Tutorial: bean bag your family

Hello, June. Hello, rain. I kind of love you.

First: Two new reader book slings to report. This adorable robot one from Katie's Corner. 

 

And this sweet one from a reader named Kelsey for her son, William:

I am always, always tickled to see these, guys. Keep 'em coming. I'll add these shots to the book sling tutorial in a bit.   

Now, for a new tutorial. It's kind of a silly one.

Back in April, we threw a 70th birthday party for my wonderful dad. We sort of treated it like a kid's party, complete with party hats, goody bags and, well, we meant to play this game:

I had made bean bags with the faces of all our family members on them. I planned to cut a tree shape out of plywood, cut holes in it, paint it and play a sort of Family Tree Bean Bag Toss. The tree never happened, though, so the kids just kind of tossed around the bean-filled versions of themselves (which they loved, by the way. What's not to love? Their face on a bean bag. Put their face on broccoli and they'd eat it. Hmm ... there's an idea).

You, however, might be certainly are more adept at carpentry than me, so maybe you'll give the tree a go. Start working on that, and I'll show you how to make the bean bags.

(By the way, I'm predicting carpentry is going to be the next knitting. I seriously would love to get more into it.)

 

You will need: your computer, printer, PhotoFabric (made by a company called Blumental Craft) or some other brand of fabric that can run through a printer, sewing supplies, scrap fabric and, of course, beans. Pinto or otherwise.

Step 1: Create a word-processing or page-design document on your computer with four photos per 8 ½ by 11-inch page.

Step 2: Following package instructions, print the document onto photo fabric.

 

Step 3: Cut out each photo. Cut a piece of scrap fabric of the same size. Place the photo and the fabric on top of one another, right sides facing. Sew around three sides, either by hand or with a machine.

  

Step 4: Turn the bean bag right side out and use a turning tool (a knitting needle works great) to fill with beans, being careful not to over stuff it. You want the beans to be able to jiggle around somewhat loosely inside the bag.

 

Step 5: Sew the fourth side of the bean bag shut.

You've been bean bagged!

Toss away!  

Comments

[The Leftoverist]

I can't believe you and your family bean bags. You know I'm never going to make any of these things, right?! But that makes reading about them even more fun.

[twirling betty]

I LOVE printing on fabric and these are fantastic and kind of hilarious. I can imagine the strength with which I might have hurled (rather than gently tossed) one with a picture of my brother on it when I was a kid. Of course we're all grown up and lovely now but I may make one with his face on just in case...I mean, ahem, I will definitely be making some of these with treasured family members on for my girls. Thanks for yet another lovely toot. *giggle*

[Megan]

LOL, guys. Great alternative use for them, TB. I should send this link to some family counselors. Kind of a healthy way to express aggression, don't you think?
Sarah, how can you not put those darling kids of yours on bean bags? Hmm ... maybe this should be a new offering in my Etsy shop.

[Odysseymama]

I love this idea! So many possibilities. I want to make bean bags with photos of my 3-4 yr. old preschool students! Imagine all the things we could do with these in the classroom(get-to-know-you songs, grab a bean-bag out of a basket to see whose turn is next, 3-D graphing for question of the day,etc.). Then they can take them home at the end of the school year. Hooray for this idea! Thanks!