American Girl Doll Dog Bed

With Valentines Day around the corner, I thought a nice homemade gift would be great for the girls. 
I admit I saw this idea on Pintrest. However, they used foam. I don't have foam. I have a bunch of fabric.

What you need:
Fabric
batting
ruler/tape measure


Directions:

I did this one based on the dog size and you can too! I took Honey and placed her on a piece of printer paper. Next, I folded her down to the size I wanted the base of the bed to be. Mine happens to be as followed:

 

The piece on the left is the front. Eventually I cut the middle down and sewed it closed to make a round middle so the dog could jump into it (see finished project)

Once I found the measurements I needed, I added the batting in the same size. Next I stuck the batting into each piece,  Once it was ready I pinned it together (it does not matter which side is right or wrong if you have one color). After that was finished I sewed the bed closed.

 

You can add bias tape to the trim to give it a fancier look. I tried, but I do have a problem almost every time I use it...for some reason after it's gone through the machine it's never actually sewn to the project even though I've pinned it to it.

**If you found this funny, useful or made it, follow me and share your pictures!**

My other American Girl items:
school supplies
feel better kit  (Just like McKenna's!)
Gymnastics accessories
head band
Minnie Mouse ears
sleeping bags
sleeping mask
pillow dress
accessories
pet accessories
generic witch costume,
Tutu Style Witch Costume 
Scooby Doo Costume
Square Dog bed

American Girl Gymnastics accessories

 

So I'm starting on Christmas a little early. What would my oldest would really really like?  Why McKenna's gym accessories of course! Now, I'm not just talking the hula hoop, the ribbon and the leotard (which she already owns one for her doll anyway). I'm talking the beam as well. As of right now my husband and I plan to make all of this stuff because this year Christmas is going to be more homemade.

Today I only had enough time to make the ribbon, I still have to go out and buy the materials to make the hula hoops. I took cake rods (you can use kabob sticks) and cut them into a good size (measured it against the dolls hand).

Then I hot glued the ribbon part around the rod (covering the sharp edge). I then wrapped a different color ribbon around  the base once.  Then  added a hair twistie and wrapped the ribbon around and glued it down.

I added a hair twistie so that the girls dolls could hold the ribbon wand by themselves.




Today we're making the Hula hoop.

First I went to Lowe's (because during one of the Lowes Build and Grow workshops I got a free $5 gift card!) and the nice people there cut 2 sets of polyethylene pipe measuring 32inches each (about  22 cents a foot) . I also bought the connector pieces for 88 cents each. The most expensive part of this was the duct tape (about $5 each). Still I'm spending way less on two than I would on one at the actual store.


First I had to  take the tubing and heat the end up in hot water.

 Then push the attachment piece in. Repeat to other side- Careful it's kinda hot!!

You should have a circle now

This is the harder part, because if you're like me you want the wrapping of the duct tape to be smooth

*Tip start the duck tape at an angle, or you'll end up getting bumps like the Hello Kitty one and if you're like me you'll take it off and start over:

Ta da! The dolls will be ready for their gymnastics competitions very soon!

My other American Girl items:
school supplies
feel better kit  (Just like McKenna's!)
head band
Minnie Mouse ears
sleeping bags
sleeping mask
pillow dress
accessories
pet accessories

**If you found this funny, useful or both, please follow me. I get a little lonely! Thanks :) If that's too big a commitment, you could recommend me on google +

Twas the night before school

Well, I have been a busy bee. I don't keep up much on this blog because I'm so busy over at my Pintrest Challenge  blog and then vacation, and well- excuses, right?So anyway today was the first day of school for my babies- Kindergarten and second grade! How time is flying. To make things run smoothly on that hectic first day I do the following:

1) Start waking them up one week prior to the first day of school- also helps if they go to bed a little earlier. I do this so they are not as cranky at school and not giving the teacher the first impression of "acting out".

2) Lay out clothes for them the night before.

3) School supplies are packed and ready by the door

4) Bath the night before

5) Lunches are either made morning of or night before.

This year we were visited by  The Back to School Fairy.


So anyway, I've been putting off pulling out their backpacks and tote bag stating that it's in a box under a lot of stuff and "I'm just not getting it out right now" Finally the girls were asleep and I needed to get into action. During the last couple of days I've been secretly sharpening brand new pencils in another room while they watched a movie or practiced in their workbooks. This afternoon I pulled out the backpacks and hid them behind clothes in the closet. Once they fell asleep I quietly pulled them out and placed them against the couch along with: their lunchboxes (which are packed and in the fridge until morning), first day of school outfit, shoes and a jacket.  With a note  about enjoying their first day of school!

In their lunchboxes I left a little note from me with a Hershey's kiss saying that I loved them and missed them and couldn't wait to give them a real hug and kiss.

The only other part that made me smile was when the back to school fairy left their American Girl Dolls some new stuff.  Instead of new clothes the dolls got their own accessories for a new school year!

http://dolldiaries.com/doll-play-day-82-make-doll-folders-and-school-supplies/

I simply printed this page out, cut the yellow and purple copies and glued it all down.  Their dolls already had backpacks that I made. So the supplies just went inside. I fake laminated the  calculator, ruler and ID card by using packaging tape and re-cutting them out. They are not as sturdy as American Girl makes them, but they do the trick!

DIY American Girl Doll accessories

 AS SEEN IN PARENTS MAGAZINE!!!!!!! (September 2012 pg 208)

Yes, This is our second publication in a row for Parents Magazine "It Worked For Me!" We waited until the school supplies went on clearance at Staples and bought the mini composition books (2 pack for a quarter!) Then we took the page of mini versions of your pictures (typically these come when  you order online) We cut them out and glued them into the book as a mini scrapbook for the dolls.

To make the surfboard, we simply cut the bottom of a Rockstar 24 count case to the shape of a surfboard. After that I let the girls draw on Sharpie with them to make designs. They aren't as long as a typical surfboard to human ratio- but the girls are happy with them.

Next we have a kite. This was just something we bought at the dollar store (it's just a mini kite)

Last one for the day we have is a back pack

It's been a while since we made it, but here is a sketch of the  pattern. We basically used a long rectangle for the back, a square for the front, a long thin rectangle for the bottoms and sides, and a pocket. We sewed it together and made cuts in the fabric for the ribbon handles.

Open and off:

hanging

If you found these helpful, cool or funny- please follow me. I'd appreciate it. It gets a little lonely over here

Here are links to some of my other creations:
My other American Girl items:
school supplies
feel better kit  (Just like McKenna's!)
head band
Minnie Mouse ears
sleeping bags
sleeping mask
pillow dress
accessories
pet accessories.