bean bag toss game

A lot of sewers have tackled this easy project.  I turned mine into a game.  I was enamored with the idea of creating some of these super simple bean bags, but I wanted more than just a few bags to keep the busy boys, well, busy.

I created this mat to toss the bags onto.  The mat was made with 6 different 8.5 inch squares.  I appliqued a number in each square so we can keep score (I always use double-sided fusible web to hold the applique in place while I sew).  Keeping the numbers low (1, 2, and 3) allows my 5-year-old to total the points on his own.  This game will help him start learning simple math. 

These bean bags are so simple to make.  I bought a Central Park by Kate Spain charm pack during my last visit to a local quilt shop and the size is perfect for this project.  I was nervous to use my coveted charm pack for the bags (I confess to hoarding gorgeous fabric), but I just love how they turned out.  I used the same fabric for the backs as I used for the binding, but I could easily have used more charms.

These bags measure 4.5 inches square.  I filled them with about 2/3 cup of cheap white rice.  This amount filled the bags about 3/4 full.  I used almost 2 lbs of rice to fill 6 bags. 

I just can't get enough of these.

And since I can't stand when accessories stray from their toys, I added a few extra details to transform the mat into a carrying case for the bean bags: a tri-fold style, side flanges with hook and loop tape, a hook and loop closure, and a convenient handle for easy transport.

Now the game can stay together and we don't have to go searching for the bags before we can play.

This was just one of the ideas I came up with for a bean bag game.  There are so many other ways to go with this (a bullseye style mat and nesting baskets to throw the bags into were a few of my other ideas).  I think this game might just be my go-to gift for little ones now.

gone fishin' {with magnets}

Need a game to occupy a four-year-old for hours?  How about a magnetic fishing game?

After watching Logan fish for shoes with a tent pole, I started brainstorming about how he could fish for, well more real, fish.  Magnets seemed the best way to go.  I just needed to incorporate them into the fish and dangle another magnet from a dowel.

The pole was simple.  I drilled a hole in one end of a dowel and tied one end of a piece of yarn through it.  We bought some craft-sized wooden barrels to dangle from the end of the pole for weight and drilled a small hole on the top of the barrel to screw in one of those closed hook-type-things.  Then we tied the other end of the yarn to this hook and glued a magnet to the other end of the barrel using wood glue.

No, this is not my four-year-old.  He was napping when the sun finally came out long enough to take some pictures and I needed a child prop.  This game does occupy one-year-olds, but in terms of minutes, not hours.

For the fish, I used felt.  I drew a fish on tissue paper and used that as my template for all the fish.  I used two fish cutouts, one for the front of the fish and one for the back.  I traced the magnet on the back of the front fish cutout and cut the hole slightly smaller than the traced hole.  Then I just hot glued the magnet to the felt around the hole.  I just had to be sure that I glued the correct side of the magnet so the barrel would attach to the fish.

I used embroidery thread to whipstitch the fish closed.  I also put a little bit of stuffing in each fish to add a little more depth.

And guess who helped me sew up these solid color ones?  Nope, not Logan.  The hub late on Saturday night.  I did not beg...he actually offered.  I'm impressed with his craftsmanship.

I really like these ones because the felt used from Hobby Lobby was textured!  I didn't know there was such a thing.

I'm very happy that we went with magnets from a home improvement store instead of the craft store. These are stronger and can even hold the entire set of fish which makes clean up even faster (and more fun!).

This game will be coming with us on many a journey.