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!