Handmade Toys - Felt Cars and Trucks

I have just finished a custom order and loved making it so much that I made an extra for my Made It store.

The brief was it must keep a young boy entertained on a long plane flight, feature cars and trucks and be light and easy to take along when travelling.

It is all that as well as interactive:

• Wheels that can be interchanged between the different cars and truck.
• Tool box that has two metal tools inside.
• Opening truck door to place a driver behind the wheel.
• Caravan with top opening to place people or luggage inside.
• Back of truck opening for luggage, tool box or people.

Road pieces that the cars, truck and caravan can be positioned on.

I really enjoyed making this set and I have a feeling there will be more like it coming soon.

Creating a Fantastic Dress Up Box

When I wrote about the 8 Must Have Toys for Kids one of the top 8 was dress up clothes.

If you haven't got a collection of dress up clothes in a box it is worth putting one together.  Give kids a  boxful of dress up items and they will be occupied for hours and that's got to be a good thing!  Kids love costumes, changing clothes, pretending and becoming different characters. Gathering the clothes, accessories and costumes is all part of the fun especially if you involve your children in the process. To get started clean out closets, ask grandparents or check out your local op shop.

To store the dress up items think creatively ... an old suitcase, plastic lidded box with a mirror nearby, or a little set of drawers or shelf in a corner.

Here are some ideas to help you fill your kids dress up box.

1. Skirts and Dresses.  Go for elastic waisted skirts that are easy for you to adjust to child's size and to make it easy for them to put on.  The shinier and glittery and brighter the colour the better!

2. Costume Jewellery.  Always a huge hit and easy to get hold of at op shops. Things like clip on earrings, chunky necklaces, bracelets, old sunglasses and brooches are perfect.

3. Clothes from other Countries.  Include some items from different cultures such as saris, kilts, grass skirts, cowboy hat or vest.

4. Clothes from Different Jobs.  Include in their dress up box some clothes to represent different occupations such as work mans overalls or vest, ballerina tutu, nurses outfit, sailors jacket.  These sort of clothes will have their imaginations soaring!

5. Hats. Pop into your local op shop and you are sure to find a fine selection of unusual hats. Bowler hats, sunhats, builders hard hat, baseball hats, berets, tiaras, chefs hats, pirates hats, men's hats are all fantastic.

6. Pieces of Material. Include some lengths of brightly coloured or unusually textured material.  This will let your kids put together what ever outfit they choose.  You will find them draping a length of black satin material around their shoulders and becoming a magician or super hero.  Or draping a piece of silk around their backs as a shawl or using it as a head scarf.

7. Props.  Purses and old handbags, builders tool belt, pretend sword or shield, toy first aid kits with some bandages, shoes, aprons, police badge, runners sweat bands, aprons, sports shirts will all be put to good use.

If you already have a dress up box let me know some of your items.

Join my Creativity List for more fantastic Creative Kids Ideas or a copy of my E-book

50 Tips for Selling Handmade Online

Leonie Dawson Amazing Life &Biz Academy Review

Since mentioning Leonie Dawson last week on my post about my Top 10 Time Management Tips I have had people asking me about her academy, her business e-books and e-courses. So to make it easier I will answer the questions here and for all to read. Please note that I am an affiliate.

In March this year I brought Create Your Incredible Year, workbook, planner and Business Year Calendar. I wanted somewhere I could plan, set goals, schedule them in and see progress throughout the year.  I printed them out and have popped them in a folder which sits next to my computer. 
It has been fantastic and kept me focused.  In the past I have fleeted from one thing to another and had trouble being focused and therefore working constructively.  The key for me has been scheduling in the big things, the small things and everything in between. I am making far better use of my time and creating more efficiently than ever before.
I will definitely be getting and using Leonie's planner and calendar next year.

After having so much success with the Year Planner and reading all about her other e-books and e-courses I decided to go ahead and join her Amazing Biz and Life Academy. That was two weeks ago and I am very glad I did.

The thing about Leonie Dawson is that she comes across as a very new agey, hippy, spiritual goddess. She swears like a trooper, calls herself a Goddess and she calls the members of her Academy her tribe. It doesn't bother me one bit after all she is one clever cookie who is making a very successful career as a professional Goddess! Plus she is Australian and that is very cool althought from what I can gather her business is American. I am disapointed that she isn't really present in the forums or facebook to answer questions and connect personally with her tribe.

In the two short weeks I have been a member of her academy these are the main things I have gotten from it.

1. Access to ALL  Leonie's great courses, business advice, workbooks, e-courses, e-books, meditations etc.
 
2. Able to connect with a wide range of women from all around the world and from many walks of life, all following their dreams and passions.

3. Forums for mums, business, writing, bloggers and loads of others.

4. A sense of belonging, positivity and support within the forums and whole academy.

5. Ability to connect with smaller groups as I work through the e-courses. I am two weeks into one of her E-courses called Business Goddess E-course. 
Being able to work through the course with a group together has been fantastic.  I have got such a lot from reading others questions, interpretation and answers of the course.  Plus it is great to have a sounding board to express my ideas and get feedback. I am taking away far more from doing this course as a group than I would get from doing it by myself. 
(I may have to do a review of this e-course once I have finished it completely in a few weeks).

So there you have it.  I am happy I made the decision and joined up.  Definitely money well spent and absolutely no regrets from me.

Are any of my readers members of the academy?

I would like to invite you to come and join my Creativity List. 

It is chocca block full of fantastic content from freebies and special offers to kids craft ideas and small handmade business articles.

As a thank you, you get not one but two free Ebooks.

Creative Play To Keep Boredom Away

50 Boredom Busting Ideas For Children.

plus

50 Tips For Selling Handmade Crafts Online.

Making Toy Kitchens and Sponge Food

Children love copying adults and pretend playing.  One of the cutest things is the huge array of pretend mini kitchens around. 

The great thing is they can be made from recycling a small tv cabinet or chest of drawers. In our area the council has a bulk clean up day one every 6 months and driving around you can often spot no longer wanted pine furniture out the front of houses.

Add some paint, open drawers, cut a hole for a sink and for the stove and a few knobs and voila!

Now for the fun part!

Some food to cook.

Pop into your local $2.00 shop and grab yourself some kitchen sponges.  They come in some cool colours but the standard yellow colour is probably the most versatile.

Now grab some scissors and get cutting.
Crumpets?

 Chips?

A sponge cake maybe?



 Or an ice cream perhaps.



 What about a vanilla slice, toast or marshmallows?  The sponges can be painted like the crumpets,  to give them a just toasted look.

Let me know what you come up with...maybe some orange carrots or some biscuits?

My Top 10 Time Management Tips

These are my top time management tips for my small online business.
Are any of these on your top ten?

1. Get Organised. 
I regularly have organising blitzes of my work spaces (yes, I have more than one).  I speed around in a frenzy popping everything in its rightful place.  Clearing the accumulated clutter also clears my mind to work more effectively.  With a clear work surface I get a lot more sewing done. During this time I jot down supplies I am running low on and I make sure I shop for supplies before I completely run out.

2. Lists.
I am the master list writing guru!  Most days I write my to do list.  Sometimes I write it the night before.  If it is written down it is like I am committing to it and it is much more likely to get done.  I also write down monthly business goals, possible blog post ideas, when I will be sending out a newsletter Etc.  Now this might be sad but I get a little thrill when I complete something off my list and can actually cross it off!

3. Turn off the Computer.
I normally turn on the computer and answer emails, blogs, list new items or work on my online shops of a morning.  I will most likely post on facebook and twitter too.  I try really, really hard not to go surfing, not to get distracted by the latest cool pic on pinterest or interesting facebook story.  I give myself a time limit and then turn off the computer.  I do turn it on later in the day and I often find myself (constantly) checking) my phone.  For me personally, time online is my biggest distraction and biggest time waster!

4. Streamline Creating Time.
I make my toys in batches, sometimes two to four but other times larger batches.  I cut out a batch, sew a batch and will work on the batch until completed and then begin the next. I see what is running low in my online stores and make a batch of those toys.  This saves me loads of time, from getting out the right coloured felts, ribbons and embellishments to not having to constantly re thread the sewing machine. I also have core products that I make over and over, so they are quick and easy for me to sew and complete.  I still sew original toys and games but the bulk of my items are not one offs.

5. Bookwork.
I keep an accounts book, yes an old fashioned Collins Account book. All in goings and out goings are recorded into this book.  Each month I tally the totals.  I have columns for date, item sold description, shop it sold from, and outgoings.  Each online shop has its own column so I know what is selling where.

6. Utilising Free Snatches Of Time.
For me it is the time I would be in the car waiting for one of my kids to finish soccer training or watching swimming lessons etc. Sometimes I'll use this time to catch up on emails, other times I will take along some hand sewing. It is surprising what I can get done in half an hour waiting time.

7. Best Productive Time.
My kids are all school age so the hours between 9.30 and 2.30 are my best productive times.  During those hours I sew like a Trojan.  I do have a part time job so I'm not free every school day.  Maybe your best productive time will be the hour your child naps during the day or of an evening when the kids are all in bed.  Find your time and work, work, work.

8. Write Down Goals.
I do this every month.  I use Leonie Dawson's Create Your Incredible Business Year Calendar.  I work out how I am going to achieve my goals by breaking them up into little steps and then I write them onto the calendar.  There is something about having goals and plans written down.  It is like I have committed to them so I must do what I can to make them become a reality.

9. Shipping Station.
I have stream lined my packaging and shipping by having all I need together.  My finished and listed toys and games go onto shelves ( I have one shelf per online shop).  The shelves are in the study near the computer.  When I sell something I get out the item, get out packaging items that are in a draw next to the computer and pack away.  The draw houses my  washi tape, lime green paper bags, business cards, tape and envelopes.  When ever possible I post same day or following day.

10. Time Away.
A break from doing and thinking about Creative Wishes is so important.  It might be a walk down to the lake, time gardening  or a shopping trip.  I can become so focused on Creative Wishes that productivity actually slows down.  This is when I know I need a break.  I come back renewed and with a clear head, ready to create again.

What are some of your time management tips?

I would like to invite you to come and join my Creativity List. 

It is chocca block full of fantastic content from freebies and special offers to kids craft ideas and small handmade business articles.

As a thank you, you get not one but two free Ebooks.

Creative Play To Keep Boredom Away

50 Boredom Busting Ideas For Children.

plus

50 Tips For Selling Handmade Crafts Online.

Types of Felt

Fabulous felt, I love working with felt. I love the array of colours, the feel and sewing with it. Maybe I am a little addicted to felt?

One question I get asked often is about the different types of felt available and what type of felt I use.  I mostly use a lovely soft 30/70 wool blend felt in my toys and games that I sell.  I  also used eco felt bamboo blend felt.

There are about 5 different types of felt.

1. 100% Wool Felt

This type of felt is made from 100% wool.  Wool felt is one of the oldest man made fabrics. It traps air to make excellent thermal insulators and it is extremely resistant to wear. It feels soft and luxurious.  It comes in different thicknesses ranging from 1 - 5mm.  100% wool felt is rather expensive given that it is pure wool but does feel so very nice and soft! Often used in industry's, billiards table tops, wall coverings, fashion accessories such as slippers and hats. It does have some disadvantages too though.  Wool felts tend to be thick and this can make sewing and shaping it more difficult.  It can feel itchy and may not hold well on the seams, can stretch itself out of shape and smell wooly when wet. 

2. Wool Blend Felt.

Wool blend felt is a combination of wool and often rayon. Blended wool felt can come in different percentages of wool and rayon. eg. 35% wool, 65% rayon, or 20% wool, 80% rayon.  Wool blend felt holds up well to wear and stress.Wool blend felt will not be pulled out of shape as easily as wool.   Rayon blend felt is soft and quite comfortable on the skin. The blended felt will wrinkle but will easily flatten out with time or the application of a low temperature iron. The blends generally resist insect damage and retain the mildew resistant qualities of wool.  Blends generally wash well and spots are easily removed. They come in a huge array of colours. Used for sewing crafts, pillows, garlands, ornaments. Can be sewn, glued, moulded.

3. Eco Felt
There are a couple of different eco felts available.  One type is made from bamboo/rayon blend. Bamboo felt is available under a few different brand names such as Xotic felt. The other type of eco -felt available is almost identical to acrylic felt and  created in the same way but instead of being made from plastic pellets are made from recycled plastic bottles. This type of felt can be glued, sewn and melted. Eco felt can fuzz and pill easily and can be uncomfortable to wear.  It does not allow for air flow like wool blend felts. Not recommended for clothing or wearables.

4. Acrylic Felt

Acrylic felt is made by interlocking acrylic or acrylonitrile which is made from a type of plastic.  These fibres are then interlaced to create a felt.  Acrylic feltis very easy to care for because they are made from plastic. This type of felt wash well and won’t shrink. The colours will not fade with normal usage but can it be stiffer.  It is very affordable and will last a long time.  Often used in children's art and craft.

5. Needle Felting

Needle felting is made with 100% wool and is made with a piece of wool that has been combed, formed into a clump and twisted to hold the fibres.   It is used for making dolls, critters, hats and scarves.