Kid Crafting with My Grandboy (Squishy Books)

My grandboys like coming to my house because I'm a paper crafter. They love going into my room and creating. My eldest grandson has learned how to use my photo editing program to prepare photos and save as a png (with transparent background). He then takes it into my cutting machine software, traces the images and prepares them for print-2-cut. Then, he procedes to make the proper printer settings, prints it with registration marks and cuts the images out.

He found some pdf projects and tutorials to make "squishy" books. He prints the project on regular printer paper, then covers the image area with packing tape, and then cuts them out. The base for the pages are placed in pairs, back to back, and are taped bottom and sides. He then stuffs them with batting and tapes the top closed.

Here's the first book he made. The Squid Book. I can't tell you where he got the patterns. It's in google docs and I don't know how to use it. Yeah, he's smarter than I am in certain things. The little suitcase on the top right opens and there are little letters and whatnot in there. You can reclothe the little guy on the bottom left. There's a game on the last photo, with a spinning wheel.

These books have pockets on the pages and small elements that have the packing tape on the front and back. Double-sided tape is placed on them, so he can move the elements from one place to another.

The next one is the "Burger Shop." This is fun because you can set the characters behind the table, use a dry erase marker to order off of the menu, and then build the burgers, soda drinks with tops and straws, and french fries in the deep fryer. Really cute stuff.

The most current one he made is a Game Book. There are actual games to play, including tic-tac-toe and a puzzle. There are party foods and blender drinks, so on the last page you can put your characters at the table for a party, wearing party hats, top hats and bow ties. This one is not a squishy book, but a regular flat book.

He does 95% of these projects all by himself. And, as a side project, he found this tiny chip bags that he made and stuffed with batting. They're about 2.5"-3.5" tall, and so cute.

What will it be next week? We'll see!

Way to Go, TG!

Sunny's Magic Explosion Box

We know by now that my youngest grandson loves boxes, basically anything you can put little things in and then move them into another container. So, for his birthday I made this little explosion box from Lori Whitlock (matchbox explosion box).

I made this with Disney-themed paper by Echo Park called Magical Adventures. I always use the digital version and print it out myself. I filled the little inside boxes with crafty fun, elastic braid for bracelets/necklaces , beads, pipe cleaners and a couple other small items.

When the box is opened, it reveals four slide-out drawers.

There's a little camera on top and I put my grandson's little face in it.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Valentine's 2025

The following are some Valentine's I made for my youngest grandson's Kindergarten class. I found this free printable that holds two Crayons at SVG Nation. I resized it a bit and made a background piece to give it more stiffness. Also had to correct the grammar of a couple of the Valentine's.

I made this little box for my daughter for Valentine's Day and because she just had hip surgery. I filled it with See's Candy. The cut file comes from SVG Cuts (Sweets for My Sweet), made at 6.5" wide. The digital paper is by Gennifer Bassett, but reviewed in Affinity Photo using cute hearts from Liv-E Designs.

The hearts I replaced onto the background paper were individually cut and printed, and placed along the right side of the heart.

Happy Valentine's Day! Lots of Love!

 

Vintage Tri-Fold Birthday Card

I saw this card online and fell in love with it. I tried to find the artist to see if there was an svg file that I could buy. However, upon searching all I could find was a die for only the outside border of the panels. I could find nothing on the artist. So, I started from scratch. Made my own base and panels. Used digital paper that I either had or that I designed.

I scanned some of my mom's old recipes and printed to fit the card. I made some small pockets for gift cards, which close with Velcro.

I really love the way this turned out. I also made a little box for the card, since it is too thick for an envelope.

Happy Birthday, My Sweet Girl!

Sunny's Vintage TV Box

My younger grandson let me know that he really wanted me to make him a TV box. He's been asking for one for a few months. I found this one at Dreaming Tree. I believe it's a 1960s wood vaneer style console TV. 

The back even looks authentic. The black base you see is the bottom of the box. It's about 8" across.

The best part for my grandboy is that the knobs turn and, of course, it's a box. He loves containers, any kind of containers, more than anything.

Smile, You're in Sunny's TV!