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Monday, January 11, 2010

Brrrrr It's Cold In Here!

It's been a few months since the "crafty" side of me has come out. I've been on craft overload since Halloween.

However, it's just YOUR luck, because I'm back in the saddle and off to an intense start thanks to one of my FAVORITE blogs, FRUGAL FAMILY FUN BLOG!

Last week, Valerie and her daughter made this really cool penguin play set out of old stockings! Now in my household, penguins are our best friends. I mean hello, the background on my Mytouch is a bunch of rolly polley penguins. PO, our pet penguin also lives between the rails of our staircase (pictures can be found in other craft posts). So you can imagine when I saw her post, I couldn't wait to make one. Thanks Valerie for the inspiration.

If you are crafty and not following her blog, you should start now! Valerie also hosts "sewing in baby steps," for those of us who have sewing machines, and have no idea how to use them. I've taken 2 of her courses and have really enjoyed everything I've made (The Halloween Trick or Treat bags idea, came from her class.)

INTRODUCING, PENELOPE PENGUIN


Okay, so isn't she just ADORABLE? She even has a tail! She's made out of a "RIBBED" Nylon, knee sock. She was so cute and adorable, I decided she needed a mate.

And so, PAUL was born.



Supplies:

1) Nylon Socks - 5 pairs for $5 dollars at Walmart. One sock makes one penguin.
2) Felt - $.37 a piece at Walmart. Black, White, Orange, Yellow, Red and Blue.
3) Thread - $.97 Walmart. Black and Blue. Don't forget to buy your needles if you don't have any. These are all sewn by hand.
4) Velcro - $1.27 at Walmart. I purchased the small self adhesive circles. This is what you use to attach the fish to the hands and beak.
5) Poly-Fil - $2.27 for that large bag at Walmart. You barely use any of this, so grab the smallest bag you can find. With this bag, I have a life-time supply.

STEP 1:



Measure approximately 7 inches from the toe of the sock down towards the heal and then cut. The toe will soon become the penguins head. Since Paul is a boy, I used a smooth knee sock as opposed to the ribbed one.

Step 2:



Stuff the sock with the Poly-Fil and pin the bottom closed. Sew the bottom closed.

Step 3:



Use a round object to draw out the penguins belly and 1/2 teaspoon to draw and cut out the eyes.











Then free cut the feet (two orange triangles), the beak (One yellow, One Black and One Red triangle. The black and yellow should be the same size and the red one slightly smaller.)

Finally, cut out the tail and small black eyeballs.


Step 4:


Pin all the parts onto the stuffed black sock and then sew each piece in place with a Whip Stitch. Once you have sewn on all the parts, then sew a Gather (Google it) stitch around the neck of the penguin to give it shape.



Don't forget the tail. I did, twice.

Step 5:



Free cut your flippers. For the male, I used four pieces of black felt and two pieces of white. Just to give him personality. Sew two black pieces together to give the flippers some "thickness." Then sew the smaller identical white piece to the front of the flipper with the Whip stitch.

So PAUL was born!



SOON THEY WILL HAVE BABIES!


If Chloe doesn't get to them first. Isn't she getting so big?


BTW: Feel free to cut out fish using the blue felt. Whip stitch two pieces of blue felt together part way then stuff with the poly-fil. Whip stitch it closed. Place a small piece of Velcro on the fish and on the penguins hand and inside of the black part of the beak.




23 comments:

Wendy said...

Nicely done Lisa ~ they are very cute. And now another blog to check out ~ Thanks :)

brlracincwgrl said...

That's super cute! Great job :)

Evonne said...

Too cute! Good job!

supahmommy- somethin's wrong with that girl said...

They are SOO CUTE!

* AND neil patrick harris I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING SUPER FUN BIRTHDAY TO BE.

xoxo supah

yonca said...

Ohmy..They are so cute! Thanks for showing how to make it. It is easy to make with those pics.

Amy said...

they are so cute..

Nicole said...

ooooo thanks for this one! and for Valeries blog link. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and have no clue how to use it, so that should help. thanks!!! :) Hope you and your family had a happy new years!

Liz Mays said...

That's just the cutest little guy!

Emmy said...

Very cute!! Great job. He is a cute little guy.

Macey said...

Ah! So cute! All is well with the world now...Lisa Anne is back and has her blog on and her craft ON!

TwoHeartsTogether said...

so cute! Thats funny that your cat loves them too. You should fill them with cat nip they would go crazy!!!

Alicia said...

awwww so cute!!! and man, why are penguins just so dang adorable! great tutorial :)

Together We Save said...

These are so cute!! I just love them!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

You're back!!! That penguin is simply adorable!

Allison said...

So cute and my little guy loves penguins so this is the perfect project for him!

Claudya Martinez said...

Too friggin' cute!

Julia said...

Im so doing this! I dont even sew but I would try to do this. Fun idea. Thanks

Mrs. M said...

Yes, Hannah would love these! I'll have to see if I can wrangle up all the supplies so we can do it!! :)

Betty Manousos said...

Great work Lisa!! Very cute!
I need to learn how to do.
hugs hugs

Betty Manousos said...

Came back to say that you are describing how to do it, but alas i need some practice as well.

Valerie @ Inner Child Fun said...

Penelope and Paul are ADORABLE!! I'm so happy you did this! It totally made my day! Seriously, can they get any cuter??? The photo with Chloe really made me smile. Thanks so much for the link -- I really appreciate it! :-)

thatgirlblogs said...

woo, Paul! You go,boy!

Cassie said...

That penguin is soooo cute! Great job!