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!

A Sweet, Non-Sweet Valentine Treat

Today I'm over at Dollar Store Crafts sharing these cute little "goodies" to pass around to classmates with Valentine cards. Come check it out!!

Tiny Stuff for Tiny Pets

My niece T is celebrating her birthday over the weekend, and I have had grand plans for her gift for months now! Like me, her mom collects tiny little stuffed animals. As for T, she has one specific pet that is special beyond any of the others: her pet cow she named Nostril.


Now. Nostril has all KINDS of creative adventures. Recently Nostril put on a tapdancing show for a bunch of little friends, who were all seated on tiny chairs. (The chairs are from the Jenga-like stacking game called "Chairs." The stage is a Littlest Pet Shop thing.) I also hear that Nostril enjoys wearing a little grass skirt, and a "night cap" borrowed from a Littlest Pet Shop. Nostril also enjoys going camping, sleeping in a sock sleeping bag.

Well, everyone knows I am a sucker for tiny things. So of course I had to make some little accessories for Nostril and pals! I started with some little sleeping bags -- no more sock sleeping bags necessary! -- and some party hats.

Then I raided my Barbies and picked out some glasses. They fit these little guys perfectly! Then I found some sparkly, ruffly sheer elastic trim stuff and created a tutu. Doesn't this ensemble look lovely on Ms. Hippo?


Teeny tiny! :o)

I had to get out some cocktail swords, which fit perfectly around the little pets' appendages. And then of course they needed eye patches! I simply folded tiny ovals of black felt over some small hair elastics and hand stiched them in place.


And then winter gear! Yeeeeeeeears ago, I bought a stripey lambswool scarf on clearance, not knowing what I would ever do with it. I never wore it; it just sat in the closet. A couple years ago I cut into it and made some hats and scarves for my freaky tall dolls, which was perfect. Well, it turns out that the scale of the stripes is just perfect for these little pets, too!

Last but not least -- T loves Red Riding Hood, and even dressed as Red for Halloween. What could be more perfect for Nostril than a tiny Red Riding Hood cape??

It was super simple to make -- I just whacked out a shape, sewed around it, added some ribbon trim and ties, and VOILA!

Oh, how I wish I could be there when T opens her package!

Tiny Party Hats!

Today's Dollar Store Craft just kills me! My kids and I are obsessed with collecting tiny little stuffed animals. We have a great time playing with them and making them do all sorts of fun things. One of our favorite things to play (besides camping) is that they are having a birthday party, so of course they needed some tiny little birthday party hats!

So tiny!

I simply used some leftover party hats, a tiny hole punch, some clear tape, and this pattern.


Trace your pattern on the back side of an opened party hat and cut it out. When you tape, don't overlap your ends -- butt them against each other and use one piece of clear tape on the inside and one on the inside. Punch holes and thread the original hat's elastic through. Tie on either end, creating the length you need. Done!

I got carried away and made a couple dozen for our stuffed animals!
And this size works great for Barbie, too!

Dollar Dolly Duffel Bag! -- TUTORIAL

Today's Dollar Store Craft is a mini duffel bag for your dolly (or for yourself!). Your 18"doll can haul her dance clothes to the studio in style. Or, when she heads over to her friend's house for a sleepover, her pretty overnight bag will be the envy of all the other dolls!

All you need is one tote bag and a zipper. I had my zipper on hand, but you could purchase one at a crafts/sewing supply store. Or, if you are not opposed to a little seam ripping, check this out:


(photo courtesy of my "high-quality" cell phone camera!)
A dollar store backpack! That green zipper is exactly the right color -- and you can steal the black webbing straps as well. All for a buck!

(Note: For my duffel bag I used the body of one tote bag and the handles from anothe rbecause I wanted contrasting handles.)

STEP ONE: Cut apart your bag! I simply cut the sides away and removed the handles.

I ended up with a 24" x 13" rectangle, plus two strips of approximately 26" of straps.

STEP TWO: Cut out the pieces of your bag:
Cut a 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangle for the main body. (On mine I was careful to center the motif.)
Cut two circles with 3 3/8" diameter. (Again, I centered the motif!)
Cut two strap pieces at 18" and one at 8".

STEP THREE: Fold your rectangle in half to find the center. Lay your handles as shown, with the raw ends of the handles about 1/4" from the center. I centered my straps carefully on the motif. Repeat for the other handle.

STEP FOUR: Sew your straps down. Don't sew them all the way up to the top edge! I stopped 2 1/2" from the top edge of the rectangle on either side.

STEP FIVE: Sew your 8" strap across the bottom center, covering the raw edges of your straps.

STEP NINE: Fold down the two short edges of your rectangles a scant 1/4". Crease with your finger.

STEP TEN: Attach your zipper to either side of your bag. My zipper was about 18" long, giving me plenty of extra space to get the job done without having to wrestle the bag and zipper.

STEP ELEVEN: Attach one circle to the first end of your duffel bag (not the one with the long zipper tail). If the motif on your circle is directional, be sure to get it right side up. The circle is actually quite easy to attach -- simply pull and rotate the circle around in front of the presser foot, matching the edges as you go.

Looking good so far!

STEP TWELVE: Sew the other circle on, starting a short distance away from the zipper and ending a short distance before you reach the other side of the zipper, as shown.

STEP THIRTEEN: Next, zip your zipper about 1/4" of the way across the body of your bag. You need to have plenty of room to turn your bag right side out through the zipper opening.

STEP FOURTEEN: Finish attaching your circle. I gave the zipper a little added stability by sewing a bar tack over the zipper teeth in the seam allowance.


STEP FIFTEEN: Cut off the excess zipper (don't use your good sewing scissors! I used my kitchen shears) and turn your back right side out. Done! Your doll is ready to pack up her duffel bag and head to her best friend's house for a sleepover!

Want ideas of what she can stuff in there?

Wendy at Old Days Old Ways (hi, Mom!) just made a super fun sleeping bag for her 18" doll -- she gives measurements here. And guess what -- after checking the dimensions of the rolled up sleeping bag we discovered it will fit EXACTLY in the duffel bag! Serendipity!!!

Wendy also has her famous Dollar Doll Clothes from Underwear tutorial to outfit your dolly with some new jammies and other goodies. She includes free patterns!

I also have a few ideas for how to make some super easy clothes for her.


Then again, if you don't want to share your duffel bag with your dolly, you can always use it for your markers! :o)

Sleeping Bags for Tiny Critters -- TUTORIAL

This past weekend my husband took the boys on a final summer campout before school starts. They were so excited! In preparation, they wanted to play that some of our little critters were going camping. But what campout would be complete without itty bitty sleeping bags for their tiny stuffed friends to sleep in?

These little sleeping bags are finished at about 3" wide x 4 1/2" tall. They are fully lined -- but don't let that scare you! It's not as hard as you might think!

They are SO cute, and the perfect size for little stuffed pets (ours are Whimzy Pets -- they have lots of space inside the sleeping bags at their feet), GI Joes, Kelly dolls, or even Lil Bratz dolls (if anyone still has those kicking around!).


What you need:

Four 3.25"x5" rectangles (two for lining -- mine are green, two for shell -- mine are pink)
One 7" zipper

STEP ONE: Open your zipper, and lay one side right sides together with the long edge of one of your shell (outer!) rectangles. The teeth of the zipper should be toward the inside of your rectangle.

STEP TWO: Sew, using a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Gently curve your zipper around the bottom right corner of your rectangle, as shown. (I made three of these, and used the zipper foot on only one of them. You can do it without.)

STEP THREE: Carefully trim away the excess fabric from the corner. You will use this as a pattern for cutting your other rectangles, so be careful to keep it in one piece.

STEP FOUR: Layer your little leftover corner on top of your other rectangles and trim them to match.
NOTE: I used fabric that was the same on both sides. If you are using a fabric that is printed on one side, be sure to trim the correct corners so you end up with mirrored pieces!

STEP FIVE: Lay your other shell rectangle alongside the first, and line up the placement of the zipper to match the first side.

STEP SIX: Sew it on!

STEP SEVEN: Time to attach the lining. Don't be scared!
Lay your little sleeping bag zipper side up. Take one lining rectangle and layer it on top, so the zipper is sandwiched in between. (Pin if you are concerned about them staying lined up correctly -- although I admit I didn't bother.)

STEP EIGHT: FLIP IT OVER so that the shell side is on TOP. (This way you can follow your previous stitching line exactly.) Sew! Repeat for other side.

Here it is flipped right side out. Doesn't that zipper look perfect in there??

STEP NINE: Fold your sleeping bag together, and zip it an inch or so at the bottom, stopping a little before the curve. Pull the shell pieces out of the way. We are going to start by sewing the lining, right sides together.

Sew, using a 1/4" seam allowance. Stop about 1/4" before you hit the zipper tape.

STEP TEN: Flip your little sleeping bag around and layer the shell pieces right sides together. Sew, starting at the top edge. When you get down near the zipper, fold the zipper RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER and sew right over it, sewing backwards and forwards over it a few times for extra security. Then meet up with your previous stitching on the lining and backstitch.

STEP ELEVEN: All that's left is the top edge! Unzip your sleeping bag completely. Fold the top edge of the shell down about 3/8". Tuck the zipper ends inside as shown.

Fold the lining up inside to match the the shell. I folded my lining over the top of my little zipper ends as well, to hide them completely. Pin in place and topstitch a scant 1/4" from the folded edge.

Done!
So little and cute with its contrasting lining and zipper!


The little pets had a fantastic time on their campout. They went boating in their tiny boat, fished for tiny fish...

...had a tiny campfire, drank tiny hot cocoa (borrowed from my Barbies), and slept in their tiny tent!

Oh, and the boys had a grand time with Daddy on their campout, too!

EDIT: Check out an upsized version for an 18" doll HERE!