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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Hoppin' on over to Spring!

Have given up on winter. Not that it's the worst thing that has ever happened to me - after all it is kind of nice to drive on iceless roads and never have to scrape a windshield. But what if you carefully stockpiled black plastic top hats, skinny lengths of felt in a brilliant rainbow of colors and a big fat bag of real carrots -  and never had a single chance to invite your grandkids over to assemble it all into even one mini-sized smiley faced snowman....? (Sigh.)

Okay, let's just forget about that and hop right on over to SPRING!

MEET THE LADIES!
Top row, left to right: Vonda, Darcie, Sheila, Lily
Bottom row, left to right: Sharon (yes, she KNOWS there is a chicken on her head!), Jackie, Pippa, and Gloria

My only granddaughter is not even two years old, so I am not going to hand her a needle, a hot glue gun and an invitation to join me in a bunny-making party just yet. But I did design this simple little project so I could do exactly that in a future year, hopefully after we are both exhausted from a winter of sculpting snowpeople in her front yard!

But maybe your granddaughter is old enough right now to learn a few basic sewing and crafting skills. Maybe you think this little bunny is the perfect project for the two of you to make together! In quick, easy steps, you can demonstrate pattern drafting, both machine and hand sewing, stuffing, gluing and the best part.....decorating! If you craft with fabric or quilt, you already have everything you need!

Make just one, or make a dozen! Here's what you need for a single bunny: (3" x 5" finished)
  • Fabric scraps, 100% cotton, or muslin for body and pastel colors for clothes
  • Polyester stuffing
  • Fine point black marker, 005 size
  • Pencil or fabric marker
  • Quilting thread, white or natural, for whiskers
  • Acrylic craft paint, pink, for cheeks and ears - brown (optional) for spots
  • Small paint brush
  • Hot glue gun or craft glue
  • Paper for pattern
  • Decorating accents: buttons, tiny flowers, "jewels," beads etc.
  • Miscellaneous sewing supplies such as scissors, needle, thread etc.
Step by step, here's what to do:

1. Cut a 3" x 5" piece of paper.
(Shown in white.)

2. From the top center, draw a curved line
about 1" down to the sides to make
the shape of the head.

3. Draw lines to round off the bottom edges.

4. Cut on the lines to finish your pattern.
 (Shown in brown.)

Note:  For a perfect symmetrical pattern,
draw one side, fold paper in half
and cut both curves together.





5. Cut a piece of body fabric to 6" x 9" and fold in half.
If using a print, be sure to fold to reverse side out.

6. Trace the pattern on fabric. (Shown on print.)

7. Machine sew all around traced line. Do not leave
open for stuffing! (Shown on brown fabric.)

8. Cut body out, allowing 1/4" seam.
(Shown on white fabric.)

Note: The "water erasable" tracing pen used by quilters
is preferred because lines can be removed after sewing.





9. Cut a 3" vertical slash into ONE side
of body. (Shown on brown fabric.)

10. Turn body right side out.
(Shown on white fabric.)

11. Stuff body firmly.
(Shown on printed fabric.)

Note: Use the point of blunt scissors
to push stuffing into bottom corners.








12. Fold down the raw edge on one side of
slash and hand sew the opening closed.

13. Cover the body with a cotton cloth to protect it from scorching, and firmly press a steam iron on top to flatten the body slightly.

Note: The boring part is over! Soon these blobby jelly beans
will become adorable little bunnies - right before your eyes!






14. For ears, cut a 2" x 7.5" strip of fabric
 to match the body.

15. Fold in half and cut the ends into a curve.
(Shown with brown fabric.)

16. Tie a knot at center of strip.
(Shown with print fabric.)

17. Use craft paint to gently stroke
inside of ears with pink.

18. Hot glue, craft glue or sew
ears to center top of head.

Note: Inside ear paint optional on darker colors.






HOLY MOLEY! How many of you ARE there?
Umm...last time I looked there were just TWO!

Oh well, I see they are looking at us!

19. That must mean we drew the eyes on with the
fine tip black marker!






Wow! These little rascals are starting to actually look human!

20. Get the paint out again and color in little pink cheeks
- brown spots, too, if you like! I usually
don't paint on darker color bunnies.

21. For whiskers - everybunny gets those! - pull a double
length of quilting thread through your needle. Knot both
threads together about 3" from the end. Push needle through
one cheek and pull the knot through, into the stuffing. Push needle out through opposite cheek and cut thread at 3" to complete. Repeat once more so each side has 4 whiskers.

This photo also shows the craft acrylic paint I used -
"vivid pink" - and the invaluable Micron pen, size 005.



Now it's time to get dressed!

22. Cut a 3" x 6" piece of fabric for basic dress.

23. Sew on optional trim. (Shown on yellow dress.)

24. Hand gather one long side, 1/4" from top.
Pull gathers to about 3" and knot. The gathered edge (shown in green.) should match width of bunny at neckline.

25. For bodice, cut a 3" square of fabric and then cut it in half diagonally. (Shown in pink.) Or, use a triangle of Battenberg lace.

26. Glue the dress to bunny at gathered neckline and the bodice on top. (Shown in pink.)




From this point, use your collection of lace trims, buttons, tiny flowers, fuzzy little Easter chicks and ribbon to decorate each bunny and give her an individual personality. Use the bunnies on spring wreaths, as napkin rings, or as Easter basket accents.

So...now who needs to be out in the cold trying to get a goofy old snowman to stand up straight? Not me!

33 comments:

  1. This is a great project for little sewers. Thanks for showing us, I'll be doing this with my grand kids.

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  2. Oh so cute ( but I could tell from the pic that this would be a project of yours )

    well..I want to make one now. But I was going to do a doll blanket today. UGH. what to do. Stop reading blogs and do something, lol ! : )

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  3. These are cute, cute, cute and would add something special to an Easter basket. Love it.

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  4. Love those little guys! They do seem to have multiplied!

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  5. So cute! And since you wrote this last year is that little girl almost ready to try and help? Love reading the older posts that I've missed. You are such an amazing Grandmother!

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  6. Too cute not to be shared! Just posted this on my FB wall.

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  7. BTW, got you from Life on Lakeshore Drive Bouquet of Talent link party.

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  8. I am a new follower from Social Sunday, and I am so glad that I found you! Just quickly looking through your blog put a huge smile on my face! I am not a grandma, but my best memories are from spending time with my grandmas and doing things just like you do with your grandchildren! I try to do these types of things with my daughter, niece, and nephew...and your blog is just the place for inspiration!
    LA:)
    www.simplysmilingblog.blogspot.com

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  9. Hello, Im a new follower from the blog hop. These bunnies are to cute. I love these. Im gonna give them a try. Hope you will visit my blog and hopefully follow back.
    Best
    Angel

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  10. Oh, these are super cute. I found you via the social. Feel free to drop by & linkup your cute bunnies or other projects anytime @ DearCreatives.com I am a new follower.

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  11. Very cute! I have a few of those same fabrics!!

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  12. Adorable adorable...such detail you have put into them. First time visitor.

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  13. How adorable these are! And pretty simple and quick to make too. Love that. I'm so glad Easter is on its way and spring not far behind. I'm stopping in for the first time today. Found you at the Grand Social at Grandma's Briefs.

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  14. These are too cute and so creative! Thanks for sharing!

    I'm visiting from over at Piggy in Polka Dots and following your blog via GFC. Have a great week!

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  15. Fun! I love how you've named them all :)
    You've made this looks pretty easy - I'm going to try it.
    I found you today thru the Linky Party at Family Home and Life, where I'm #46. I hope you get a chance to stop by my blog and leave a comment, too!
    ~ Megin of VMG206

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  16. These bunnies are so cute and easy too! Great combo!

    I'd love for you to share this at my March Madness Party.

    http://4you-withlove.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-madness-party-link-up-begins.html

    Happy Hump Day!
    Marilyn

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  17. These are so cute! I'm going to pin this project so that I can make them with my granddaughter when she gets a little older. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Sandy
    Cherished Handmade Treasures

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  18. These are simply adorable! Saw them at I Gotta Create and had to stop over to say hello! Thank for sharing your tutorial! ~Cindy, littlemisscelebration.com

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  19. Oh, these are adorable!! I love bunnies. You did a fabulous job on them. Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent this week. Love seeing your amazing creations.
    Hugs
    Kathy

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  20. Very cute idea! I’d love for you to check out our Pattern Party! Those with free patterns to share are invited to link up!
    http://getyourcraptogether.blogspot.com/search/label/Pattern%20Party

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  21. Absolutely precious. I won't be seeing my grandsons before Easter, unfortunately, but these would be easy (and light for mailing) suprises for them. Thank you!

    Thanks for linking up to the GRAND Social! Please excuse my tardy visit! (Better late than never, right!?) ♥

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  22. Oh I love these! I hope to actually have time to make some this Easter. I love that kitty there of yours! I play with him every time I stop by! Thanks for linking with me.

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  23. Awww! They're so cute!

    Thank you for partying with the Wildly Original Crowd.
    <3 Christina at I Gotta Create!

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  24. Love, love, love this J!! How sweet! I wish someone had sat down with me and taught me to sew when I was little! So precious!

    Shelley

    Thank you for linking up at Party In Polka Dots! Come see my features tomorrow!! And link up too!

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  25. These are so cute! I could totally see my Mom making them for my children! Thank you for liking to Mom's Library.
    Crystal, Co-host (www.crystalstinytreasures.com)

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  26. Adorable!!
    Thank you so much for linking up in the Crafty Showcase last week! I'm slow at getting to do all my visit this week! We care that you link up and LOVE LOVE LOVE visiting your blog to see what all you are up to!

    have a super week!
    Susie @Bowdabra
    http://bowdabrablog.com/2013/03/02/crafty-showcase-link-up-anything-fun-in-the-craft-project-linky-4/

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  27. These are SO cute! We just had to feature them on Inspiration in Progress today!

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  28. Hi!
    Your adorable bunnies have been featured on Kreative Creationz for spring crafts. You can view your picture at http://kreativecreationz.com/blog/spring-inspiration/. Thank you for being my inspiration!

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  29. Those are adorable. But I am confused; do you only make the dresses as wide as the front? They don't go all the way around? Your bunnies must have cold little naked bums (but, hey, opportunity for a tail!)

    Or did I read it wrong and the do go around?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Beverley!
      Yes, you are correct that the bunnies wear dresses that just cover the front of them. This is so they can be glued to a wreath or a napkin ring or the handle of a basket. However, now that you mention it, if you doubled the fabric length, you could make them go all the way around. And adding a fuzzy tail would be cute, cute, cute! Thanks for mentioning this! Hoppy Easter!

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  30. These are adorable! Thanks for sharing. I've added them to my Plushie pin board...they would be perfect for the Fluff Project at Hopeful Threads! :)

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  31. Какие же они классные!!!!

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