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?!
Materials (for 16 flash cards):
1/2 yd brown felt
felt scraps in assorted colors
16 grommets or large eyelets and tool to apply
small scraps of fusible interfacing (16 scraps approximately 1"x1")
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
