Washcloth Crafts, Get started making the Graduation Owl now!

Are you making the owl for a whole class or group? 
Click here:
Graduation Owl Assembly Line Tips

Make a TerryGami gift basket or use a craft organizer.

    Washcloth Owl

Available in hard cover and soft cover!

Both TerryGami books are available online in 

the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe, too!

Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Also check out:

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts! 

The Graduation Owl was the first critter I ever designed over 20 years ago for my boys’ kindergarten classes. Of course, the owl can be used for any age group, especially if you roll up a little cash to tuck inside the tummy.  Other treats can be a candy kiss or a plastic toy or a promise note for dinner and a movie or other activities which can also be a special surprise for the graduate. 

A little Velcro on each side of the owl's body will help to keep the opening closed to prevent anything valuable from falling out. The owl doesn’t necessarily require any sewing, unless you want to sew up the front and back of the body and even that is optional. Also, you can use googly eyes for a crazier look.

 As noted in the Owl Tips, if you are making them for a whole classroom, start early cutting out the various parts little by little, and then assemble the owls all at once. (See the link at the very top of the page to get the tips.)  Make some extra owls for siblings and friends, if you have extra washcloths.  Remember, kids like a variety of colors, especially if you can’t find tan cloths, although Wal-Mart almost always has tan cloths.  They usually display the washcloths or utility cloths in various parts of the store, like house wares near the towels and by the mops and household cleaners and by the dishcloths and potholders.  Sometimes discount department stores have a special display of the cloths sold in bulk in the spring and fall.  If you can’t find large packages of red washcloths for the Teacher’s Boo Boo Apple, any relatively thin, red, border-less washcloths will do.

If you really want special colors, see the blog on dyeing terrycloth below.

Happy Crafting!
~Terry

Washcloth Crafts, Use crazy rubber bands for a TerryGami Party!

Washcloth Graduation Owl! Add cash or candy in the tummy!

Make the washcloth Heart Box any color for Mom! Add a piece of chocolate!!

 Fifteen projects, including Heart Box for mom & Owl for kids, are in this book!

Twelve projects in this book! Make a green bear for Girl Scouts!

The books are available online in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe!
Both books are available in soft cover. 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts!
Good news!  It looks like the crazy and cute rubber bands kids are wearing as bracelets will work well when making washcloth critters.  The rubber bands seem to be strong enough and there are so many colors available, which will match nicely with the washcloths, too.  These neat little rubber bands will add a little extra fun to a TerryGami Party.  See the free Party Tips on the side bar at the website:  www.terrygami.com/ or use the above link.  Some TerryGami projects only require a little non-toxic/non-flammable fabric glue and no sewing at all.

Gifts for teachers and treats for the kids for graduation will be part of the next gift round up, not to mention gifts for Mother's Day! 

Happy Crafting!
Terry

Washcloth Crafts, Gnomes

Washcloth Party Poppers

Washcloth Firecracker for the 4th of July!

 Fifteen projects and Heart Box for Mom in this book!

Twelve projects in this book!

Papa Gnome

The books are available online in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe!
Both books are available in soft cover. 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to Washcloth Crafts!
The TerryGami gnomes can be changed into any kind of doll, just leave off the hats, create your own facial features, and use yarn for the hair on papa gnome.  Make them into elves instead of gnomes by using green and yellow for the clothing. Papa gnome can even be Uncle Sam.  In fact, he is in an up coming book!  The Firecracker and Party Popper Instructions are in the first book (red).

Happy Crafting!
Terry

Washcloth Crafts, Mother's Day

Washcloth Heart Box

 Fifteen projects and Heart Box in this book!

Twelve projects in this book!

The books are available online in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe!
 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts!

In a few weeks it will be Mother's Day.  If you are looking for something different for the kids to do in the classroom or at a troop meeting, consider making the washcloth Heart Box. It can be glued with fabric glue instead of sewing it, if time is an issue.  For Mother's Day, the heart can be made with any color washcloth, even white.  Decorate it with Mom's favorite color or to match her bedroom.  The Heart Box can be used to hold her favorite chocolate candy or as a sachet to hold a small bag of fragrant potpourri for her dresser drawer.

Happy Crafting!
Terry

Washcloth Crafts, What dye to use when dyeing terrycloth?

Firecracker Instructions are in this book!

Washcloth Firecracker

The books are available in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe!
 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts!

The Internet tells me that Procion MX, the dye used in tie-dyeing, is best to use on natural fibers and terrycloth, which is made of cotton.  You can find it online and in art supply stores, and it is reasonably priced.  It is also suggested to wash the terrycloth first without using fabric softener and with a little vinegar to strip the starch or any coating from the fabric, so it will absorb the dye better.  This Procion dye is said to be “safe, brilliant, mouth-watering and permanent.”  What more can we ask for?!

I have just about every shade and color of washcloths. I have collected them over the years from the cloths that come in packages of 18.  I am always thrilled to see the new colors as they become available, but wish all colors were available all year long. At some point, this will happen, but until it does, we will have to dye washcloths for the bright reds and black.  

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, we will need red and blue.  White is always available and, fortunately, we can use felt, acrylic gems, and foam board for the red and blue.

Happy Crafting!
~Terry

Washcloth Crafts, It's time for end of the school year parties!

Teacher's Boo Boo Apple

There are 15 Projects in this book!

  

To purchase the books, see the links below.

Place a treat inside the tummy & use as a party favor.

The books are available in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts!
Whew!  Mom, Easter is over and you made it through the holiday blitz!

For me, from Halloween onward, every month there was either a holiday or birthday to get ready for and sometimes it all seemed endless.  I remember feeling so relieved when Easter was over, and the birthday parties were over for at least couple of months.  I didn't have to prepare to celebrate for anything for a while. I had two whole months of not having to plan parties, buy presents, and decorate and clean the house for an event.

But then, slowly, after the first couple of weeks of reprieve, just when my brain had convinced itself that it had some R&R time, I realized, oh, no, it's time for end of the school year parties. It's time for figuring out what to do for teachers' gifts. I really didn't have any month off from this endless round of celebrations. 

TerryGami is another solution to the chore of party making, because with washcloth crafts, there is something for every holiday or event, whether it be for a party activity for the kids, or the party favor for the event, or a special handmade gift for a special teacher.

The versatility of what can be done with washcloth crafts is kind of amazing because the projects can be made into ornaments and decorations.  They can also be made into gifts like sachets or stuffed animals, or party favors, or even be a party activity that teaches kids how to hand sew. For younger children, the critters can serve to soothe a boo boo by adding an ice cube to the tummy and placing it on the bump or bruise.

TerryGami was designed with kids and moms in mind and to help provide another way celebrate and to learn. 

Happy Crafting!
~Terry

Washcloth Crafts, Use TerryGami as a tool for teaching!

Available online. See the links below.

15 Cloth Toy and Ornament Projects in this book!

Use to hold treats or cash!

 Available in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe

Both books are now available online in soft cover!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts! 

My first intention, when designing the TerryGami  books, was to expand washcloth crafts for children and adults alike. Later I realized the potential for the book to be a teaching tool, so I added the factoids, not realizing that the craft itself could teach children a lot of things, like measuring, cutting, sewing, designing, sculpting and deciphering instructions. The craft is great for improving children's dexterity and for expanding their imaginations, too.

The factoid list offered in the book can just be the beginning of the interesting facts kids can find on the Internet and in reference books about a critter or holiday icon. Have the children add a few more interesting facts to the list, or you can, as they make the critter.

Hand sewing is a life skill for girls and boys alike. Sewing a hem or sewing on a button is something everyone should know how to do no matter his or her gender.  

Reading and deciphering the instructions is another skill and a handy one to have with so many things in need of assembly or programing these days.

Crafts are used to improve dexterity. Washcloth crafts deliver in a big way in this regard because children must roll and shape the cloths, attach them with a rubber band or string, and then sew or glue them. They then have to choose and prepare the materials for the facial features, too. 

It is amazing to see what children come up with, for example, pink, yellow and blue tortoises and hares (in the upcoming book), instead of green and brown ones. Some kids put big smiling faces on their critters and others no face at all.

In the end, they have a critter to play with or display or one they can snuggle with in bed.

All in all, it is a fun way to learn how to sew by hand, as well as reinforce other skills.

Happy Crafting!

~Terry

Washcloth Crafts, New Tooth Fairy II Instructions are now available on Etsy!

Tooth Fairy II Instructions are at the TerryGami Etsy

New book is available online. See the links below.

TerryGami books are available in 
the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe, too!

Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Also check out:

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts! 
 
Wrap the tooth in a tissue or make a little bag for it, and tuck it into the fairy’s tummy.  Place the washcloth fairy under the pillow or next to the pillow for easy retrieval. 

The instructions for both varieties of Tooth Fairy are available at the TerryGami Etsy shop, and they also come with Tooth Fairy Certificates.  If you can’t decide on which fairy to make, let your child decide. Make the wings any color in this version.

For more, see the Tooth Fairy blog below.

Happy Crafting!!

~Terry

Washcloth Crafts, It's time again for Graduation Owl!

Click here:
Graduation Owl Assembly Line Tips

    Washcloth Owl

TerryGami, 15 Cloth Toy and Ornament Projects for Crafters, Teachers, and Children

TerryGami Gift Basket

 TerryGami books are available in 

the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe, too!

Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Also check out:

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy

Welcome to washcloth crafts! 

Graduation Owl was the first critter I ever made over 20 years ago for my boys’ kindergarten classes.  What is nice about the owl is that it can be used as a treat or a money holder as well as a boo boo owl. Treats can be a candy kiss or a plastic toy or cash or check.  The owl itself can stand alone as a gift.  I suppose one could use a little Velcro to keep the opening closed to prevent anything from falling out.   The owl doesn’t necessarily require any sewing, unless you want to sew up the front and back of the body.  Even that is optional.

 As I said in the Owl Tips, if you are making them for a whole classroom, start early cutting out the various parts, and then assemble the owls all at once. (See the link at the top of the page.)  Make some extra ones for siblings and friends, if you have extra cloths.  Remember, kids like a variety of colors, especially if you can’t find tan cloths, although Wal-Mart almost always has tan cloths.  They display the cloths in various parts of the store, too, like house wares and by the mops and cleaners and by the dishcloths and potholders.  Sometimes they have a special display with the cloths in the spring and fall.  If you can’t find large packages of red washcloths for the Teacher’s Boo Boo Apple, any relatively thin, red, border-less washcloths will do.

If you really want special colors, see the blog on dyeing terrycloth.

Happy Crafting!
~Terry

 Free bunny instructions at www.terrygami.com.

 TerryGami books are available in 

the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe, too!

Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Also check out:

TerryGami Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

Etsy
The free instructions for the Boo Boo Bunny can be found on the side bar at the TerryGami website.  Make the bunnies for Easter and use them as Easter Egg holders. The eggs can even be hidden with the bunny as an extra surprise.  

The bunnies are easy to make and require no sewing.  Once you have gathered the materials, it takes less than five minutes to put them together, so it isn't to late to whip some up for the big day.  Have the kids help you.  If they are too young to make the bunnies and tie on the bow, let them glue on the eyes.  Be sure to use non-toxic and non-flammable fabric glue. Even sticky-back foam board requires the fabric glue. 

There are lots of bundles of white cloths out there.  Use glitter foam board and sparkle ribbon for a special holiday appearance.

Happy Easter and Happy Crafting!
~Terry