If rainbows make you barf, you might want to take a break from Penny Carnival for a couple of weeks. We're full steam ahead to Bo's rainbow-themed third birthday party. I was going to sew her a dress, but I found this one at the mall yesterday which will save me some time. Of course, I can't leave well enough alone, so I am going to alter the top a bit (it's a little bit hoochie mama right now).
Anyhow, Magpie and I just made this topper for big sis' birthday cake. Mags basically just chewed on felt the whole time, but she was here for moral support. I needed to make something to adorn the cake because it's going to be frosted white on the outside, like a cloud. The rainbow will be on the inside (stay tuned ... the party is June 29, and I'll have pictures).
These directions could apply to any shape you want to make. Dogs. Teddy bears. Birds. Buddhas. Heck, I could move to California right now and sell these as wedding cake toppers! Sweet.
Here's the play by play:
Cut out two identical sets of the pieces you need from felt. If it helps, draw a template first and use it as a pattern. That'd be especially helpful if you're making several things (i.e., 101 Dalmatians. Man, that would suck.)
Lay a piece of cardboard flat (I used an empty cracker box).
Glue the first set of pieces to one side of the cardboard. Cut the entire shape out. Flip the cardboard over and glue the second set of pieces to the back, placing one or two wooden skewers between the felt and the cardboard.
Once the glue dries, jam that bad boy into a cake of your choice and you have a colorful, reusable topper ... just in case your daughter wants a rainbow theme again next year.
The first photo below is the finished product. The rest are the process pix.
Cute idea! I'll have to remember this if my daughter suddenly becomes obsessed with something other than disney princesses.
Love the hoochie comment too. My daughter is three and even at three the clothes look hoochie sometimes. WHY?!
Posted by: sharla | June 19, 2008 at 05:00 PM
I know!! I'm no prude, but sometimes I can't believe the clothes they make for little girls.
I just came from the farmers' market and the mayor of our city was there with a little girl (her granddaughter? I'm not sure) wearing Bo's rainbow dress. Bo kept staring at the girl and I was so afraid she was going to throw a fit and demand that the other girl take off her dress. No fit ensued. I think she was just trying to process the fact that someone else could have something she owned, too.
Posted by: Megan | June 19, 2008 at 11:42 PM