The Mom I Want to Be

 

Making a bean bag can be a very fun project for lots of people, but sometimes it is difficult to get the younger kids involved and keep them safe at the same time. Sewing can be a challenging task for anyone and especially for kids who don’t have any experience with needles and thread. So here are some ideas for making bean bags that don’t require any sewing and that anyone in the family can participate in.

 

One of the easiest bean bag crafts to make uses a sock, beans and some markers to color. It is nice to use a sock that is still in good shape because you don’t want to use one with a hole in the bottom because then all the beans will fall out. With the permission of a parent, choose a sock that can be used and that will still be durable enough to use as a toy. Fill the sock up to the heel with beans and tie a knot to seal it off. Then simply draw a face or other design on the sock to decorate it and make it look great. This idea makes a fairly large bean bag depending on the size of the sock, so smaller socks may work better depending on what you are going for. This bean bag idea is also great because it doesn’t require any sewing and doesn’t have to be permanent either if you want to reuse the sock later.

 

Another common material used for making bean bags is simple felt fabric. This is great for bean bags because it is somewhat rigid and is easy to work with. Another great reason to use felt is that you don’t have to sew it together but can use other materials like glue to hold it together. Hot glue guns are the best kind of glue for bean bags and using this can be challenging for some children and there is also the possibility of getting burned. If you will be using hot glue to complete this project, then make sure the kids are being supervised at all times and that they know the proper techniques before starting. The bean bag is made by cutting out two identical shapes out of the felt and then putting any designs on them you want. Glue all of the sides together but one that you will need to stay open to put in the beans. Make sure that the opening you leave is big enough for the beans to fit in easily. When you have the right amount of beans in the bag, close the rest of the bag carefully with the glue gun and then you are finished.

 

There is another kind of bean bag that doesn’t require any fabric at all but can still be fun to play with and attractive. To make this bean bag craft, you will need some dried beans, a sandwich bag, some scissors, and duct tape. Start by pouring the beans into the sandwich bag and then tie it off with a knot that will not come undone easily. Then either cut off the extra part of the bag (recommended for zipper bags) or just wrap it around the beans again. Then cut strips of duct tape and wrap them around the bag of beans until it is fully sealed and will not spill even if the plastic bag breaks. Then you can decorate the outside of the bag with permanent markers or paint to make each bag unique. Let the bags dry before you play with them so your hands don’t get messy. When the bag is finished, you can use them for juggling or just to throw around with friends.