Children love small toys to play with, collect or carry with them in their backpacks or pockets. You can easily create many different types; animals, people, toys in any fabric whether plain or coloured. Cut, stuff with beans or polyfil, sew and add faces and detailing with embroidery or fabric paint. Delight a child with a collection!

Use any picture from old magazines, books, etc. Look for pictures that have rounded edges or round them as you cut. Do not use pictures that will require a lot of attachments. As much as possible try to cut in one piece, only adding ears, perhaps bunny puff tail.

You can make the picture larger or smaller using a photocopier to enlarge or by squaring off with 1 inch squares using a ruler. Then on larger paper, make 2 inch squares and draw the picture into the larger squares copying from the smaller picture. Square off the picture or place on a window with graph over top and trace the picture outline. The same applies to make the picture smaller; use 1/2 inch squares (or as big or as small as you wish).

For each toy, cut two identical pieces, front and back. Remember, you will need at least 1/4 inch extra for the seam. Place the two material pieces right side together and sew seam. Bind the seam edges to keep it from unravelling.

At this point, you can either stuff with beans or use polyester filling.

If you fill with beans, be careful not to overstuff. You will want your toy to be squishy.
If you fill with stuffing, use the eraser end of a pencil to push the stuffing into corners, ears, etc.

Fold the edges in of the remaining seam and sew shut.

A face or other detailing can be embroidered or painted on with fabric paint. You can also use small buttons for eyes, yarn for whiskers or hair, pom pom for hair or tail. Again, remember that these add-ons can be very dangerous for children (or for animals) as they are a choking hazard.

I have cut two pictures; a Bear and a Bunny, from an old magazine and squared off so you can see an example. To cut these out, you need to cut 1/4 inches around away from the edge of the picture for your seam. These are a good example of how detailing can be added with embroidery or fabric paint.

Materials:

* Fabric scraps.
* Scissors.
* Dried beans, dried split peas or lentils, or polyester stuffing
* Needle and thread. Simple sewing is required.

Tips:

* Make sure everything is very clean before you begin.
* Do not use material that will run when washed.
* Use material with a tight weave to make the toy last longer.
* Beanbag toys are mean to be handled and tossed so it is important not to have a loosely woven fabric.
* Preshrink cotton material.
* Embroider or paint the face.
* Be sure all seams are tightly sewn.
* Do not overstuff with beans.

Warning:

*Beans or add-ons can choke so do not make this toy for babies or young toddlers.