Finger Puppets

I had planned to make Blythe finger puppets that look like the family.  These would have made cute stocking stuffers.  These are NOT those puppets.  These were some VERY SWIFTLY sewn puppets I made for my Mom's friend who collects finger puppets.  It was a last minute idea.  She retired at the end of August, and my Mom was trying to think of a little some to throw into a gift for her, and I remember she loved finger puppets, and I suggested puppets that resemble some of the people she works with (the gal on the right is my Mom).  When she's missing the staff, she can pull them out, they can help keep her company, or remind her of why retirement is a good thing.  There are really probably 15 people that play a big role in office life, but I limited the collection to four for now.  I can only imagine if I had whipped up one for each member of the staff.   It's hard to see the hair behind each puppet, and next time I'll pull out the sewing machine to make better clothing, but these sort of capture each person's personilty, fashion, and coloring.  The base of the puppet is felt.  I stitched on the face, and hair to the front and back, and then I pressed them front sides together, stitched along the edge, flipped rightside out, and dressed.  The good news....no feelings were harmed in the making of these finger puppets. 

Someday I'll put some of these together for Blythe, just not today.

Stocking Stuffer-Personalized (Recycled) Notepads

I saw this idea on Making Memories With Your Kids (So cute!  I love school supplies, and this was right up my alley!)  She used fun cereal boxes to make notebooks for her kids this school year.  I would happily go and buy lots of cereals with lots of glitter on the boxes, but then I might feel compelled to get up a little earlier and actually eat breakfast, and that would completely interfere with me sleeping until the last possible slap of the alarm, and then breaking speed laws on the way to work.  The city really depends on me breaking those laws so they can continue city improvements.

So....I decided to make baby notebooks using drink cartons for adults at work. 

 I was going to make Diet Coke cartons b/c I'm President of the Diet Coke fan club, but Dr. Pepper was the sale the week I made this, so I snagged a carton of this instead, and made this for our VP who is as dedicated to Diet DP as I am to Diet Coke.  Stay tuned for that throw down. 

The process to putting these together is super easy.  It takes about 5 minutes if you get distracted by dust bunnies, puppies, and new shows on the Discovery Channel. 

"Unfold" the wire edge on the spiral (use a wire thingie, or live life on the edge and use the edge of your scissors like I did.)  Unwind.  Trace your cover on your carton, including the holes.  (Think of what fun you could have with some other drink options, or grocery store boxes?!?!?!  Maybe even some more masculine beverages for guy stockings...My brother carries this around when he's woodworking to take measurements.)

Cut out your traced template, and then used a small hole punch to create the 'holes' for the wire.  Then re thread. Thanks again, Erin for sharing your supercute idea!  I heart it...a lot...and I'm not done yet!