Crayon roll tutorial

My eldest daughter has been invited to a Birthday party so naturally I decided I would make something for the Birthday boy. 

I didn't have much luck getting out of my daughter what her little friend is into, so I'm playing it safe with a crayon roll. I did think about an craft apron but thought a little boy might turn their nose up at an apron.

Since I'm making this up as I go along (based on the many many crayon rolls I've seen and owned) I thought I might as well make it into a tutorial. 

Supplies

Main fabric

Contrasting fabric

Ribbon

Scissors

Rotary cutter (optional)

Cutting mat (optional)

Ruler

Dress pins

Dress maker pencil, or other washable pencil/pen

Sewing machine

Iron

1. Cut two rectangles 17" x 5" (one from main and one from contrasting fabric) - this will form the outer layer and inner layer of the crayon roll

2. Cut one 17" x 6" from main fabric (this will form the pockets for your crayons)

3. Wrong sides together, fold the pocket fabric in half and iron

4. Place on the right side of the inner/contrasting fabric, folded edge in the middle. Pin in place

5. find the middle of the roll and draw a line on the pocket. Draw the pockets 1" apart starting from the middle line (I didn't do this and have learnt from my mistake)

6. Sew down each line to make the pockets

like so

7. Fold your ribbon in half and pin folded edge to one end of the crayon roll

8. Sew into place. I went back and forth a few times to make it secure

9. Fold and tuck your ribbon into the middle of your crayon roll (pin it if you must) this is to keep it from being sewn into the edges

10. Place your main/outer fabric (right sides together) down onto your pockets/inner. Pin into place (I've turned mine over because the inner was slightly smaller, but you don't need to do this). 

11. Beginning 1" below the ribbon and sew all side together, stopping an inch above the ribbon so you can turn it the right way out.

It should look like this

12. Trim any excess fabric (leaving 5mm) and snip corners

13. Turn right side out and press

14. Fold your open edge in

like this

15. Starting on the ribbon/opn edge, top stitch around your crayon roll

and you're done!

16. Fill with crayons or pencils

17. Roll and tie

I hope the new owner likes his crayon roll. 

Chinese New Year Lanterns

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

This is super easy and can keep children busy for a hours. 

Take an A4 piece of paper and let your little one decorate it...they could draw, colour, paint, stick, whatever they like (obviously if they do anything that requires it to dry, then you'll have to let it dry once the paper is decorated. 

Then fold the paper in half (long side to long side) and cut from the fold to about an inch away from the edge, do that across the paper, leaving about an inch between each cut. 

If you have a 5yr+ child then they will probably be able to do all this themselves, if not they might need help with the folding and cutting

Open up the paper and roll it (so both short sides are together) and stick in place

I've been lazy and used cellotape, but you can use glue

You should have something that looks like this

I like to give it more shape so I push it down gently

Take another piece of paper and cut a strip off the short end

Attach the strip to the inside of your lantern creating a handle

and Voilá you have a Chinese New Year lantern