tea Table

Painted Sneakers

Glow Monsters

Teaching Kids to Sew

Chalkboard Globe

Make it: Mermaid Doll

Don’t throw away those scraps! Spare felt, yarn, and ribbons are the key ingredients for this incredibly easy mermaid doll.

Supplies:
Cotton twill fabric – body color
Sewing machine or hand-sewing needle
Matching thread
Pillow stuffing
1 –2” wide ribbon/tail base, 6” long
Assorted ribbons, 20-30 pieces (10-18” long)
Fusible hem tape (such as Stitch Witchery)
Felt: 1 body color, 1 orange, 1 bluegreen
1 skein eyelash yarn (for hair)
Iridescent dimensional paints (sea greens, blues, silvers)
Fantastic Face doll iron-on transfer
15 – 20 shell buttons
4 dozen small pearls
White embroidery floss
6 mini seashells
Hot glue gun
Bone folder
Iron
Pressing cloth
Pins
Tailor’s chalk / pencil

Click to save and re-size larger or smaller.

Steps:
1. To create the mermaid body: trace the doll body template onto cotton twill fabric and cut two. Pin pieces together, right sides facing, and stitch with a ¼” seam leaving the bottom straight edge open. Use scissors to cut notches around the curves and turn right side out using a bone folder from the inside to smooth out the shape.


2. Lightly iron the head portion of the mermaid, warming it. Place Fantastic Face Iron-on Transfer doll face in the center of the head, face down, and cover with a pressing cloth. Firmly iron for approximately 25 seconds on medium-high heat. Do not move the iron too much or the face will shift. Remove the pressing cloth, allowing the transfer to cool for 10 seconds, and then slowly remove the transfer backing. Set the face by ironing lightly again with the pressing cloth.

3. Fill the mermaid body with pillow stuffing using a bone folder to push the stuffing all the way into the head area. Leave 1” of slack fabric at the open end to insert the tail.



4. Create the tail by laying the 2” wide ribbon tail base horizontally on your work surface. Place a piece of fusible hem tape, cut to size, on top of the ribbon. Begin layering the 10-18” long ribbons vertically along the tail base. Alternate a layer of tail ribbons and a layer of fusible bonding web, but do not make more than 4 layers or it will be too difficult to stitch through. Finish with a last piece of fusible web and fold the edges of the tail base ribbon back over the layered pieces to create a closed wrap. Be sure that the width of the tail will fit into the bottom of the doll. Firmly iron on both sides, using a pressing cloth, until the webbing melts and secures all of the tail ribbons.

5. Insert and pin the tail base into the open end of the mermaid body, folding under raw edges of body fabric to make a finished edge. Stitch closed using a zipper foot.

6. Use dimensional paints to create the tail scales. Start halfway down the body and paint 1” arches, facing down, across the front waist and fill in with paint. Alternate colors (4 or more works best) to differentiate each scale from another. Repeat this process down the front of the doll body and onto the tail base ribbon to blend them together. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours, and then repeat for the backside.


7. Create a belt, by sewing shell buttons onto a piece of ribbon, using hot glue to attach it to the mermaid body, covering where the scales start.

Click to save and re-size larger or smaller.

8. Cut out felt arms, shell bikini top and starfish using the given templates or create your own. Attach using hot glue or Fabric-Tac glue.

9. Give your mermaid a necklace by threading the small pearls onto 12” of embroidery floss and tying around her neck, trimming excess floss.

10. Create knots of eyelash yarn to become hair by tying strands of yarn together in the center. Make several bunches of three different lengths. Hot glue on the hair knots starting with the long knots along the back of head (ear to ear), then medium ones framing the face, and finishing with the small one on the crown of her head. Finish off your mermaid by giving her a tiara by hot gluing 5-6 small shells along her hairline.