Flannel Bunny Tutorial

I've been meaning to try my hand at craft tutorials for a while now and thought this was a nice simple one to start with.  I was given a flannel bunny as a present a few years ago (quite a few years ago now!) and thought it was a great idea!  This bunny has a bar of soap inside it but, for Easter this year, I made a few of these for my family and put a chocolate egg with each one instead.

I chose to use a black flannel, but of course you can use any colour you like!  Brown, grey, white or black are good options.  Whenever we drive through Brora we always see little wild black bunnies which are adorable!  We affectionately call them the Brora Black Bunnies.

HOW TO  MAKE FLANNEL BUNNIES

You will need:

A flannel (I got loads when they were on sale in Tesco!)

A bar of soap - make sure you get nice soap.  Of course, you could make you own which I intend to eventually!

Ribbon - make sure the colour goes with the flannel.  To be on the safe side, cut about 1 foot of ribbon and trim accordingly

2 Elastic Bands

Thread - Make sure this will stand out from the flannel

A Needle

(Scissors are also a must for cutting the thread etc.)

Step 1
Gather your materials together.  I always find it easier if I make sure I have everything to hand before I start on a project.

Step 2
Fold two opposite corners of the flannel so the tips touch the middle (see picture)

Step 3
Fold in half, diagonally across.

Step 4
Place the soap in the middle of the flannel.

Step 5
Bring the ends together, over the soap, and fasten with one of the elastic bands.

Step 6
Fasten the other elastic band approximately 1 inch above the other.  This gives plenty of space for the head with long enough ears!

Step 7
Tie a nice neat bow around the 1st elastic band.  Trim the ends so that it is even.

Step 8
Sew the first eye on with a contrasting thread (I chose white).  Avoid red unless making demon rabbits!  ;)  Make the eyes by sewing a few small lines over each other - see picture!

Step 9
Sew the 2nd eye in the same way.

Step 10
Finally sew the nose on, similar to the eyes but more of a triangular shape.

And there you have 1 completed flannel bunny!

Happy crafting!!  They make great presents for family and friends and you can always adapt each one to make it a bit more personal (for example, sewing a name onto the ribbon).

I always welcome advice and feedback so please feel free to get in touch or leave a comment!

Craft Supplies With A Difference!

We just can't help ourselves where crafts are concerned!  In fact, when we go to the shop, we often come back with a few craft supplies - even if it was just a trip to Tesco!  This has meant that we have collected a rather odd selection of item.

Of course, you need a certain amount of imagination for crafting and it's great fun to think up unusual items!  You might even think of a way to overcome that annoying craft problem you've been struggling with, using supplies you hadn't considered before!

On one trip to the shops we bought four wooden spoons, two very cheap wooden rolling pins and some clothes line.  The thinking behind this?  We could paint the spoons in exciting colours, we could use the rolling pins to put up our wallhangings, and we could use the clothes line to put round the edges of bags to keep them in shape.  It's worth a try at least!

On another Tesco trip, I bought a bundle of towels that were reduced.  My hope is to make little bags out of them for cosmetics or toiletries or something!  It is all very theoretical at the moment as they are still in towel-form on my bedroom floor!

It's also a great idea to recycle (or is upcycle the right term?) as this gives you an even better sense of achievement!  I have a chest full of old clothes and bed sheets and everything else that is remotely fabric-y!  I use these mostly for making rag rugs but you can also use them to make bags, bookmarks, scrunchies, notebook covers...you name it!  Just make sure there aren't any holes in the material before you start as there is nothing worse than making a stunning handbag only to find that the front is ruined with holes!!  And, of course, you must save the buttons off any old shirt that is too tattered to wear!  This is a great way to craft on a budget!

So my most unusual craft items would have to be the washing line, rolling pins, bunch of towels, any clothing (including some rather laddered tights!)  Oh, and a small dog bowl I use for melting soap or wax!

What are your most unusual craft supplies?