Summer Slurpin' Fun

Get outside and load this thing up with some fresh berries, mangoes, bananas, peaches or pears, snap on the Toy Saver and let the little one slurp it up with no worries of it all ending up on the ground.

Tag Blankets + Toy Savers = AWESOME!!!

Tag blankets and Toy Savers go together like… insert cliché simile here!   This is Max’s tag blanket from when he was a baby.  I can’t believe he just turned 3!  This particular tag blanket was a gift and came embroidered with his name and birthday.  There are some pretty swanky blankies out there!

Tag blankets are awesome, not only because can they provide hours of entertainment, but because they can enhance baby’s learning!  Baby’s first intro to experiencing the world is done mostly through touch.  So having a tag blanket made with various textures can make for hours of stimulating exploration.  And when baby is stimulated, baby is happy!  

Read more about the fundamental benefits of tag blankets here!

What else is awesome about tag blankets?  They’re super easy to make!  Anyone can make their own tag blanket, even the most DIY-challenged (yes, even you).  This is a great project to get your creative juices flowing, to use up some of those fabric scraps you’ve been holding on to, or to just feel like you’ve accomplished something during nap-time. 

Supplies

• 2 washcloths – score some at the dollar store or upcycle ones you already have! 
• 8-12 hair elastics* - I found these fun colors in the beauty section of the dollar store (you’ll see a theme here…)

   
*Feel free to substitute with alternative materials!  Check out my list of suggestions below…

   Tools

• Scissors
• Thread
• Pins
• Sewing machine*

 *If you don’t have a sewing machine this can be hand sewn too!  Extra time = Extra love!

As you will come to know, I LOVE finding little craft-hacks at the dollar store!  But I do recommend washing your materials.  You can wash them before you start your project or after you’ve completed your masterpiece, as long as it’s clean when baby pops it in her mouth for the first time.

I chose these fun microfiber bath scrubbies (2 for $1) because I liked the fun color and shape, and it also meant that my tag blanket could tackle adventures on land or by sea!

Originally I was going to buy a couple spools of fun colored ribbon in different textures, but then I saw these hair ties! ChaChing!  Not only are they super easy to use for this project, they’re way cheaper than buying several spools of ribbon AND the left over hair ties can be used for a million other things.

They’re such fun, bright colors and each one has a different material and texture.  Those would be perfect “tags” to create the total sensory baby-gasm!

So now that you’ve gathered your supplies, you’re going to decide how you want to arrange them around the edge of the washcloth and pin them in place.  Quantity and spacing is totally up to you!  Go crazy, stay classy, get creative!

Reminder: make sure to position your pin heads out so that you’ll be able to remove them once everything has been sewn together.

 







Next you’ll take the second washcloth and layer it over the first, making a “tag sandwich”.  Pin the layers together.  Now we’re ready to sew!

 Sew along the entire edge of your “sandwich” going slowly over the elastics and watching out for all your pins.  When you’re finished remove all the pins and sew a second line on top of the first.  This is to make sure that the tags are securely in place.   

  

Next, snap it on to your Toy Saver and bask in your awesome glory because you are finished!

Seriously, it was that easy.  And the possibilities are endless!  Stay tuned for a slightly tangier tag blanket tutorial for those of you who like to go big or go home!

Substitutes for Washcloth

•  Potholdlers (Dollar Store!)
• Fabric Scraps
• Corduroy
• Knit or Crochet
• Fleece blankets (Dollar Store!)
• if you feel like making a larger blanket for baby to lay on
• Upcycle old clothing
• ex. cargo pockets from pants

Subsitutes for Elastics

• Gros Grain ribbon
• Satin ribbon
• Velvet ribbon
• Braided ribbons
• Knotted ribbons
• Lace ribbon
• T-Shirt yarn - DIY
• Ric-Rac
• Fun shoelaces

   
FUN EXTRAS!

• Cut fabric into fun shapes or favorite animals
• Insert plastic bag between layers for fun crinkle noise
• Put fun applique on it
• Quilt yours for even more cool texture
• Insert a shoelace with lots of knots for a fun lumpy feel
• Fill with dried lavender for a naturally soothing scent

Got any great ideas?  Leave us a comment.  And be sure to check out our Facebook page!