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How to Reuse Stuffed Animals

Any parent of young children knows that stuffed animals are the go-to gift for people who aren't sure what to get your kids. Your friends are sucked in by the plush softness and cute animal likenesses of the myriad of stuffed animals available on the market, and never stop to think about what you are going to do with, or how you are going to house, that one hundredth teddy bear. Reinventing stuffed animals into useful puppets is a great way to reuse a few of the stuffed animals in your collection.

Things You'll Need

Stuffed animal large enough to fit your hand in
Thin knit stretchy winter glove in color to match stuffed animal
Scissors
Seam ripper
Needle and thread to match glove

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the bottom or back seam of the stuffed animal opposite the head. Use your seam ripper to open the stitches by pushing the pointed end into the seam and cutting through each thread with the central blade of the seam ripper. Remove the cut threads by pulling them all out by hand, and trim any threads that are still attached with your scissors.
- 2
  Open the seam and pull out enough stuffing that a hand can be inserted into the stuffed animal cavity and extremities.
- 3
  Push the glove into the cavity of the stuffed animal and align the fingers and thumb where you want to have control of the stuffed animal puppet, making sure to align the cuff of the glove with the bottom edge of the opening in the stuffed animal.
- 4
  Sew the glove cuff and the stuffed animal opening together using whatever method you are comfortable with, and tie off the thread. Weave in the end of the thread and trim.
- 5
  Put on a puppet show with your new and improved re-used stuffed animal puppet.

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