I always bite off more than I can chew… especially in the craft department. And then I never start in time! I think I need to start NOW for next Christmas! (I have a handmade Nativity Scene I started …. looks like it’ll be just in time for next Christmas!).
My crafts are not nearly as impressive as the delightful items made by my friend T Rex Mom, but I did get a small project done!
My son’s love affair with all-things-car has not diminished. Now, he makes tunnels and bridges and roads for his cars. Where ever we go, upstairs, downstairs, he RUNS to collect a huge handful of all the cars he can carry to bring with him!
Another game he likes is to put cars in the “parking garage” – which happens to be just where ever he can tuck them! It’s so cute!
I really love making him handmade gifts for special events, even if it’s just a small thing (crafting for boys is TOUGH, I tell ya – it’d be much easier if I had a girl!). For Christmas this year, I made him a car roll to hold some of his Hot Wheels. There are 5 “parking garages” for the cars, and a little road I made with black fabric, pigment stamp ink and a “equals sign” stamp!
I really can’t wait to see how he likes this new car carrier! Plus, now he can take a handful of cars when we travel without them falling all over!
Easy DIY Car Roll Tutorial (sorry no photos!)
Materials:
- two – 10″ x 17″ fabric – could be same or contrasting prints
- one – 5″ x 17″ fabric – can be same or contrasting prints
- two – 17″ strips of 1/4″ thin ribbon
- one – 3″ x 17″ strip of black fabric with paint marker “road lines” drawn down the middle.
- Fold the 5″ wide piece in half right sides out, so it forms a double thickness. Pin to one of the 10″ pieces, along their long edges. Line up the raw edges, so the folded edge of the 5″ piece forms the “pocket”
- Stitch “pockets” every few inches down the 5″ strip through both pieces of fabric (measure the cars you plan to put inside the pockets to determine how far apart each pocket will be).
- **At this point, if you wanted to add a “road” strip, you would take a 3″ length of black fabric and stitch it down above the pockets you just made.
- Stack and pin the two 17″ long ribbon pieces directly above the pockets. Lay the ribbons down the length of the fabric. (But you only have to pin the one end).
- Lay second 10″ fabric piece right side down on top of your pocket-stitched piece. Pin, being sure to pin the ribbon flat so you can sew over it on the side seam.
- Stitch 1/4″ seam around the pieces, leaving a 2-3″ hole on the side to turn right-side-out. I generally leave the opening on the side opposite the ribbon. Clip the corners for easier turning.
- Turn right-side out. The ribbons should be on the outside now! Iron seams flat. Tuck the opening to the inside and pin flat.
- Stitch around the entire car roll 1/4″ from edge, going over the opening where you turned the car roll right-side-out.
You’re done! Congratulations! Your kiddo is going to LOVE taking this car roll along with them on road trips, doctor visits, or anytime they need a quiet busy activity!
Do you make presents for your kids? I would love some suggestions for boys especially!
T Rex Mom
Saturday 24th of December 2011
Oh, thanks for the shout out. I've been online only a bit lately so I did not see this posting until now.
Well, obviously, I LOVE crafting for my kids.
The car roll is awesome. Love, love, love the road. And adding a handle is so not hard. Maybe sometime I'll attempt to video the process of making such a thing so you can see. Seriously, it takes longer to get the fabric right side out than anything else. I just need to so this when someone can film me. Thank you again for T Rex's car roll - he will LOVE it.
I've decided to keep crafting so next Christmas I won't be working until Christmas Eve - like I was today! Actually, I just finished my last project. Sigh of relief. When the kids wake up - Gingerbread cookies.
By the way, my son does the exact same thing with his cars. He needs to grab a handful to take everywhere he goes. It does get a bit burdensome when we go somewhere so hopefully the car rolls will make this easier.
T Rex Mom
Saturday 24th of December 2011
Oh, thanks for the shout out. I've been online only a bit lately so I did not see this posting until now.
Well, obviously, I LOVE crafting for my kids.
The car roll is awesome. Love, love, love the road. And adding a handle is so not hard. Maybe sometime I'll attempt to video the process of making such a thing so you can see. Seriously, it takes longer to get the fabric right side out than anything else. I just need to so this when someone can film me. Thank you again for T Rex's car roll - he will LOVE it.
I've decided to keep crafting so next Christmas I won't be working until Christmas Eve - like I was today! Actually, I just finished my last project. Sigh of relief. When the kids wake up - Gingerbread cookies.
By the way, my son does the exact same thing with his cars. He needs to grab a handful to take everywhere he goes. It does get a bit burdensome when we go somewhere so hopefully the car rolls will make this easier.
Crunchy Beach Mama
Friday 23rd of December 2011
My mom used to make us something every Christmas. It was something we looked forward to. By the time I teach myself to sew maybe I can do it for my grandkids :)
Hey, I was going to ask you if A. has the Little People Garage (I think it's called. We've had ours for 9yrs or so)? It is like the #1 toy P. plays with because he can push his cars down the slides and it makes noises, etc.
Crunchy Beach Mama
Friday 23rd of December 2011
My mom used to make us something every Christmas. It was something we looked forward to. By the time I teach myself to sew maybe I can do it for my grandkids :)
Hey, I was going to ask you if A. has the Little People Garage (I think it's called. We've had ours for 9yrs or so)? It is like the #1 toy P. plays with because he can push his cars down the slides and it makes noises, etc.
Sarah G.
Friday 23rd of December 2011
Ooooh, that is the cutest thing! That would have been a perfect gift for my nephew! I wish I would have seen this earlier. :) He is really into cars - the item and the movie.