Toys

NOTE: Kits for this project will be available in our shop Monday, 4-23-12 :)
 
Preschoolers will love sorting and matching colors with our Wooden Sorting Bowls and Acorns. These pretty little acorns will help young children in color recognition, counting and sorting abilities. It also encourages agility and dexterity in wee hands. And, because they are beautiful, they add to the warmth and charm to any room!  
 
To make your own you will need:
 
Wooden Sorting Bowls and Acorn Kit from Wee Folk Art's Market Place [Available April 23]
 
Note: Kit includes 6 wooden bowls and 18 wooden acorns. To finish the project you will need fine sandpaper, wood stain (optional), paint and beeswax wood finish.
  
 
~OR~
 
6 wooden bowls 
18 wood acorns
sandpaper, fine
wood stain (optional)
wood paint
beeswax finish
 
Note: All materials used should be non toxic and child safe.
 
MATERIALS AVAILABLE IN WEE FOLK ART'S MARKET PLACE: [available April 23]
Wooden Sorting Bowls and Acorns Kit
Wood Finishing Kit (Non toxic soy wood stain (optional) in Fruitwood or Walnut, Beeswax Finish, and Fine Grade Sandpaper - Each item is also sold separately)
Non toxic soy paint
 
IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING: The acorns are small and considered a choke hazard. Although generally it is recommended that small parts should not be given to children under 3 years of age, we highly recommended you do not give small parts to any child that still puts toys in their mouth, no matter how old they are!
 
Using fine grit sandpaper, sand wood pieces smooth. Wipe off to remove any saw dust.
 
  
Using a non toxic, child safe wood stain, stain just the OUTSIDE of the bowls and the caps of the acorns. I found it easiest to use a hard bristle paint brush to apply the stain to the acorn caps. Note: If you prefer, you can choose NOT to stain the wood. The bowls and acorns in this tutorial have not been stained.

 
Choose 6 different colors of paint. Paint the inside of each bowl and the rim a different color. Paint your acorn bottoms to match the inside of the bowls. You will paint groups of three acorns the same color.
 

  
When the paint and stain are thoroughly dry, seal the bowls and acorns with a Beeswax Finish.
 

Notice the 2 acorns below. They have not been stained. The one on the right was sealed with our Beeswax Finish. It naturally gives the wood a wonderful patina.

Now your bowls and acorns are ready to be played with. Remember to reapply the Beeswax Finish periodically to the wood to maintain a beautiful luster and to prolong the life of the wood.

  
OTHER IDEAS FOR USING THE WOODEN CUPS AND EGGS
 
Of course, children will come up with their own ways to use the bowls and acorns :) The bowls and acorns will undoubtedly be moved to play kitchens, the acorns can be used for counting and sorting, and, you can flip the bowls over, and hide acorns under them for a super fun guessing game :) 
 
 
 

 
NOTE: Kits for this project will be available in our shop Monday, 4-23-12 :)

[We took one of our favorite patterns and made it lovelier by adding more embroidery. I love the end results!]

If Fairy Dust is sprinkled on a flower as the last dew of morning evaporates, something magical happens... a Flower Fairy is born! If you are lucky enough to have Flower Fairies in your garden, then you already know that all of your plants seem to grow a little lovelier and their blooms seem to last a little longer… as if by magic!
 
Now, you can bring that magic indoors by crafting your own Flower Fairies. Long known to be great friends with the gnomes and woodland creatures, your Flower Fairies will easily join in the merry making with the rest of your wee folk.
 
Our Mother Flower Fairy measures 2 ½” (6.5cm) and the Baby Bud is 1 ¾” (4.5) tall.

To make your own you will need:

Flower Fairy and Bud Kit from Wee Folk Art's Market Place [Available April 23]

Note: Kit includes 100% wool felt, cotton embroidery floss, an adult and child wooden peg and directions. To finish the project you will need crafting glue, embroidery needles and disappearing marker. Occasionally, you'll need fine sandpaper to smooth bottom of pegs so they stand straight.

~OR~

Materials:
1 adult and 1 child wooden peg
100% wool felt in a light and medium color (pictured: peach and orange) and green
100% cotton 6 ply cotton embroidery floss to coordinate with each felt and a dark floss in the same color family as the light and medium color felts (pictured: rust).
beeswax finish (optional)
sandpaper (optional)
disappearing marker
pattern

Note: All materials used should be non toxic and child safe.
 
MATERIALS AVAILABLE IN WEE FOLK ART'S MARKET PLACE: [available April 23]
Flower Fairy and Bud Kit
Crafting glue
Embroidery Needles
Beeswax finish (optional)
Sandpaper, fine grade (optional)

Note: The tutorial features the Orange Flower Fairy and Bud. Visit Wee Folk Art's Shop to discover all the different color options!

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING: The Baby Buds are small and considered a choke hazard. Although generally it is recommended that small parts should not be given to children under 3 years of age, we highly recommended you do not give small parts to any child that still puts toys in their mouth, no matter how old they are!

IMPORTANT: There can be significant variations in the sizes of the wooden pegs even from the same manufacture and even in the same shipment! Before cutting the body wraps out of felt, cut the pieces out of paper, and "try them on" your wooden pegs. Make adjustments to the paper pattern before cutting out your felt.

 
Directions:

Make copy of Pattern and cut out the felt as follows:

Light color - flower petals, small cap, small body wrap
Medium color - brimmed hat, large body wrap
Green - large and small leaves

Check out Tips for Cutting Out Felt.

 
FLOWER FAIRY:
Check the pegs to make sure the bottoms are even and stands securely. Occasionally, a little nub may remain on the bottom of a peg. If it does, simple sand off with a small piece of sandpaper or nail file.

Recently, I've started finishing the exposed parts of the wooden pegs with a beeswax polish. I love the rich look it gives the wood. I do not finish the area that will be glued. I do the head, shoulder and base. I use a small, hard bristle paint brush to get in the neck. This is an optional step. BTW... you will notice half my pictures have finished wood and the other half do not.

Wrapping the peg:
Glue body wrap to wooden peg. The seam will be the back of the fairy.

Flower Petal:

Embroider along the edge of the flower petals using a blanket stitch and 2 strands of dark orange floss (a).

Sew the two short sides of the petal together using a whip stitch and 2 strands of light orange floss (b). Sew a running stitch along the upper edge of the petal piece using 2 strands of light orange floss (b). Start and stop at the back seam. Gently gather the stitches until the petals fit snuggly around the fairy’s neck. Tie off the thread and from the inside tack the petal to the body tube near the neck. This will prevent the petals from turning.

Leaves:
Just like the flower petals, embroider along the edge of the large leaves using a blanket stitch and 2 strands of green floss (c). Sew the two short sides of the leaves together using a whip stitch and 2 strands of green floss (c). Sew a running stitch along the upper edge of the leaves using 2 strands of green floss (c).

Gently gather the stitches until the leaves fit snuggly around the fairy’s neck. Tie off the thread and from the inside tack the leaves to the petals near the neck. This will prevent the leaves from turning.

Brimmed Hat:
Transfer embroidery markings to hat.

Embroider hat as follows:
Outer edge: blanket stitching using 2 strands of light orange floss (b)
Vine: stem stitch using 3 strands of green floss (c)
Leaves: detached chain using 3 strands of green floss (c)
Flowers: French knots using 3 strands of dark orange floss (d)

Sew a running stitch alongside of the vine using 2 strands of medium orange floss (a).

Gently gather the stitches. Try the hat on and adjust gathers so the hat fits. Tie off the thread.

Run a thin line of crafting glue on the inside of the hat along the gathering line.

Place the hat so it tilts backwards with the low end centered on the Fairy’s back. Carefully squeeze the hat to make sure it is securely positioned.

BUD:
 
Wrapping the peg:
Glue body wrap to wooden peg. The seam will be the back of the bud.

Leaves:
To make leaves, follow directions for the Fairy leaves to blanket stitch edge, whip stitching together, sewing a running stitch along the top, gathering, and tacking the leaves to the body wrap.

Cap:
Transfer embroidery markings to cap.

Embroider cap as follows:
Leaves: detached chain using 3 strands of green floss (c)
Flower: French knot using 3 strands of dark orange floss (d)

Sew a running stitch along the edge of the cap using 2 strands of light orange floss (2). Gently gather the stitches. Try the cap on and adjust gathers so the cap fits. Tie off the thread.

Run a thin line of crafting glue on the inside of the cap along the gathering line. Place the cap so it tilts backwards with the low end centered on the Bud’s back. Carefully squeeze the cap to make sure it is securely positioned.

Your Mother and Child Flower Fairies are now ready to bring a little magic into a child's life!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2012. All rights reserved.

Patterns may be used for personal use only. If you are interested in obtaining a Cottage Industry License so you can sell items made from our patterns, information can be found HERE.

Photos 11-29-11, 4-2-12,4-2-12 

 
NOTE: Kits for this project will be available in our shop Monday, 4-23-12 :)

There is a pure joy in running free and dancing, especially with a rainbow of ribbons streaming behind you! Make one or two for all the wee hands in your life. Whether children are dancing to their favorite songs or simply to the music of nature, Fairy Ribbon Rings will make the experience magical!  

To make your own you will need:

Fairy Ribbon Ring Kit from Wee Folk Art's Market Place [Available April 23]

Note: Kit includes (1) 3" wooden hardwood ring and (6) pieces of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon. To finish the project you will need fine sandpaper, wood stain (optional), paint (optional) and beeswax wood finish.

~OR~
 
Materials:
(1) 3" wooden ring 
(6) ribbons 1/4" wide x 48" long  
fine grade sandpaper
beeswax finish
non toxic wood stain (optional)
non toxic paint (optional)

Note: All materials used should be non toxic and child safe.

MATERIALS AVAILABLE IN WEE FOLK ART'S MARKET PLACE: [available April 23]
Fairy Ribbon Ring Pack
Wood Finishing Kit (Non toxic soy wood stain in Fruitwood or Walnut, Beeswax Finish, and Fine Grade Sandpaper - Each item is also sold separately)
Non toxic soy paint (optional)

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING: The ribbon streamers on the finished rings are 24" long and are considered a strangulation hazard. Make sure a child is properly supervised when using this toy and never leave them alone with it. Although generally it is recommended that long strings should not be given to children under 3 years of age, we highly recommend you do not give toys with long strings to children that still wrap things around their neck, no matter how old they are! 

 
Using fine grade sandpaper, sand the ring smooth. Wipe off to remove any saw dust. 

Apply a non toxic wood stain to the ring. I use a non toxic soy based stain that is available in our shop. If you would like a light, natural looking stain, use Fruitwood stain. If you'd like a deeper, more dramatic color, use the Walnut stain. 

When the stain has dried completely, apply a beeswax finish to the ring. 

Cut 6 pieces of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon 48" long. (If you bought our kit, the pieces are already cut.) Note: Often Fairy Ribbon Rings use silk ribbons. We prefer to use grosgrain. Grosgrain ribbons still flow beautifully, but they are sturdier than silk ribbons and the toy remains beautiful longer.

Decide how you want the ribbons on your ring. Then, simply tie the ribbon on using a square knot (right over left, left over right). Make sure you tie it tight so the ribbon is not slipping on the ring. Note: although you should tie the ribbon on in the middle, don't worry if one side is a little longer than the other. It will still look beautiful :)

 
Continue tying on ribbons in the same manner until you have added all your ribbons. When tying the ribbons on, place them close together but they should not be touching.

 
To help prevent fraying and to give a finished look to your Fairy Ribbon Ring, cut the ribbons on a 45 degree diagonal.

 
Easy, right? Why not make a second ring to double the fun and beauty?

ALTERNATIVE FINISHING SUGGESTIONS

If you would like a more colorful ring, simply paint the ring with a non toxic paint and seal with a beeswax finish.

You can also choose not to stain or paint your ring and leave it natural. Apply a coat of beeswax finish and buff.

Notice the difference between the 2 rings. The one on the right has been finished with our wood sealer. Doesn't is do an awesome job?

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2012. All rights reserved.

Patterns may be used for personal use only. If you are interested in obtaining a Cottage Industry License so you can sell items made from our patterns, information can be found HERE.

 
These colorful eggs and cups are wonderful and safe for the smallest hands. Wee ones will enjoy placing the eggs in the cups encouraging agility, dexterity and small muscle development. As babies turn into toddlers they will begin matching the colors. The eggs and cups can then be used for color recognition, counting and sorting. A wonderful early toy and beautiful addition to any room!
  
  

Materials: 
6 wood eggs
6 wood cups
sandpaper, fine
wood paint
beeswax finish
non toxic wood stain (optional - if you'd like to finish the eggs in natural wood tones for a play kitchen)
 
Note: All materials used should be non toxic and child safe.
 
Directions: 

Using fine grade sandpaper, sand wood pieces smooth. Wipe off to remove any saw dust.
 
  
Using a non toxic, child safe paint, paint the inside and outside of the cups and the eggs. Use 6 different paint colors and paint one cup and one egg the same color. (Optional: if you prefer a natural finish for the play kitchen, stain the eggs/cups now.)

  
 
When the paint is thoroughly dry, seal the wood with a Beeswax Finish.

 
They are now ready to play with! Children as young as 6 months old will love picking up the colorful eggs. 

By the time a child is around 1 year old, they will enjoy putting the eggs in the cups. To begin with, they aren't too concerned about matching colors :)

Eventually, toddlers will be matching the same egg and cup colors, counting eggs, and learning their colors. This is truly a multi-aged toy that grows with the child. 
 
 OTHER IDEAS FOR USING THE WOODEN EGGS AND CUPS

If you prefer, stain the outside of the cups and paint just the inside. The children will still match colors, but will have a very different finished look.

You can stain the eggs or white wash them for a more natural look. These are wonderful in play kitchens.

Give a child a small basket and let them collect the eggs a chicken has laid.

Or... ask a child what to do with them. She'll know :)