Crochet Valentine’s Day Treat Bags

I volunteer as a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor at the local elementary school once a week. I wanted to put together a little something for the kids for Valentine's day. 

These little bags are quick and easy to make and they use only a small amount of yarn. I am filling mine with candy, but these would also be great for small toys, stickers, erasers, etc.

Size:

The finished bag is 3 ½” wide and is 4 ½” high. You can easily adjust the size of your bag by changing the hook size, using a different weight of yarn, or increasing the length of the foundation chain.

Needed Materials:

Crochet Hook Size H

Worsted Weight Yarn Main Color – 20 g (bag)

Worsted Weight Yarn Coordinating Color – 5 g (drawstrings and heart)

Tapestry Needle

Gauge: 

4 1/2 sc = 1”

The gauge is not really important for this. I crochet tightly, but this gauge made a 3 ½” x 4 ½” bag.

Bag:

Using the Main Color, Ch 16

2 sc in 2^nd ch from the hook, sc in 13 ch, 2 sc in the last ch. Do not turn. Working on the opposite side of the foundation ch, sc in next 13 ch, join. (30 st) You may want to place a marker on the last sc to help you remember where the round begins.

Row 1: Sc in each sc around. Continue to sc until the bag measures 4” tall or about ½” less than your desired end height.

Drawstring Row: Sl st to join, ch 1, (sc in next sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc) around, join. (10 - ch 2 spaces)

Final Row: Ch 1, (sc in each sc, 2 sc in each ch 2 space) around, join, fasten off.

Drawstring (Make 2):

Using the Coordinating Color, make a chain until it is about 16” long. Fasten off.

Heart:

Using the Coordinating Color, Ch 3

Row 1: (2 dc, 1 hdc) in the 3^rd ch from the hook. Turn. (4 st)

Row 2: Ch 3. 1 dc in each of the (2 dc, 1 hdc), 2 dc into the top of the ch 3. Turn. (6 st)

Row 3: Ch 2. 1 dc in 1^st st, 2dc in next st, sl st in next st, 2 dc in next st, (1dc, 1hdc) in next st, sl st into the top of the ch 3 of row 2.

Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Finishing:

Starting at one side of the bag, weave a drawstring through the ch 2 spaces. Starting at the other side of the bag, weave the other drawstring through the ch 2 spaces. Knot the ends of the drawstrings.

Sew the heart onto the bag using the long tail.

Weave in all ends.

Abbreviations:

Ch = Chain
Dc = Double Crochet
Hdc = Half Double Crochet
Sc = Single Crochet
Sc2tog = Single Crochet Two Together
To make it easier to print, you can download a pdf of the pattern.

Have a happy Valentine's Day! 

DIY Land of Nod Inspired Tabletop Puppet Theater

Ana White is currently hosting a #GetBuilding2015 challenge. This month's theme is #ScrapWorkLove which requires the use of scrap wood to create a project. My niece's 4 year birthday was coming up, so I decided I would make something for her. I looked through my wood scraps and tried to come up with a project. A few years ago, I had made this puppet stage for another niece and she loved it.

I didn't have enough scrap materials to make something that large, plus this was going to be for a 4 year old, so I decided to make something smaller. I saw Land of Nod's Tabletop Theater. I knew this would be perfect! My measurements are not exactly the same as the Land of Nod version because I was using scrap wood, but it worked out great! You can easily adjust this to make due with the scraps you have on hand.

If you do not have scraps, here are the needed materials:
1 - 1" x 6" x 3'
1 - 1" x 4" x 10' (You can get an 8' board, but you will need to change the 21" cuts to 20 1/2" cuts)
1 - 1" x 3" x 4'
1 - 3/8" x 3' dowel or a tension rod
Saw (I used a miter saw and a jig saw, but you could even use a hand saw)
Kreg Jig or countersink drill bit
1 1/4" pocket hole screws or wood screws
Spade drill bit (if you are using a dowel)
paint or stain
small amount of fabric
needle and thread or sewing machine
Coat hooks (optional)

Here are the steps I took to make the puppet stage.

Step 1: Cut your boards. I used a miter saw for most of the cuts. but any saw will do.
1 - 1" x 6" cut at 18" (bottom sign)
2 - 1" x 4" cut at 21" (sides)
1 - 1" x 4" cut at 18" (top sign)
2 - 1" x 4" cut at 18" (stage and top sign base)
2 - 1"x 3" cut at 6 1/2" (bases)
1 - 3/8" dowel cut at 20 1/2" or a tension rod

Step 2: Using a Kreg jig set a the 3/4" setting, drill pocket holes in each end of the inside of the stage, and top sign base. 

Step 3: Using a Kreg jig set a the 3/4" setting, drill pocket holes in each end and the top of the inside of the top sign and the bottom sign.

Step 4: Using the pocket hole screws, attach the bottom sign to the sides. If you don't want to use pocket holes, you can use countersunk screws.

Step 5: Follow this process for both sides.

Step 6: Using the pocket hole screws, attach the stage to the sides and bottom sign.

Step 7: Follow the same process for the top sign and top sign base.

Step 8: Draw the curve for the front edge of the bases. An easy way to do this is to trace around a paint can or something similar.

Step 9: Use a jig saw to cut around the curve. If you don't have a jig saw, you can just leave these as blocks on the sides instead of being curved.

Step 10: Attach the bases to the sides using countersunk screws from the inside of the sides.

Step 11: Using a spade bit, drill holes into the sides where you want to place the dowel.

Step 12: Drill a small hole in each end of the dowel (This step is optional.)

Step 13: Make your curtains. I am not an expert at sewing, but these were pretty simple. Just cut your curtains to size. Fold over about 1/4" and sew around the edges. Fold over the top edge. Be sure to make this long enough to fit the dowel or tension rod. Sew that top part down.

Step 14: Slide your dowel into the hole in the side. Slide the curtains on, and put the dowel through the other side.

Step 15: I wanted to ensure that the dowel would not slide back and forth, so I put some small screws into the ends of the dowel. This also will allow the curtains to be removed and washed or changed.

Step 16: I also placed a couple coat hooks on the sides so hold the curtains back. This is not necessary. You could also use a ribbon or a piece of the fabric to tie the curtain back.

Step 17: Fill any holes with putty, sand all surfaces, and paint or stain. I normally paint everything at the end, but because I was using more than one color, I decided to paint as I went.

Step 18: Have fun! My niece loved her new puppet stage. 

It was a Frozen party, so the puppet show starred Elsa and Olaf. She had a great time!

This was a quick build and did not cost a thing to make! You can make easily make one for a fraction of what it costs to buy. This would also make a great classroom gift!

Kit Kat Jacob's Ladder Toy

Are you looking for an idea for something fun to put in the Easter baskets? This idea is both a toy and a treat! It's also easy enough that kids could also make it.

I was going to make a Jacob's Ladder toy out of wood. I was deciding on the size to make the blocks and I realized that a Kit Kat is the perfect size to make the toy. I decided to make a Jacob's Ladder out of Kit Kats.

See a video of the Kit Kat ladder in action here.

Needed Materials:
6 Kit Kats - I found Easter themed Kit Kats, but regular Kit Kats will work fine.
Paper or 1/2" Ribbon
Tape
Scissors

Step 1: Cut 15 Strips of paper. They should be about 1/2" wide and about the length of two Kit Kats. I used two different colors to make it easier for the tutorial. You may choose to use only one color or multiple colors. You could also use ribbon cut at the length of two Kit Kats. 

Step 2: Tape the pieces of paper to the Kit Kats as shown below. Tape three strips on five of the Kit Kats. Leave one Kit Kat with no strips attached. I used the pink strips taped to the front side and the green strips taped to the back side. I did this to help explain the process. This will also result in the all the front sides being on one side of the ladder. It really does not matter which sides you tape the strips.

Step 3: Place your Kit Kat with the taped side down and fold the strips over the top. You will have one short strip each on the top and bottom of the bar extending one way and a short strip in the middle extending the other way. I taped the strips down to take a picture, but you should not have to tape them down.

Step 4: Place the next Kit Kat with the taped strips facing down on top of the bar with the folded over strips. Make sure that you place the bar so the end that has the two long strips attached to the top and bottom is the on top of the end with the middle short strip.

 Step 5: Fold the short strips over the bar. Be sure to pull the strips tight to prevent them from slipping off the bar and tape them down.

Step 6: Fold the long strips over the top of the bar like you did in step 3. Again, I taped them down to take the picture, but you do not need to do this. Just be sure the strips do not cross. If they cross, your ladder will not work.

Step 7: Put the next Kit Kat with the taped strips facing down. Fold over the short ends and tape them down.

Step 8: Fold the long ends over the bar. Continue on in this manner until you get to the Kit Kat that does not have any strips taped to it.

Step 9: When you get to the last bar, place the bar on top. You will just have the three short strips extending.

Step 10: Tape the short strips down.

Your Kit Kats should now look like the below.

Step 11: Have fun! It's time to play with your new Jacob's ladder. To get the ladder to work, hold the ladder extended with your fingers on the sides of the bar. Then, rotate your wrist forward and backward. It will look like the Kit Kats are cascading down the ladder. To see it in action, you can see a quick video here. Once you are done playing with it, simply remove the paper strips and enjoy the Kit Kats!

You don't have to use Kit Kats for this. You can use any similar sized, flat candies. Something like Orbit or Five gum would be perfect.

I will be posting a tutorial of a traditional Jacob's ladder using wood blocks, soon.

End of the School Year Student and Volunteer Gifts

I volunteer as a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor at the local elementary school once a week. Tomorrow is our last day of Mentoring for this school year.

I put together a small gift for each of the kids in the program, as well as a gift for each adult Mentor. I needed 24 of these, so I needed them to be inexpensive, but still look cute.

For each of the kids, I took an individual package of Goldfish Crackers, a Kool-Aid Kool Burst, and a crazy straw.

I then made a little tag for each and attached it to the straw. The tag that I made says, "It's oFISHally summer. I hope it's CRAZY and KOOL!"

I put everything in a cute little cup. I think they turned out pretty cute and they cost less than $1.00 each to make! I hope the kids like them!

I also wanted to give something small to each of the other Mentors to show my appreciation for them participating in the program.

I bought some individual-sized Chips Ahoy cookies.

I made a tag that says, "Thanks for Chippin' in this year!"

I just used a piece of double-sided tape to attach it to the package.

These were extremely easy to make and they cost me only $.40 each to make. I like how they turned out and I hope the Mentors know that I appreciate them.