Cat toys are so simple to make, and they provide hours of entertainment for both your cats and your kids. Let your kids give the finished catnip cat toy to your cat and watch your cat go crazy after it.

Handmade Catnip Cat Toys Material:

A pair of baby socks
Dried catnip
Needle and thread

Handmade Catnip Cat Toys Instructions:

1. Open the socks wide and fill them with the dried catnip.
2. Close the opening by hand sewing it with the needle and thread.

Toss the socks to your cat and let the fun begin!

Do you love traveling?  Do you have a lot of old maps that are too sentimental to throw away, yet you don’t have a place to display them, so they end up cramming the bookshelf and never see the light of day?  Since I’m a big hoarder and I never throw anything away, I’m always looking for ways to re-use the stuff I collect and um, reduce the clutter at the same time.  Naturally I’m a big fan of this type of projects, where you take something sentimental to you and re-create it in a way that’s functional and beautiful.  This around the world coaster project is one of my favorite.  It’s a perfect match for those old maps, but you can also use anything that you wish to keep – program notes from an old play or candy wrappers that your kids have collected over the years. I’ve also made coasters out of foreign money to good effect – it’s a great conversation starter every time I use it!

Around the World Coasters Material:

A set of cork coasters
Paper to cover the coasters with – old maps, posters, candy wrappers, etc
Mod Podge
A brush

Around the World Coasters Instructions:

1. Cut your paper into the shape of the coasters.
2. Glue the paper onto the coasters with Mod Podge.

Apply another layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper to seal it.

Sure, you can buy a stuffed animal in just about any toy store, but there’s nothing quite like getting a gift of handmade stuffed animal.  Your kids will appreciate the uniqueness of each stuffed animal and treasure it for years to come.  If your kids are old enough to handle sewing with needle and thread, you can let them design and construct this handmade stuffed animal craft project on their own and just supervise them.  If your kids are too young to sew, you can still get them involved by letting them design the stuffed animal or asking for their opinion.  And they don’t have to stop with the animals, either.  Those ugly monster dolls are ever popular and imagine designing a doll from your child’s monster-under-the-bed imagination.  How fun and therapeutic that might be!

Handmade Stuffed Animal Material:

Felt in a variety of colors
A bag of poly stuffing
Needle and thread
Piece of paper & pencil
Pins
Embroidery thread
Buttons & ribbons (optional)

Handmade Stuffed Animal Instructions:

1. Draw out the shape of the animal or monster or other creature on the piece of paper with your pencil.  The size needs to be the same as the finished project.  Try to avoid shapes with sharp edges as they will be hard to stuff later.
2. Cut 2 pieces of felt; both pieces should be slightly larger than the drawing.
3. Place the paper pattern on top of the two pieces of felt and pin it down.  Cut out the animal/monster/creature  shape with scissors.
4. Remove the paper pattern.
5. Decorate the front side of the creature.  Add an eye or two by attaching two small felt circles. “Draw” a nose with embroidery.  The mouth could be a half moon shape from a piece of red felt or a zig zag shape cut out with a black felt.  Dress up the creature with ribbons and buttons.  Maybe add a decorative flower on the side of an ear.  Let your kids drive the process according to their imagination.
6. When you’re done with the face, place the two pieces of felt together, with the right sides of the felt facing inward.  Pin these pieces together and start sewing.  Leave a small opening (big enough to turn the fabric inside out and stuff the creature).
7. When you have about 3 inches opening left, turn the fabric inside out and start stuffing the creature.
8. Once you’re done stuffing the creature, you can close the opening by hand sewing it using hemstitch.