Kid Crafts

How to Make a Pillow Bed for Your Kids

February 2, 2021 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

I totally get that throws and couch pillows are just that… pillows. They have stuffing in them, they’re on the couch, so why not use them for resting your head? It makes sense until you become the one who carefully takes the time to find or make the pillows and then watches as they become flattened, wilty, masses of fabric that no longer add charm to your home decor. My biggest struggle is when my boys sit on the pillows to play video games. I knew I had to learn how to make a pillow bed for them!

Halfpintpeeps.com is your guide to smooth parenting! Find loads of fun ideas for you and your kids. Get your kids ready for sleepovers and more with these easy to make pillow beds they're sure to love!

When I came across a DIY project for making a pillow bed, I knew I had found my pillow-saving solution. I made one for each of my boys using their choice of fabric. They get them out every time they play video games, when we have game night or movie night, or just when they’re hanging out between school, soccer, and every other thing they have going on. We love our pillow beds! I’ve also made a couple for my classroom for our reading nook (Teachers would LOVE to receive a pillow bed as a gift!) If you’re ready to make one too, here’s how to make a pillow bed for your kids (and you too!).

How To Make A Pillow Bed

Materials

Normally I’m fairly picky-choosy when it comes to fabrics for sewing projects, but I let my boys have total freedom (okay, ALMOST total) for this DIY. I always walk out of Joann’s pretty happy with their selection of fabrics. However, if you’ve not yet discovered the awesomeness of fabric.com, now is your chance! My boys had SO much fun picking out their favorite Star Wars and soccer prints. Here’s what you’ll need for the pillow bed:

– 2.25 yards flannel material in pattern 1 and 2.25 yards flannel material in pattern 2. OR, you can opt for 4.5 yards of ONE flannel material for pattern 1 AND 2.

– Sewing machine and thread

– Sharp scissors or rotary cutter

– Pins

– Measuring tape

– Pencil or water soluble marker

– 4 bed pillows

Directions

Step 1

Use scissors or a rotary cutting tool (use this Pickled Barrel article to help you work with one) to cut both pieces of flannel to measure 34.5″ X 75″.

Step 2

Match the two flannel pieces together with their right sides facing in. Pin around each side EXCEPT for one long side (3 of the 4 sides will be pinned).

Step 3

Sew the three pinned sides together, making sure to leave a 1/2″ seam.

Step 4

Trim the stitched corners off with scissors. Be sure not to get too close to the stitching!

Step 5

With the long side that has not yet been sewn, fold the material over twice and pin so you have about a 1/2″ seam. Sew the edge of the 1/2″ seam using your machine. Do NOT sew the two sides together! Turn right side out after the last edge has been stitched.

Step 6

Using a measuring tape and starting at either of the short ends, mark a line every 18.5″ until you reach the opposite short end. This will divide your fabric into 4 equal sections. Stitch along each marked line with the sewing machine to make the 4 pillow pockets.

Step 7

Stuff each of the 4 pockets with pillows and ENJOY!! Don’t have 4 spare pillows? Check out Amazon for some very affordable options.

Find more crafts at Half Pint Peeps:

10 Paper Plate Christmas Crafts for Kids

Cute Egg Carton Crafts for Kids

Find Fabrics, Supplies, and Ideas From:

Bed in a Bag Star Pattern for sale on Great Little Trading Co.

Fabric sold at Joann’s

Quality Fabric, Patterns, Craft/Sewing Supplies and more sold on Fabric.com

Pillows Sold On Amazon

10 Awesome Ways To Think Outside the Brick With Legos

January 26, 2021 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

There is no doubt about it… we are a proud Lego household! From my 14-year-old to my 7-year-old (and Mom and Dad too!), you’ll find Legos in bedrooms, the play room, on backpacks, playing on video game consoles and tablets, on t-shirts, ringing alarm clocks, on the wrist, and just about anywhere else you can imagine. But while building new sets with the instruction manual is fun enough, there are so many other ways to enjoy these amazing toys as well. Here are 10 totally awesome ways to think outside the brick with legos!

Halfpintpeeps.com just gets kids. Find countless ideas that will be fun for you AND them! Keep your kids busy and creative around the house with these original Lego ideas!

Ways To Think Outside The Brick With Legos

1. Run, Lego, Run!

Develop those engineering skills by designing a vertical Lego run maze. Challenge Little Builders to think of ways to incorporate moving parts and levers. Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls offers some great tips to get you started.

Ways To Think Outside The Brick With Legos

2. Zip Zap

Look out below! This Lego zip line is such a perfect building project to teach your Little Adventurers about gravity and the laws of motion. Who said Sir Newton couldn’t come along for some fun and laughter!? Source.

3. Bridge the Gap

Bridge the gap with this STEM activity. See if your Aspiring Engineers can defy the laws of gravity by constructing a bridge worthy of it’s heaviest foes. This is another perfect activity for teaching about forces and simple machines as well. Read more here.

4. Monster Mash Match

Grab your toddler for a game of Monster Match. Start by having your child create colorful paper bag monsters with open mouths. Then, learn all about colors by placing color-matching Legos in the appropriate monster’s mouth. Cookie monster has nothing on these monster friends! Read more from Toddler Approved.

5. Non Dispensable

This great activity is non dispensable for sure! Teach Young Builders all about simple machines with this candy dispenser project. Get the how-to here.

6. AlphaLegos

Keep Little Learners busy mastering their ABCs with this Lego activity. Have them replicate the Lego letters shown on cards by building one themselves. How many words can you think of to spell with that letter while you’re constructing what you see? Get the free printable letter cards here.

7. Count On It!

Little Mathematicians will have no problem mastering their counting skills with the help of Duplo Lego bricks! SHOW them representations of each digit by counting them out and stacking them in order. Similarly, 7-year-old and above can master their times tables by stacking Lego arrays and seeing how multiplying two numbers gives you a new product. Such a more exciting way to learn math than with worksheets!

8. Car Racers

Channel extra energy onto the racetrack for the afternoon. Have your Mini Mario Andretti’s design race cars to duke it out in some epic car races. Use balloons to give the racers their acceleration. Don’t miss the opportunity to teach about forces and motion with this fun activity!

9. Foosball

Athletes and competitors will enjoy this Lego build. Have them construct a DIY foosball game and then play for additional hours of more fun. Get a kick out of this activity here.

10. Weigh Your Options

Kids won’t need to weigh their options when it comes to building a neat Lego balance. What a cool way to learn about measurement and different metric scales. Get the instructions here.

Can you come up with other ways to think outside the brick with legos? Leave a comment below.

8 Homemade Bath Bombs that are Safe for Kids

July 16, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Ever tried homemade bath bombs for kids? Why? Kids love bath time, and they love it even more when you add fun things to it. Try adding not only waterproof toys or bubbles, but homemade bath bombs too!