What I plan to look for whenever I go out... is these sturdy felt pieces. They come usually at holiday time so these are all ducks and bunnies, but I can make a out door theme page and use these as pieces. Add a piece of velcro to the back and they are good to go! The bag of
beads...they look like dice. I plan to use them in a counting page, not only
to count the beads, but also, count the dots on the dice!
The packages of 25 felt pieces...$7 and I had a 50% off coupon so I got 2
packs for $7. It was also on sale for 5 sheets for $1 and I wish now I
had looked for some other unusual colors, but.. I can always go back! The book will be filled with "all things felt" so I know it will get used! Felt can't be washed, so first tip....make the book pages in fabric and use NO felt on it.. that way you can toss the pages into the washer if you need to. Any individual felt piece...if to dirty, just make another one.
Next is the notions. I already have plenty of velcro which is probably the most used notions in a quiet book! But.. snap and hook/eyes are the second and third most popular notion so I picked up a few of each. I also get a new bottle of Aleens Tacky glue for gluing things onto felt. I hear it works better than Elmers. Plus,.,,the exciting part... GLOW IN THE DARK THREAD!!!!! I bought it last year and used it on the pillow cases I made my grand kids and it worked great so I thought I'd have it on hand for some things for this little guy. It was "buy one get one free"...so I got 2! Granted, he probably won't be playing with the book in the dark, but I will think about making something that goes with the book, but comes off...that he can take into the dark area to play with a bit. And a package of wiggle eyes, I know those will come in handy!!
However, can't start anything without a pattern. Coloring books are the best place to find patterns for things like this! I stopped at the Dollar Store on the way home, looked through them and chose two that had a few pic I could use as patterns.
This one of the sundae....I will make the bowl attached to the page, and
then different colors (for flavors) of the various ice cream scoops. He
can learn colors, creativity and 
This page has some shape patterns. Matching shapes, colors or use the bird in a page theme
So now... I have to decide on the size of page to make. In all the blogs and pinterests I have looked at, not a single one mentioned how large they made the pages, so I am going to consider certain sizes and make a decision on my own. I am thinking cutting 10x10. That will be quick and easy to work with.
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Also something I didn't read about was what fabric everyone used for their books. 35 years ago when I made them for my daughter... I used a heavy canvas that I didn't like, but didn't have anything else. I used some cotton on later ones. I know know more than I did then, so I am going to use my fabric stash of Kona solids, with a iron on interfacing and then have a very thin batting in the center. I have some left from my quilts...and it is the perfect "thinness". I want the page to have some definition and not just flat. I will make the pages in all different colors! So.. here I go... first step...choose the cotton, cut the fabric, cut the interfacing and iron on, cut the batting and have it ready to be placed in the middle. So, here I go!
Looking forward to seeing you make this. I have a new (one and only) great-grandson that I would love to make one for.
ReplyDeleteFollow along then! I am really excited to make this. They are not hard, just time consuming...and great for doing while watching TV or out o the patio in warm weather.
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