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Instructions to Make Stuffed Animals

Stuffed animals are comforting toys that are often a child's first best friend. However, paying a lot of money for these animals is unnecessary when you can make them at home. For an inexpensive project, use recycled items, scraps of cloth, yarn or paper to make stuffed animals. When your child wants an animal that is impossible to find or one he can only imagine, making a stuffed animal is the only option. He will cherish the stuffed animals that are stuffed with memories as well as filler.

Things You'll Need

2 sheets of 8 ½ by 11-inch heavyweight paper
Stapler
Scissors
Paint, markers or crayons
Pair of googly eyes
Glue
Crumbled tissue paper or newspaper
4 Clean ladies' trouser socks
Embroidery needle and thread
Sewing needle and thread
1 lb. polyester fiberfill or cotton fill
Decorative ribbon

Instructions

Stuffed Paper Dinosaurs
- 1
  Select a type of dinosaur and draw the outline on a sheet of heavyweight paper from the side view of the dinosaur so that the head is on the left side and the tail on the right, or vice versa. Stack the two sheets of paper back-to-back and cut out the dinosaur. Staple the dinosaurs together at 1 inch from the edge with no more than 1 inch between each staple, leaving the bottom open for stuffing the dinosaur.
- 2
  Decorate both sides of the dinosaur. Glue on googly eyes or draw the facial details, including eyes, nose and teeth, using markers, paints or crayons. Add details such as claws, shadowing for depth or camouflage.
- 3
  Take a small handful of crumpled tissue paper or newspaper and stuff into the bottom hole of the dinosaur. Push the paper into the smaller spaces on the outer areas first, taking care not to rip the paper. Continue to stuff until the dinosaur is filled, and staple the open side together.
Stuffed Socktopus
- 4
  Fold one sock, which will become the head and two legs, so that the inside is facing out. Cut a straight line down 2/3 of the sock, beginning on the open end and cutting through both of the layers. Leave 1/3 of the end where the toes is located uncut.
- 5
  Turn the three remaining socks inside out. Cut the toe ends off all three socks, discarding the toe ends. Flatten the socks, and cut through the entire length and both layers, leaving six equal-sized strips that will be six legs.
- 6
  Take the sock with the toes intact and fold the two long strips lengthwise. Sew each strip along the long side and the end that is farthest from the head, leaving the edge closest to the head section open for stuffing. Use a backstitch to sew the edges, leaving a ¼-inch seam.
- 7
  Flip the sock right-side out, and fill the legs with stuffing, taking care to stuff them evenly and fully before sewing the open end closed. Stuff the head and sew the opening used for stuffing, using a backstitch. Sew the other six legs in the same manner as the first two, turn right-side out and stuff before sewing the remaining ends closed.
- 8
  Sew each of the legs onto the base of the sock head. Embroider a face onto the socktopus, using a straight stitch or sew on buttons for the eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Use the ribbon to tie a bow around the base of the head.

Stuffed Animals