The easiest way to make your own felt board

So, you may remember that I made Bella a felt board last winter. It has spent countless hours in use and is still one of her favorite play things. It's one of those toys that can grow with the child simply by creating new felt pieces. Right now we have a set of multi-colored felt letters and some felt weather. Soon we'll be adding felt people with interchangeable clothes. You can create all sorts of scenes!

I only had a quick window of time to put it together, so I didn't take any pictures during the process, but here goes the explanation:

Homemade Felt Board

-18x24 wood frame cork board (don't spend too much here!)
-half a yard of thin felt (most felt from joann's is pretty thin)
-scissors
-four sewing pins
-butter knife


(wow, we're practically done - it's that easy!)

Lay the cork board on the fabric and cut around it leaving twice as much width as the wood frame. You'll be covering the wood frame and tucking fabric beneath it, but you won't want any excess.

Make sure your board is centered on the fabric and start tucking in the middle of the long edges. Use the butter knife to push the fabric between the board and the frame in little increments. When you finish one edge, stretch the fabric nice and tight and do the opposite edge. Then do the short edges, stretching the fabric so that it is taught on the finished side.

When you have done all the ends, it is time for the corners! Just like folding the corner of a bed, make a pleat and tuck in as much as possible. Gather the rest and insert a pin in the corner, being careful to catch all the fabric so nothing goes loose.

Tah dah! It's done. Oh my gosh, it really was that simple. If you have extra fabric hanging off the back that annoys you, try trimming it with an x-acto knife. I'm just not that picky.

I have found that 3-4 inch letters do best. Have fun making your own additions! Enjoy :O)

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Let's pretend it's january

Dear Bella,

I have to say this month has been downright enjoyable. Something clicked in you when grandma and grandpa visited. You got a new bed over Christmas and the nights have been heavenly ever since. Sure you still wake up a fair amount and throw the occasional tantrum, but bedtime is now just another part of the day, something you're learning to enjoy.





You've had a rough time with daddy's new schedule and miss him dearly. When he's home, you will take no substitutes. You look forward to pancake mornings more than anything ( who wouldn't?). Someday I will get to take over some of the work for him so you won't have to miss him so terribly.





Thanks to a Tinkerbell movie from Grandma, you are thoroughly addicted to fairies now. It's something I can indulge in since fairies belong in the real magic of nature. I have no problem helping you explore their world one little plant at a time. In fact, I have started planning an epic fairy birthday party for you (though you should know by now how little experience I have in planning such things). But there, I've said it. Now I have to follow through.







You got another haircut from me! It's coming in fast now and turning brown in the dark winter days. How I'll miss your cornsilk hair. That seems so vain, and I have so many photos of it, but it's just another reminder of how quickly you are growing into a person all of your own. I can't believe three is right around the corner.



You have always been a child whose actions are completely dictated by your emotions. It is my mission in life to make sure you learn to live with them and understand them and keep them passionate because they can change the world some day. This month you are starting to realize the effect you can have on people and how to use your super powers for good. You ask me to put Lia in your line of sight so she can laugh at you while you jump on the bed.



Even though it's not our practice to say Good Job in the house, you have picked it up from friends and make sure to tell me when I'm do a good job drawing with you or cooking dinner. You can always tell when I've done something that makes me proud.



Likewise, you know when I am too deep in a funk to pull myself out (it is so very hard being a grownup sometimes) and you offer me kisses until I finally relent.

Are you happy now?

Not yet, I reply..

I try to be honest. You need to know that it takes effort to live with strong emotions.

You persevere with a tiny hug or a kiss on the knee until I give in and gratefully scoop you up. When it's over I'm never really sure why I tried to resist your antidote in the first place.



I love every little bit of you so much. You are my happiness.

Love, mama

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