Hello, June. Hello, rain. I kind of love you.
First: Two new reader book slings to report. This adorable robot one from Katie's Corner.
And this sweet one from a reader named Kelsey for her son, William:
I am always, always tickled to see these, guys. Keep 'em coming. I'll add these shots to the book sling tutorial in a bit.
Now, for a new tutorial. It's kind of a silly one.
Back in April, we threw a 70th birthday party for my wonderful dad. We sort of treated it like a kid's party, complete with party hats, goody bags and, well, we meant to play this game:
I had made bean bags with the faces of all our family members on them. I planned to cut a tree shape out of plywood, cut holes in it, paint it and play a sort of Family Tree Bean Bag Toss. The tree never happened, though, so the kids just kind of tossed around the bean-filled versions of themselves (which they loved, by the way. What's not to love? Their face on a bean bag. Put their face on broccoli and they'd eat it. Hmm ... there's an idea).
You, however, might be certainly are more adept at carpentry than me, so maybe you'll give the tree a go. Start working on that, and I'll show you how to make the bean bags.
(By the way, I'm predicting carpentry is going to be the next knitting. I seriously would love to get more into it.)
You will need: your computer, printer, PhotoFabric (made by a company called Blumental Craft) or some other brand of fabric that can run through a printer, sewing supplies, scrap fabric and, of course, beans. Pinto or otherwise.
Step 1: Create a word-processing or page-design document on your computer with four photos per 8 ½ by 11-inch page.
Step 2: Following package instructions, print the document onto photo fabric.
Step 3: Cut out each photo. Cut a piece of scrap fabric of the same size. Place the photo and the fabric on top of one another, right sides facing. Sew around three sides, either by hand or with a machine.
Step 4: Turn the bean bag right side out and use a turning tool (a knitting needle works great) to fill with beans, being careful not to over stuff it. You want the beans to be able to jiggle around somewhat loosely inside the bag.
Step 5: Sew the fourth side of the bean bag shut.
You've been bean bagged!
Toss away!
