I'm a Softie for Softies!

Is there an age where you become to old to love plush toys?  If there is, I haven't hit it yet.  I still adore all things soft and huggable.  Cute animals, sweet dolls...They just can be so darn cute!  Especially the handmade ones.  If it's handmade, that totally takes it to the next level of cool!  Fortunately for softie lovers like me, plush toys can be very easy to make!  Here's a few patterns and tutorials that I've been drooling over.

First up is this cute, and super simple bunny.  Wouldn't this be perfect to stick in a kid's Easter basket?  Find the pattern and instructions here.

For those of you wanting a more unique project, may I present Plattie the Platypus? Here's the pattern and tutorial.

How cute are these foxes and raccoons from Ruffles and Stuff?  Her adorable pattern can be found here.

I'm slightly obsessed with Russian matryoshka dolls, so I cannot wait to make some of these babushka dolls.  They look super easy, so I'll probably end up making a whole set in different sizes, nesting doll style.  You can find the instructions here. (Note: there is a link to a paid pattern.)


Handmade softies make great gifts as they are very customizable, not to mention they can be a great way to use up fabric scraps!  Make some up for your favorite young people, or just make some for you.  You're never to old to enjoy a homemade softie.  (In my opinion!)

Niki

P.S.  Still want more?  Check out this great collection of soft animals and dolls at See Kate Sew.

Operation Christmas Child

Are you familiar with Operation Christmas Child?  If not, let me tell you about it.  It's a wonderful organization that works to send shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts to impoverished children around the world.  These boxes are typically filled with things like toothbrushes, socks, candy, small toys, soap, pencils, ect.  While it may not seem like much to us, it means the world to the kids who recieve them.  I've read stories of how the specific needs or wants of a specific child have been met by one of these boxes.  And not only to the kids recieve a box full of much-needed items, but they also recieve the Gospel message, the greatest gift of all. 

Personally, I've packed a few of these gift boxes in my life, working with my youth group to send out a bunch of shoe boxes.  (One of the girls wrote a letter to put in her box, and recieved a reply back from the child who recieved it!)  It was a lot of fun working together to bless children with Christmas gifts.  Well, I can't go to my high school youth group anymore, but I still want to participate this year.  So I'll be going out and buying gifts to fill a box or two this next week.  And I had an idea!  I decided that I am going to handmake some of the things that I will fill my box with.  It's always special to recieve something that's been made just for you, so I want to do that for the child who will get my shoebox.



Warm hats (crochet pattern here) are pretty much always a good gift.  They're easy to crochet (or knit, if you knit) and can be customized for a girl or a boy of any age.



These fabric hair bows are adorable for little girls.  And big girls too!  They're super fast and easy.  I actually made a few of these this afternoon, but my method was a tiny bit different.  I may have a post for you about it sometime soon once I perfect my technique.  :)



I may even whip up a quick skirt or two. 

I hope I've inspired you to make a shoebox of your own.  Even if you only fill it with store-bought items, some child somewhere will appreciate it more than you know.  There are drop off locations all over the country that are open between the 12th and 19th of this month to collect the boxes.  Please visit the Operation Christmas Child Website for more information about filling your boxes, drop off locations and more.  Send Christmas to a child this year.  You'll be glad you did.   :)

Niki

P.S. I'm not affiliated with Operation Christmas Child, and am not being paid in any way.  This is purely me sharing something with you that's been on my heart.

Olympic Roundup

The Olympics.  A mini world war and two weeks of world peace at the same time.  Super cool.  I love watching the atheletes make super hard stuff look super easy.  I wish my body moved like that.  Gosh.  Anyway, I've rounded up a couple of ideas for showing off your Olympic pride.  The obvious choice is a t-shirt like this.

Super easy tutorial perfect for kids or if you're not feeling too ambitious.  I don't think you can go wrong with this one.  Find the tutorial here.

Or maybe you're in the mood for something edible?  These cupcakes look fantastic!

Personally, I would skip the candy clay and just color my frosting orange.  I'm lazy like that.

Or check out this collection of Olympic-inspired manicures!

And finally, show off your Olympic style with a super-cute necklace with the classic five rings.

Well, there's just a few ideas to I found to help celebrate the Olympics.  Let me know what you've done or created in honor of this once-every-four-years sporting occasion.  Bye for now!

Niki