Monday, June 14, 2010

Dinosaur Play Mat



Vacation is coming up and I've been working hard to come up with some ideas to keep my kids entertained on our various trips this summer.

Since my kids love dinosaurs I decided to make a dinosaur play mat that we could take along with us on our trips.

I kept it small (8 1/2" x 11") -- just the right size for the fold down trays on the airplane or for your lap.




First I drew up a template. I made it the mirror image of what I wanted the end result to be.

(Click to enlarge)

Once I was satisfied with my template I placed it right under my Wonder Under and traced the different parts onto it.


I then cut around each piece. I purposely didn't cut on the line at this point. It makes it easier when cutting out the felt.


I then placed each piece on the color felt I wanted . . .


and ironed it on. I always use a press cloth when doing this. It keeps my iron from getting ruined and protects my project from melting from too much heat. Always spray a little water on your press cloth before you iron.


I then cut each piece out on the line. I find it's best to wait about an hour after I've applied the Wonder Under before I peel the backing off. If I try to do it right away it's hard to peel, but after I've given it some time to cool it come right off.


After you have all your pieces lined with Wonder Under and cut out . . .


You're ready to assemble your picture on the blue felt. Once everything's lined up and where you want it cover your project with your press cloth, spray a little water and get those pieces ironed on.
I did mine is phases, ironing and securing on the bottom layer first and then ironing the others after that.


I then trimmed the excess blue felt off, added a backing, and did a zig-zag stitch all the way around to bind them together.


All Done . . .


And ready for some serious dinosaur travel play!

Hope that makes sense. It really is an easy-peasy project. All you have to know how to do is tract, cut, and iron. Let me know if you have any questions . . .




59 comments:

  1. HI. Can you tell me what a Wonder Under is? and a Press cloth? If I went in the fabric store and asked them to get me those would they know what I'm talking about? Sorry, probably a dumb question but I don't know. Thanks!

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  2. Yep that's my question too, what is wonder under? Oh and a press cloth? In fact I second exactly the questions that "The Ward Family" asked. Thanks, I would love to make this for my daughter :)

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  3. Wonder Under is an iron-on adhesive for doing appliques and such. Just ask at the craft store and they'll point it out. I assume the press cloth she uses is just a spare cloth to use as a barrier between the iron and the project. Scrap fabric, a rag or washcloth, etc.

    Fun project, looks great!

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  4. I love this- too fun and cute! I would use this for myself though. I've no kids but I do have cool dinosaur toys to play with!

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  5. So cute! I can think of lots of variations that would be so fun. You are always chock-full of great ideas!

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  6. This is a great project! Since my middle daughter lo-o-o-ves dinosaurs, she will think this is a great play mat.

    Maybe I'll create a Road play mat as well to accompany her toy cars. ;)

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  7. Oh i loveeee this!!
    I am going to throw one of these together for my boys!
    I am a new follower!

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  8. Oh Amy, you totally stole my idea for a mini car mat. jk I'm still working on mine... but now that my schedule just got a whole lot more free I think I can get it done :)

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  9. Jeanine-

    I can't wait to see your mini car mat. I want to make one but am stumped on how to pull it off.

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  10. Great job, and great tutorial! Thanks for linking up! I've featured your post in this week's newsletter.

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  11. LOVE this so much I featured this on Ucreate today! Thanks for sharing a fabulous tutorial!

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  12. This is a great project. And I LOVE the fact that there is so little sewing involved!

    Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!

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  13. I love this!!! WAY WAY CUTE!! I think I will propose this as a project for our VBS kids to make and send to our children's home. I know the kids would love it!!

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  14. I love it! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Love it! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!

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  16. Ok great thank you, I'm excited to get started :) Off to the craft store I go...

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  17. cute idea! i made a huge felt dino mat for my son for christmas. i would love to make one for their church bag. thanks for sharing!

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  18. Awesome idea! Just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!

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  19. I just found you from the UCreate Blog. I got so excited when I saw this dino landscape. Thank you so much for sharing, you have a wonderful blog.

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  20. Super cute! What a perfect idea for those little dinos! TFS! Hope you have a great week! ~ Stephanie Lynn

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  21. LOVE IT! (not to sound too much like the annoying one on Dragon Tales) This really is a fantastic idea and oh so darling!

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  22. Here via One Pretty Thing, and now subscribed. I LOVE this idea! I have been looking to make something like this to make for my daughter to play with while we wait for food at a restaurant. I will definitely have to make this! I love that it's minimal-sewing since that's not my thing. If anyone has any ideas/links for an easy layout for a zoo scene, race track, farmyard scene, etc., I'd love to see them - I'm afraid I could go nuts with these! So cute.

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  23. Would love it if you would join me for my 2nd linky party tonight!!

    http://lifeinmypjs.blogspot.com/2010/06/pajama-party-2.html

    ~Ela

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  24. You’ve got a great blog here and I absolutely LOVE this idea. I hope you’ll come link it up to My Tot Tuesdays Linky party:

    http://www.mydeliciousambiguity.com/

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  25. New to you and thrilled!!!!! Love your blog! Do you sell your placemats?! =)

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  26. Genevieve-
    No I don't sell them, but they are so easy to make. Try it out.

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  27. Great minds think alike :)
    I did a dinosaur page almost identical to this months ago (in Feb.) for my placemat quiet book.I did not make a template- just freehanded it. :) I also did a tool box like yours too-but I used my son's plastic tools for the pieces. And I just found your blog today- :)
    we should be friends ;) ha ha
    here is the link w/ both of those pages:http://mygratitudeattitudes.blogspot.com/2010/02/quiet-activity-book-from-place-mats.html

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  28. Very cute!! Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!

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  29. What a wonderful idea! I bet your kids are going to have so much fun with this new activity! Thanks for linking up to Hoo's got talent!

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  30. love it! Thanks so very much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday, I'm going to feature this this week, and hope to see you again!

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  31. I like the details on the volcanos best, so cute. Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday - I'd love if you grabbed the party button:)

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  32. Very clever idea! Super cute.

    Thanks so much for linking up to Pajama Party at Life In My Pjs!!

    ~Ela

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  33. Quick Question- What kind of felt do you use, is it just craft felt and where do you buy it?

    sueellenhafen@yahoo.com

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  34. Sue,
    I don't know what kind of felt Amy uses... but I just use the craft felt... because it's pretty cheap. I get it at Hobby Lobby. Hope that helps!

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  35. Oh wow! I've been trying to come up with an idea for something I can make for my twin nephews' birthday(s) and couldn't think of anything "boy" enough. This is great...

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  36. Can you please tell me what type of backing you use so that the mat is no so floppy. Thanks!

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  37. Jay_C,
    For a firm backing I use the stiff felt that you can get at any craft store.
    -Amy

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  38. I love this mat. I know my youngest would also adore it! I posted a link to this post on my blog at http://lessonsfromboys.blogspot.com/2010/10/all-i-want-for-christmas.html.

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  39. I tried it at home. It really worked. My daughter liked it very much. Thanks for the tutorial again. You can check from my blog.
    http://melisligunler.blogspot.com/2010/10/oyun-hals-play-mat.html

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  40. Made one! Thanks for the great idea!

    http://sewmanydreams.blogspot.com/2010/10/dino-play-mat.html

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  41. Thanks for the great idea. i made on for my 2 year old but left places under the bush and behind volcano for him to hide the dinos. roar he says which means he likes it! I linked back to you from my blog www.middleofthemitten.blogspot.com
    Thanks so much
    tammy

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  42. Can you please tell me what type of tracing paper?:)

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  43. Yoon ha,

    The "tracing paper" is called Wonder Under. You can find it at JoAnns or another fabric store. At JoAnns it's usually by the cutting counter.

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  44. I love this! I think I am going to make it velcro into a shoe box top for play in the car! Thanks for such a great idea! :)

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  45. Hi Amy!

    I have just linked back to this post in my latest post. You can find it here...

    http://allthingschildren.blogspot.com/2011/04/felt-car-play-mat.html

    Love your amazing creations!!

    Georgia :)

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  46. How completely cool! We leave for vacation in a month - a long drive with a 3 and 2 year old. This is perfect! We even have the same little dinosaur set! I love it! I'm glad I found your link on "hands on..."
    ~OneMommy
    http://theresjustonemommy.com

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  47. I've been working on some of this sort of thing for our upcoming road trip. I had planned a dino one and this gave me some more inspiration! Thanks

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  48. I agree! You should do a tutorial! How creative of you. The holiday is approaching and I really want to give my year old daughter something special. Maybe I should employ you to make play mats for her. This can be a lucrative business for you. These play mats

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  49. Love this idea!

    Becky
    http://bucketofbuttons.blogspot.com

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  50. I love this idea and made one for my little guy's second birthday! I posted about it on my blog and linked to your site. I just added a zipper on the back - for dino storage. :)

    Caitlin

    http://nennaandbarley.blogspot.com/2012/03/homemade-dinosaur-playmat.html

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  51. I like this playmat-- it looks like the same format could be used to make other landscapes, and larger ones, too.

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  52. I love the idea of using the wonder under to adhere the felt together. On all the felt projects I've done, I've used hot glue, and it was a mess and hard to work with. I didn't like that hardness that it left under the felt too. I'm so excited to try felt projects with the wonder under!!! You have no idea! lol Just one question... how does it hold up over time. It looks like you made this a couple years ago. Did the felt pieces eventually come apart?

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    1. Jenni,
      All my felt projects have held up great over time. I've never had anything come apart or even start to peel a little. Wonder under is great! Heat'n Bond is a similar product that has an even stronger bond.

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    2. Jenni, the wonder under hold up GREAT. My four rough little boys haven't managed to make one single piece come off.

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  53. Is there another way to do the backing? I don't own a sewing machine not would I know how to use one anyway lol. I finished the front and it came out great and it was so easy! Thanks for this tutorial!

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    Replies
    1. You can add the backing with wonder under or hand stitch around the edge. I think both would work great.

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