Projects for kitties and babies

Well it’s about time,  Mother Nature! You’ve been holding out for too long—not cool. Spring is the time for rebirth and new beginnings. I’m pretty sure we skipped spring and went right to summer, but in honor of these warm, tricky seasons I have a couple projects for the new pet or baby in your life.

We just got a kitten, Tulco, and a friend of ours gave birth to their firstborn little lady about a week ago. I want to celebrate this excitement with simple crafts for a nifty newborn and a rambunctious kitten in need of something to bite (other than my hands). Tulco, you are a silly duck… but you’re a cat. You’re a duck cat.

The first project, Mr. Mouse Companion, was inspired by Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Fabric and Sewing Crafts. The second project was inspired by my mother, who is way cooler than Martha. Props, you two.

Mr. Mouse Companion

Materials:

• Assortment of coordinating fabrics
• Fusible tape
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Poly-fill

How-to:

I looked at Martha’s cut-outs and just loosely copied them. You can guestimate your pieces by referring to the photo above. For the sides of the body, you need two pieces about 6 inches long and for the bottom you need one piece about 5 inches long. The ears should be about 1 ¾ inches wide (4 pieces). The tail can be as long as you like.

Sew a 1/8-inch seam along the curve of the two matching body pieces together, leaving the straight bottom open. You’re pieces should be inside out.

Take the bottom piece and match up the round end with the mouse butt of the body pieces and the pointy end with the mouse mouth (opposite) of the body pieces. Pin together and sew 1/8 inch around, leaving the butt end open for stuffing the poly-fill.

Turn right side out and stuff.

You can use fusible tape or fabric glue to bind the two different fabrics of the ears together. Pin the ears where you’d like them and whip stitch into place.

Insert tail into the opening, fold fabric underneath and whip stitch closed.

Use a thicker thread to add eyes and/or mouth.

Introduce Mr. Mouse to kitty.

Baby’s Bangin’ Birth Certificate

Materials:

 

• Super fly fabrics, felt and/or paints
• Fabric glue
• Fusible tape
• Ribbon
• Buttons
• Other fun stuff

 

How-to:

 

There’s really not much of a how-to…

I wrapped my fabric around a used canvas like a present. I used fusible tape to bind the fabric shut.

Drink a couple beers and then cut out letters to create a devil-may-care font. I freehanded the letters with scissors and felt.

Use fabric glue to add embellishments as needed.

Check out my mom’s version here.