Crafts

Bot's belly belly Easter egg

2011-02-14T21:23:00Z

There's nothing robotic about the creative fun your kids will have making this colorful character egg.

Supplies

Bright green plastic jumbo egg
Black markerr
Modeling clay in blue, yellow, white and orange
Tooth pick
Stapler (for parents only)
Green construction paper

Directions

Step 1: With the fatter part of the egg at the top, use the black marker to add the two eyes. Then use it to color in a strip around the "equator" of the seam of the egg (the part where the egg pieces come apart).

Step 2: Roll a small amount of blue modeling clay into a long "snake." Press around the seam line of the egg, covering some of the black strip you drew in to create a mouth shape.

Step 3: Flatten the white modeling clay into a rectangle that tapers a bit at the bottom. Then roll a small amount of yellow modeling clay into a "snake" and coil it around the exterior of the white piece. Add four tiny blue "rivets," if desired. Apply the finished piece to the bottom half of the egg.

Step 4: Mold an orange cylinder and a green cone from modeling clay. If desired, roll a tiny yellow ball for the front of the green cone. Press the green cone onto one end of a toothpick (broken in half); press the other end of the toothpick into the orange cylinder. Apply to the top of the egg.

Geo Easter Egg

2011-02-14T21:20:00Z

Shape up this Easter with a Team Umizoomi decorative egg. Create this easy-to-make Geo character from a blue plastic egg.

Supplies

Bright blue plastic jumbo egg
Geo Egg Template (See printable template)
Inkjet sticker paper
Modeling clay in yellow and red
Stapler (for parents only)
Blue or green construction paper

Directions

Step 1: Using sticker paper, print the Geo Egg Template. Peel off the paper backing and apply them to the egg.

Step 2:Roll a small amount of yellow modeling clay into a long "snake." Press it onto the egg around Geo's face.

Step 3:Mold two yellow caps for the top of his head. Roll two small balls and press these into the yellow caps.

Step 4:To create the stand, cut a 2- by 8-inch strip of blue/green construction paper. Fold it in half lengthwise. Coil into a ring, overlapping the ends. Staple in place.

Milli Easter Egg

2011-02-14T21:13:00Z

Calling all Umifriends! Have we got a craft for you! Take a cue from shapes and patterns to create this easy-to-make Milli from a pink plastic egg.

Supplies

Hot pink plastic jumbo egg
Milli Egg Template (See printable template)
Inkjet sticker paper
Modeling clay in yellow
Lanyard cord or ribbon in orange
Stapler (for parents only)
Pink construction paper

Directions

Step 1: Using sticker paper, print the Milli Egg Template. Peel off the paper backing and apply the face and flowers to the egg. If you don't have sticker paper, print on regular paper and glue Milli's face and flowers to the egg..

Step 2:Roll a small amount of yellow modeling clay into a long "snake." Press it onto the egg around Milli's face.

Step 3: Mold two yellow caps for the top of her head. Snip two short lengths of the orange lanyard and insert them into the yellow caps.

Step 4:To create the stand, cut a 2- by 8-inch strip of pink construction paper. Fold it in half lengthwise. Coil into a ring, overlapping the ends. Staple in place.

Blues Costume

2010-09-09T18:33:00Z

This Halloween, kids can trick or treat dressed as Blue. The body is made from a sweat suit. The head is a helmet-style cap.

Supplies

Royal-blue felt
Child's light-blue union suit or sweat suit
Glue gun or fabric glue
Light-blue felt
4 pipe cleaners
Needle and thread
Cotton light-blue pilot's cap (available from the Natural Baby catalog)
3 light-blue socks

Directions

Step 1: Cut circles from the royal-blue felt to make spots.

Step 2: Glue onto the union suit.

Step 3: Cut four 12-inch ear shapes from light-blue felt.

Step 4: Glue two pipe cleaners along the edges of two of the ear shapes.

Step 5: Glue the second set of ear shapes on top of the first, sandwiching the pipe cleaners inside.

Step 6: Sew the ears to the top of the pilot's cap.

Step 7: Glue royal-blue felt spots on ears.

Step 8: Cut the cuff off one sock, gather at one end, and glue to the back of the costume to make a tail.

Step 9: Cut paw-pad shapes from the royal-blue felt, and glue onto the foot part of two socks. Place socks on child's hands and cut holes for thumbs. Color Tip: If you can't find clothing in light blue, dye white clothing with fabric dye. Follow instructions on package. Dye the hat, union suit, and socks together so that they match.

Dora Costume

2010-09-09T18:31:00Z

Young Dora fans will get a kick out of dressing like her. Basic clothing and a little face paint are all you'll need.

Supplies

Black child-size witch's wig (available at toy or party stores)
Red shorts
Pink shirt
Green socks
Purple backpack
Toy monkey
Masking tape or string
Flower button
Yellow pipe cleaner
Hot glue gun
Purple paper gift bag

Directions

Step 1: Put the wig on your child's head. Cut the bangs first, then cut the rest of the hair at chin length.

Step 2: Dress your child in shorts, shirt, socks, and backpack.

Step 3: Securely tape or tie the toy monkey onto a comfortable place on the costume.

Step 4: Glue the flower button onto the pipe cleaner and wrap around your child's wrist to make a bracelet.

Step 5: Carry a purple paper goody bag.

Diego Costume

2010-09-09T18:19:00Z

Need a quick and clever costume for your little animal rescuer? It's Diego to the rescue!

Supplies

Tan T-shirt
Scissors
Fabric markers (dark brown and light blue)
Orange tote bag (or backpack)
White, black, and pink self-adhesive felt
Double-sided sticky tape or fabric glue
Blue cargo shorts
Light blue shirt

Directions

Step 1: Cut the sleeves off the T-shirt and cut the bottom of the shirt so it falls just below your child's waist. Cut all the way up the middle of the shirtfront, to create the opening of the vest. Draw pockets and a zipper onto the T-shirt with fabric markers. Print the Animal Rescue Center Badge on a color printer, cut it out, and tape or glue it to the vest.

Step 2: To make Rescue Pack, start with an orange canvas trick-or-treat bag from a craft store (or use an orange backpack)

Step 3: Dress your child in blue cargo shorts, a light-blue shirt, and Diego's video watch, then layer on the vest and Rescue Pack.

Tolee Costume

2010-09-09T16:45:00Z

He's cute, he's cuddly, and he's really just a sweat suit. Start with basic grey pieces and use felt and fun fur for the rest.
Supplies

For the Body:
Printable panda template for iron-on
Iron-on T-shirt transfer sheets
Red T-shirt (large enough to fit over the sweatshirt once it's been stuffed)
Gray Hooded sweatshirt
Gray sweatpants
Iron
Polyester batting for stuffing

For the Ears:
Light gray fleece
Dark gray faux fur or fleece
Floral wire or any fine gauge wire
Fabric glue
Child-size headband

For the Face:
Face paint
Tolee Template

For the Paws:
Gray mittens or wristbands for the hands
Panda slippers for the feet

Directions

Step 1: For the Body: Use the printable Panda template and iron-on transfer paper (follow manufacturer's instructions) to embellish the red T-shirt with Tolee's Panda motif. Slip the T-shirt over the sweatshirt, pulling out the hood. Set aside with the sweatpants.

Step 2: For the Ears: To make the ears, cut out two half-circles in light-grey fleece. Cut out two larger half-circles in dark grey. Snip a short length of floral wire and sandwich it, with glue, between each of the light-grey and dark-grey layers of each ear. This will make the ears bendable, allowing them to stand up on the headband. Once the ears are dry, fold a crease along the bottom of each ear (the flat edge) and glue the folded edge along the headband. You'll need to hold the ear in place until the glue is tacky, otherwise the ears will slip. Let dry.

Step 3: For the Face: Before adding the face paint, dress your child in the sweatshirt, T-shirt, and sweatpants. Pull the hood up over your child's head. Then paint his or her face with a sideways oval black nose. If you'd like, add dark eyebrows in a small arch. Clip the ears' headband over top of the hood. Stuff the body of the sweatshirt and the legs of the sweatpants, and if you'd like, the arms of the sweatshirt with the polyester batting.

Step 4: For the Paws: Slip mittens or wristbands over the hands. For the feet, add the Panda slippers!

Rintoo Shoelace Covers

2010-09-02T19:03:00Z

Turn any pair of sneakers into a Rintoo-riffic pair of kicks for your little Kai-lan fan! These medallions are easy to make and are held in place by the shoelaces!

Supplies

Sneakers
Rintoo Template
Yellow foamie sheets
Colored indelible markers
Scissors

Directions

Step 1: Print the template and trace the shape onto the foam sheet. Cut it out. With the markers, add the ears and face. Let dry.

Step 2: With the point of the scissors, make a small hole on each side of Rintoo's face, just below the ears. Slip the laces through (see photo) to secure.

Wonder Pets! Lunch Bag

2010-09-02T19:02:00Z

Personalize preschool lunch time with a Wonder Pets insulated lunch sack. Kids create the Wonder Pets badge and super stripes themselves.

Supplies

Insulated lunch sack
Felt in red, yellow, and blue
Wonder Pets Badge Template
Scissors
Fabric glue
Self-adhesive hook-and-loop tabs (Velcro)

Directions

Step 1: Print, trace, and cut out the felt pieces for the Wonder Pets badge. (Note: Enlarge or reduce the badge printout to the size you need.) Glue the yellow circle to the blue one. And glue the red "W" to the yellow circle. Let dry.

Step 2: Cut out one wide red strip and one narrow yellow strip of felt to the same width as the lunch sack. Glue the yellow strip on top of the red one. Let dry. Glue the yellow and red strip across the lunch sack, close to the bottom.

Step 3: to attach the badge to the lunch sack, secure one self-adhesive hook-and-loop tab to the back of the badge and attach the other to the flap of the lunch sack.

Father's Day Dora Car Wash Kit

2010-06-10T18:38:00Z

A sunny day, a squeegee, and some soap can be the beginning of a great father-and-kid day. Why not paint a plastic bucket and pack it up for your dad?

Supplies
Plastic buckets
Acrylic craft paints for kids
Paintbrushes
For kit: Sponge, soap, squeegee, micro-cloth, car wax
Dora character images
Sticker Paper
Laser Printer
Contact paper or self-adhesive laminating paper (OPTIONAL)

Directions:

Step 1:
Have your child paint the buckets with acrylic paints. To copy our design, paint Dora's yellow car, adding blue wheels. But kids can also paint Dad's car instead. We added palm trees and deciduous trees, too, but kids can add anything they like! Let dry.

Step 2:
Print and cut out Dora character images on sticker paper from a laser printer.

Step 3:
If you don't have a laser printer, apply contact paper or self-adhesive laminating paper to the the images to make them water-proof. Contact paper or self-adhesive laminating paper can be tricky to work with. Our recommendation is to cut out individual squares of contact paper (or laminating paper) first, varying in size to fit each image with some room to spare. Peel off backing paper from contact paper, place pre-cut Dora character images face down on the sticky paper and cut around it, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges for easy sticking. The border will also prevent water from seeping into the paper images inside.

Step 4:
Have your child stick the character images to the bucket along the "scene" that they drew. If you used contact paper or laminating paper, be careful not to create ridges that lead out to the border edge and therefore creating an opening.

Step 5:
Pack the bucket with the car-wash kit tools, and if you like, tie on a bow.

Wonder Pets Mother's Day Necklace

2010-04-22T18:49:00Z

Wonder Mom deserves a Wonder gift from her little loved ones. Colorful felt, yarn, and fabric glue make a beautiful ornament that Mom can wear with pride!.

Supplies
9- by 12-in. turquoise, light blue, and black (or your child's color picks) felt sheets
Wonder Pets Butterfly Necklace Template
Scissors
Craft knife (PARENTS ONLY)
Fabric glue (such as Sabo)
Yarn, ribbon, or string

Directions
Step 1
Print and cut out the Wonder Pets Butterfly Necklace Template. Pick a design (butterfly 1 or butterfly 2) and trace the shapes onto felt sheets of designated colors. Cut out the felt pieces. If your child loves to draw, ask her to draw her own butterflies or other objects she prefers on felt sheets of her color picks. Cut out the felt pieces.

Step 2
(PARENTS ONLY) Mark two short lines horizontally, just as wide as the yarn's thickness, at about one-third and two-thirds of the height of the small butterfly shape. Cut a slit with a craft knife where you marked.
Mark and cut the same two slits on the big butterfly shape with the same distance between the slits.

Step 3
Help your child thread through a long piece of yarn though the bottom slit of big butterfly shape from its back. Continue threading it through the bottom slit of the small butterfly shape, then the top slit of the small butterfly, and then the top slit of the big butterfly. Make sure there's plenty of yarn at the top to form a neck loop.
Repeat the above procedure to thread through another piece of yarn.

Step 4
Cut two tiny strips from black felt as the butterfly's antennas.

Step 5
Save about 4 to 5 inches of yarn at one end. Apply fabric glue to that length of yarn and roll it in various directions into a small, solid ball. Hold it together while the glue dries. Create a small loop at the other end of the yarn with a knot. This will allow you to freely close up and separate the necklace loop. At the bottom of the butterfly, tie the two yarn ends together. Cut away the additional length where necessary.

Wonder Pets Mother's Day Bracelet

2010-04-22T18:28:00Z

Create a golden bloom on Mom's wrist and on her heart. A "hook" with a sticky back makes this craft easy to do and easy to wear.

Supplies
9- by 12-in. yellow & brown (or your child's color picks) felt sheets
Wonder Pets Flower Bracelet Template
Scissors
Craft knife (PARENTS ONLY)
Fabric glue (such as Sabo)
Hook-and-loop fasteners (such as Velcro)

Directions
Step 1
Print and cut out the Wonder Pets Flower Bracelet Template. Pick a design (flower 1 or flower 2) and trace the shapes onto felt sheets of designated colors. Cut out the felt pieces. If your child loves to draw, ask her to draw her own flowers or other objects she prefers on felt sheets of her color picks. Cut out the felt pieces.

Step 2
Help your child arrange the two flower shapes. Place the small flower on top of the big one and make their petals completing each other in forming a circle. (PARENTS ONLY) Cut a slit in the center of two shapes in the same direction and length.

Step 3
Pick up the bone-shaped felt piece and thread its two ends through the slit of both flower shapes. This will form a ring underneath the "flower." Glue the two fan-shaped ends, which are above the flower now, together over their sides to form the flower center.

Step 4
Cut the felt ring open. Cut a piece of "hook" that fits the band's width, remove the backing, and apply it to one end of the band on the inner side.

Wonder Pets! Badge Tree Topper

2009-11-30T21:11:00Z

"Save" the best for last. Top your holiday tree with greetings from the Wonder Pets.

Supplies:
Wonder Pets Badge Tree Topper Template
Blue craft foam and/or felt in blue
Yellow craft foam
Red craft glitter felt
Flat dowel, about 8 to 10 in. in length
Green and blue tempera paint (optional)
Clear-drying fabric glue, such as MagicTac

Directions:

Step 1
Print and cut out Wonder Pets Badge Tree Topper template. Trace the shapes onto the corresponding colored felt (as indicated on the printables).

Step 2
Layer and glue the pieces together. Let dry.

Step 3
Meanwhile, paint the bottom of the dowel green so it will blend with your tree. If the reverse side of the topper will be visible, you can paint it blue to disguise the dowel.

Wonder Pets! Christmas Tree Skirt

2009-11-30T21:11:00Z

Save the Holiday with a tree skirt that depicts the over-sea and under-sea adventures of the Wonder Pets.

Supplies:
Wonder Pets Tree Skirt Template
1 yd. medium blue felt
1 yd. yellow felt
Small amounts of felt in the following colors: White, red glitter, regular red, deep red, deep blue, yellow, white, purple glitter
4 yd. blue braid trim
Large mug or tumbler
Clear-drying fabric glue, such as MagicTac
Fabric scissors
Tracing pencil/pen

Directions:

Step 1
From the blue felt, cut a circle about 32 inches in diameter. Cut out the wave template. Align it with the outer edge of the blue circle and trace. Now cut along the wave shapes and then continue cutting to create a 4-inch-wide circular border.

Step 2
From the yellow felt, cut a circle about 32 inches in diameter.

Step 3
Place the blue border on top of the yellow circle, aligning edges. Glue in place. Let dry.

Step 4
Find the center of your tree skirt. Place a mug or tumbler upside down at the center, and trace it to create a hole for the tree trunk. With fabric scissors, cut from one edge of the skirt in to the marked hole, and then cut out the hole. Reapply glue if any of the edges now lift up.

Step 5
Print and cut out Wonder Pets Tree Skirt template. Trace the shapes onto the corresponding colored felt (as indicated on the printables).

Step 6
Arrange the pieces on the skirt. Glue them in place. Let dry.

Step 7
Turn over the tree skirt. Carefully glue the flat edge of the braided trim to the underside of the skirt, allowing the braid to extend beyond the edge. Let dry. Turn over.

Wonder Pets No-Sew Scarf

2009-11-30T21:05:00Z

Create a no-sew scarf with an image of the Wonder Pets badge. Use felt, our templates, and some fabric glue to get started!

Supplies
Fleece scarf or 1/2 –yd. fleece fabric
Fusible interfacing (optional
Wonder Pets Scarf Template
Scissors
Small felt swatches in navy blue, yellow, and red
Fabric glue (such as Sabo)
Iron

Craft Tip
A fleece scarf, whether handmade or store-bought, is the background for your design. Choose one in a light to medium weight.

Directions
Step 1
Start with a store-bought red fleece scarf or make your own by cutting a 48- to 54-inch piece of fleece about 6 inches wide. For a thicker scarf, iron in fusible interfacing (such as Wonder Under) between two pieces of fleece or stitch them together on a sewing machine.

Step 2
Print the scarf template, cut out the shapes, and set them aside.

Step 3
Following the diagrams on the scarf template, trace the shapes onto felt swatches of designated colors.

Step 4
Arrange and glue the felt shapes together following the image reference on the template. Glue the Wonder Pets badge at one end and the stars at the other end of the scarf. Let the glue dry for about two hours.

Step 5 (optional)
You can use embroidery floss or pearl cotton to add trim; simply stitch two rows of thread along the bottom of the scarf using a long running stitch.

Step 6 (optional)
You can create a colorful border for the scarf by cutting out two 6- by 2-inch pieces of felt, folding them in half lengthwise, and pressing them with an iron set to the low setting. Slip one end of the scarf into one of the folded rectangles and glue it in place. Do the same at the opposite end of the scarf.

Step 7
Press the scarf lightly with an iron on the low setting. For best results, wait a couple of days before ironing the scarf.