Angry Birds Plushies -- All the Tutorials!

If you are here visiting for Celebrate the Boy -- WELCOME! I'm so glad you stopped by. I hope you'll stick around for a little while!

Today I am sharing my tutorials for Plush Angry Birds.
Click each image below to find the pattern and instructions for the character you are dying to create! All links include patterns and instructions. Each bird is an adaptation of the original red bird, which is where you need to go to find easy step-by-step instructions.






You'll have a whole angry crew to toss around in no time!

!!YAY for boys!!

I have added a new category over in my right sidebar filled with BOY projects --

Be sure to check it out!

Sewing Room -- a work in progress!

I've been working really hard on organizing my sewing room. It's so much more fun to sew in a room that's tidy, organized, and inviting! You may remember my (very embarassing!) "before" shot a few months back -- ugh. Well, I am very happy to say it hasn't looked like that SINCE then... but it has been getting better and better in subsequent months! There is still a lot to be done, including some light decorating, but it has come a long, long way.

(note my high tech drawer locking system -- a toy broom. It gets the job done!)


We got four of these adjustable 6 foot shelves on Craigslist for a total of $40 a couple years ago. Not too shabby! Two of them are in my sewing room, and two are in the basement, mostly unused. Well, last week I stole two shelves from the ones in the basement and added them to the shelves in my sewing room. I now have six shelves on each side, which means much less wasted space in between each shelf. Happy dance!

I love my little configuration on the top shelf of fun things I've collected over the years. That mini sewing machine just kills me -- and I love the giant scissors and giant pincushion next to it! The blue case holds another little sewing machine.

The less-interesting side. I still need something to go on the top shelf over here. But, while kind of boring, the rest of it is well-organized. Look how those baskets fit in the shelves just like drawers. No wasted space, hooray!

Still on the list:

~ A cover for my neglected serger. Poor thing is quite dusty! I do use it, for sure, but it needs a cover for protection and for cuteness.

~ Hang my bulletin board on the wall behind the sewing machine. And hopefully my atomic-style clock that needs a repair.

~ And, my favorite, the skinny little shelf I have ready and waiting to be hung above the bulletin board. That's where all my LPS Blythes are going to sit. I can't wait for that!

~ The closet needs another once-over. I have gotten rid of boxes and bags and bags and boxes of sewing supplies I knew I would never use -- but the closet is still very full. Don't worry, it still looks very organized. I just know there's more I can do in there!

Barbie Bed -- A Dollar Project!

Hee hee! I am tickled by today's project for Dollar Store Crafts. But, then again, you know me and tiny things -- I just love them! Can you guess the source of my doll bed frame and comforter?


The comforter and pillow were made from a dollar store pillow cover -- with fabric to spare -- and the bed frame was made from two wooden "Zen Garden" trays, also from the dollar store. I have had my eye on those for over a year, knowing they had great potential. Finally the perfect project to use them for!

Here's what I used:
~ One pillow cover (lots of prints and fabrics to choose from!)
~ Two Zen Garden trays

~ Scrap of eyelet trim (for the bed skirt)

~ Scraps of white fabric (for the mattress and bed skirt)

~ Scraps of polyester batting
~ Also need: sand paper or utility knife, wood glue, finish nails, saw

(pardon the lighting on this photo and the next one, taken down within the depths of the basement!)
First we will need to construct the bed frame. My husband was kind enough to tackle this part of the project for me!
STEP ONE: Measure and mark ONE of your Zen Garden trays 3 5/8" from one end and carefully saw. The longer piece will be the headboard, and the shorter piece will be the foot of the bed.

STEP TWO: With both cut ends together and the two tray pieces back to back, use a sharp pencil to draw a line on the headboard piece, marking the height of the foot of the bed, as shown.

STEP THREE: You will be butting the shorter end of the first tray (the foot of the bed) against the short end of the second (uncut) tray. The cut side will be the part of the bed that touches the "floor." Lightly sand (or in our case, since we had no sandpaper handy, scrape with a utility knife) JUST the two surfaces that will be touching. This will help the wood glue to hold. Use a thin layer of wood glue, then carefully nail one finish nail on either end for a sturdy hold.

STEP FOUR: Now for the headboard. Again, carefully sand or scrape the two surfaces that will be glued together. Your drawn line will be where you line up the TOP of the long tray. We glued and then used a staple gun to hold the headboard in place.

Allow the glue to dry!

STEP FIVE: Now we're getting to the fun part -- the sewing!
I started by carefully removing the zipper (to save for a future project!) and then cutting along the seam lines of the pillow cover. Set your pillow cover fabric aside.

STEP SIX: Make the bed skirt! Cut as follows:
Center piece: 11" x 4 1/4"
Ruffle pieces: Two rectangles, 14 1/2" x 4"

Hem the two short ends of all pieces, and one long end of each of the two ruffle pieces, by turning the edges up 1/4" and sewing. Gather the raw edge of the two ruffle pieces a scant 1/4" from the edge. Attach to the long edges of the center piece. Your bed skirt should look like the photo.

STEP SEVEN: Make the mattress! Cut two rectangles, 12 1/2" x 5 1/4". Sew all the way around with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Open each corner as shown and sew a line 3/8" from the point, perpendicular to the seam line. This will box the corners of your mattress.

Cut a 6"-8" slit down one the center of one rectangle and turn it right side out. Carefully stuff with a stack of batting and whipstitch the opening closed.

Bed skirt and mattress? Check!

STEP EIGHT: Make the comforter! Cut two rectangles, 9 1/2" x 13 1/2". Layer them right sides together and sew three sides, leaving one short side open. Trim the corners as shown and turn right side out. Carefully tuck the raw edges inside 1/4" and press. Topstitch all the way around, closing the opening as well. Done!

STEP NINE: Make the pillow! Cut two rectangles, 5 1/4" x 3 3/4". Sew right sides together using about a 1/8" seam allowance, leaving a 2 1/2" opening on one short end. Turn right side out.

Topstitch right along the edge on the three finished sides, then 1/4" from your stitching line.

Stuff with another stack of batting. Carefully tuck the raw edges inside and topstitch the opening closed, then sew 1/4" from that stitching line.

Everything's done! Time to make the bed!
I topped my little bed with a tiny embroidered sachet that belonged to my grandmother. It makes a perfect accent pillow!

Barbie is all set to relax and read a book!