Do you love having flash cards for your little ones but hate that they always end up looking like this (actual flash card box from my house -- the big question is why I hadn't thrown it away)?
I've had this idea on my mind forever. It started with me wanting to make Wyatt a quiet book for the last two and a half years. Let's just say it hasn't happened yet. Then I started thinking that by the time I get one made for him, he'll be too old for it. Enter his love for flash cards, and recently, playing memory (not that he follows all the rules, but that's okay, I try to not let it bug me even though I'm a stickler for rules). What if I could come up with something that combined the two ideas? That's when these felt flash cards that also double as a memory game came to life.
The best part is that they are totally portable and you won't be playing "52 Card Pickup" with them -- unless you want to :). They are stored on a metal ring so they can be toted along to church or in the car, with no worries about losing any!
Description:
This tutorial will guide you through the steps to make both your own felt flash cards and memory game! The "cards" hang on a metal craft ring so they don't get misplaced. You can use the template for numbers and shapes that I have provided or make your own... How about alphabet felt cards to help teach letters?!
1/2 yd brown felt
felt scraps in assorted colors
16 grommets or large eyelets and tool to apply
large metal craft ring - mine was 2.5"
Directions:
1. Using template provided, cut 32 rectangles of brown felt. This will make 16 flash cards. Pieces for the next few steps have square corners pictured but your's will have rounded corners.
2. Using template provided, cut desired numbers and shapes out of assorted felt colors (the template provides more than 8 numbers and shapes so you can pick which ones you want or make extras). Cut two of each number or letter so your cards can be used as a memory game as well.
3. Applique each number or shape to lower half of one brown rectangle, stitching around entire outer (and inner if applicable) edge of number or shape.
Note: I do not use Heat N Bond to applique for this project since the pieces are fairly small and felt is so easy to work with, but you can use it if you like.
4. When appliqueing, do not backstitch at beginning and end. Instead, after stitching, tug on back threads gently, pulling a loop of the threads on the front to the back. Pull the loop through, and you should now have 4 threads on the back of the felt. Tie these threads together using a square knot and cut off any excess thread.
5. Apply one small scrap (approximately 1"x1") to the wrong side of upper left corner of each piece you have appliqued. This will reinforce the area where you will place a grommet at a later step.
6. Pin wrong side of each appliqued rectangular felt piece to a plain rectangular felt piece, matching edges. Stitch around entire rectangles, close to edge (you can backstitch this time :)).
7. Following the directions on the package, attach a grommet or large eyelet to each card in the upper left corner.
8. Attach all the felt flash cards onto a metal craft ring. Great job, you are done!
I like to divide the two sets of felt flash cards onto two different rings so that my boys can each play with a set. When it's time to play Memory, just combine the sets together!
No more worries about ripped and bent flash cards. Even your baby is okay to get his little mitts on them.
Unfortunately Wyatt thinks that since they're indestructable you're supposed to throw them.
Linked to:
Today's Creative Blog
Anti-Procrastination Tuesday
Lucky Star Lane
75 comments:
that is really super!°!!
I love it...when I will have time - I make it :-)
sooooo cooool!!
best wishes anita
What a cool way to teach numbers!! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-felt-number-flashcards/2010/04/26/
--Anne
I LOVE these! I can't wait to make some for my son!
I love this idea. I'm totally going to the craft store today! Thank you for posting this!
That's fantastic! Our flashcards always have bite marks or rips in them.
I posted about it on my blog at http://www.boosie.ca
so cute, what a great idea, love the grommets and having it all be attached to the ring. :)
LOVE! this idea! so great and a fantastic way to teach numbers, letters, shapes etc.. SUPER CUTE TOO!
I am in LOVE with these! Thanks for linking up to Making the world cuter so I could fine ya! So cute and Great job!!
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [26 Apr 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria
Definately something I want to make. Great job, Abs!
Such a great idea! I'll be saving this link. We were sorta on the same page this week. I made some colored fabric/batting elephants to work on colors with my two year old.
So cute, Ab. I love this idea.
what a cute idea, love it.
Wow what a great idea!
Am hoping its ok to link this post to my blog Wednesday! If not please let me know innerhooker@yahoo.com
These are just too cute!
it will post here if I don't here from you :)
http://oxfordfam.blogspot.com/
these are so cute abby! you're a genius!
What a great IDEA!!
absolutely delightful! very well done!
love these!
What a great idea! I love it!
Great tutorial! You're on my reading list now (:
This is awesome! I'm going to be featuring this idea on my blog in May!
Thanks!
Sumo
http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com
I love this - very cute and toddler friendly!
What a great idea! I can't wait to make a set of letters for my little guy.
This is such a super idea! I love it!! Thanks for the great tutorial!!
~Morgan
Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!
Just stopping by from Lucky Star Lane link party...I love your idea. I never knew flash cards could be so cute! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.
so, SEW cute:) Boy do I wish you had an etsy shop...I'd buy these for my nephew!! (hes still in my sisters belly so you have time to open one!!:))
These are SO cute! What a great idea!
These will make a cute gift for my nephew!
Jana
this is brilliant! Gotta add this one to the never ending list of Projects!
Busted! That is the cutest thing EVER!!! I'm gonna make those along with the 500 other things on my list! LOL!
These are awesome. My nephew's turning 2 in a few weeks and I was looking for something unique yet fun to make for him. This is just the ticket! :)
Awesome idea!
another awesome tutorial! I was just thinking, gee I haven't seen anything from you in my reader, hope everything is ok. Come to find out, I was never following in the first place!!! I've missed quite a bit. I don't know what happened there.
Those are great! Really well done, love it! Theresa
Super cute! Think about linking these up to Mad Skills Monday at SSB! Love your projects!
Ginger
SSB
http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com
These are super cool.
SUPER DUPER creative! Thanks for joining us for Anything Related!
~Bridgette
What a wonderful idea! I'm adding this to my "things to make for the grandchildren" list. Thanks!
These are wonderful!!
I love it!!! Can't wait to try this (just need more hours in the day!!!!)
This is an awesome project! I just love it - thanks for linking up to Be Inspired today!
Chelsea
I can tell he loves it!. Thank you for linking up to the Boardwalk Bragfest!
That's an awesome idea! It's so much better than those cards everywhere!
~Kim
These are super cute!! Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!!
What an awesome idea!! Well done! (fyi, I found you via a link on my blogher ads. :))
I don't suppose you make and sell these do you? I have a little guy with Down syndrome for whom these would be PERFECT.
And I could sew to save my life. :D
Tammy and Parker
www.prayingforparker.com
Ahh!I love this! I'll be featuring this ! And I saw your dolls at the Oh Sweet Sadie boutique! Soooo cute! I'll be there tonight from 5-7! I hope to run into you!
Anyway...I always love seeing your projects! I'd like to personally invite you to submit some projects to be featured on BCD! I've turned Blue Cricket into a feature blog and want to feature the best designers out there! Check out how to submit by clicking my "Be Featured" button just under my header to find out how to submit! I hope to see some of your amazing stuff soon!
Becca
How cool are these?! For some bizarre reason, grommets have always intimidated me. I need to get over my issues and try this out!
I'm loving this.. What a cutie you have.
Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thursday. Please join me next week for another great party!
Um, yes...incredible! Now I have yet ANOTHER thing on my crafty to-do list.
Such an awesome idea! I've been looking for some sort of memory cards to make for my 2 year old granddaughter and these are so perfect...well perhaps perfect after I put a little more pink on them. ;)
THANK YOU!!!
These are adorable - you should sell them! They're so cute and functional!!
Thanks for linking at Lucky Star Lane!
THese are awesome. I can just go to my toy room and find about five of those torn boxes. This is a great solution!
LOVE this!! So, I have everything cut out, but I'm confused because you said it will make 16 cards, but the template only has 13 numbers/shapes. Did I miss something?
Anonymous: You can actually make more than 16 cards if you want. You should be cutting two of each (to double as a memory game), so you can pick whichever numbers and shapes you want to use. I did numbers 1-5 and 3 different shapes, but you can make more and use all the numbers and shapes if you wish. Hope that helps! Good luck!
My youngest is autistic and his cards are always getting ripped or ruined. These are perfect, thanks! I am featuring you 8/16 on Momspiration Monday!
Hi - I have you as a featured tutorial on Momspiration Monday 8/16:
http://www.momsbyheart.net/search/label/momspiration%20mondays
I LOVE these! I think I'll make them for my little guy for Christmas!
I have a question about the interfacing. Why don't you put a piece on each side of felt? I'm new to interfacing, so it's still a bit of mystery. Will it bond to both sides? I'm just not sure.
Also, I was thinking of using fabric numbers/shapes instead of felt. That way, I can use Heat n Bond and cut everything out on my Cricut, thus saving some time. Do you think this will stand up to the wear and tear as well as felt?
Thanks so much for the fantastic idea! I'm so excited to make them!
Kaly - you could put interfacing on both sides of the felt, but they really shouldn't need it. The interfacing is just to give the cards a bit more strength where the grommet will be placed. And since the cards are so small, they don't need anything "sticking" them together.
And fabric would definitely work, I would suggest a knit just becuase the edges won't fray, unless you want to zigzag stitch around each number (which would add back all the time you saved by using your cricut!).
Hope that helps, good luck!
I love it because you are one step ahead of me! Just yesterday I was trying to figure out how I could make something for my toddler to practice his letters & numbers without just printing paper flashcards...and here you go already creating them! This will be my project this week.
super super!!!!!
Wow! I'm getting started on at least 3 sets of these tomorrow... and those are just for the kids I'm related to! I know of at least half a dozen that could use these for upcoming gifts. Thanks for the inspiration. I'll link up again once I get the finished projects.
~Ginny
http://missionfieldof5.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-gifts.html
I completed my set today for a baby gift! Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial!! This is a wonderful, long lasting gift.
I do not know how to add a link at the bottom of the comments to go to my blog to see my pictures..sorry...I tried several times...just have never seen this done.
Such a fantastic idea for busy and inquisitive minds. You are very generous in sharing it.
I just made these for my son over the weekend! I didn't sew as beautifully as you, and cheated a bit (glue, anyone?), but I think he'll love them. Thanks for posting the tutorial and template! I gave a shout out to you on my blog: http://www.everleyjames.com/2011/05/diy-fabulous-felt-flashcards.html
I was going to make my littlies alphabet and shape bean bags but this is so much better and will take up less space! Thank you so much for sharing :)
you did a great job building them up. I would love to do something similar for my little niece.
I featured this tutorial in my "Top Ten CRAFTS I loved this week".
It's an awesome tutorial!!!
Thanks!
http://cosiendoycriando.blogspot.com/
I love this idea and will definitely be making some.
Just a tip from a teacher - you should use the same colour for all numbers as children will recognise the colour rather than the number.
This is an amazing idea, im going to make these very soon for my 2 little ones, thank you so much for sharing!!!
Looks like cozy card holder and you can also put mobile on it m i rite? give some sort of card holders in your blog as well.
Plastic Business Cards
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