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Member since 9/8/12
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Posted on: 8/11/14 4:31 PM ET
If I ever get around to it, I would like to make my grandson an activity book for Christmas.

Do you have any suggestions I could make to include in the book?

So far I have come up with these ideas but I don't know if I will use them.
button page
zipper page
abacas page
shoelace page
yarn page for twisting
snap page
buckle page
some kind of clicker page
separate shaped pockets for separate shape pieces. I think I am going to use some of short lengths of yarn to attach the shape pieces. I hate velcro

Thanks in advance for your ideas. Everyone in PR is so creative!
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Kathy

My Flickr Sewing Albums: https://www.flickr.com/photos/117010065@N05/albums
My sewing dream: Make a really great fitting pair of pants!
  
Member since 12/13/08
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Posted on: 8/11/14 5:39 PM ET
Look on etsy for quiet book kits--lots of ideas there. I've seen tons of templates for sale.

I bought two quiet book patterns from Sew Baby at Joann: F729/Activity Cloth Book and F728/Alphabet Cloth Book. They were too cute to pass up, and the hard work was already done for me! :)
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More Plans than Sense
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Member since 6/3/12
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Posted on: 8/11/14 7:45 PM ET
Simplicity also has a pattern for this, sorry but i dont remember the number but there is a pattern for review for it.
  
Member since 7/16/07
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Posted on: 8/11/14 8:06 PM ET
In reply to kajero
Other things I remember in activity/touch baby books, although these are just for fun, not for learning motor skills --

"mirrors" (something reflective they can see themselves in)
fuzzy/furry fabric (made to look like part of a blanket or something)
peek-a-boo flaps
squeaky/squishy things to press on

There also used to be cards with holes that you threaded yarn through. I used to love doing those as a little child -- there might be a sewn version you could make... eyelets? I'm not sure what you would use for a very safe "needle." ...Depending on how old he is.




-- Edited on Today at 8:07 PM --
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my shield and my very great reward ~ Gen. 15:1

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If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein

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Posted on: 8/11/14 8:37 PM ET
My early sewing cards used shoestrings--the plastic aglet (tip on the laces) served as the needle. :)
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~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
  
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Posted on: 8/11/14 8:44 PM ET
In reply to Vintage Joan
NEAT IDEAS!!! Thanks!
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Kathy

My Flickr Sewing Albums: https://www.flickr.com/photos/117010065@N05/albums
My sewing dream: Make a really great fitting pair of pants!
  
Member since 2/20/12
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Posted on: 8/11/14 8:48 PM ET
Just want to say please be carefull with what you put in an activity book for a 1 y/o as opposed to a 3 y/o- anything that can be pulled off, such as a button, or can catch skin, such as a zipper, can be dangerous. Most toddler activity books include various textures , i.e. reflective, crinkly, rubbery, velvety, satiny, et al, fabrics. Motor skill activities with small detachable objects or other potentially harmful objects are usually included in activity books for 3+ y/o. Even using string to attach soft shapes can be dangerous if the string is long enough to get caught around a finger or wrist.

Good luck with your project.
-- Edited on Today at 8:59 PM --
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Posted on: 8/11/14 8:57 PM ET
In reply to Changma
Thanks for the suggestions. I never thought of the things you mentioned. I think I will go with the textures.

He has one book that has some kind of cellophane to emulate fish scales. He loves that page!.
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Kathy

My Flickr Sewing Albums: https://www.flickr.com/photos/117010065@N05/albums
My sewing dream: Make a really great fitting pair of pants!
  
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Posted on: 8/12/14 8:42 AM ET
Your project sounds like such fun! I've considered doing one for my 18 month old GD. Another project for her on my list is a soft book of animals using the fringe animal designs from Embroidery Library. Soft books are such great helps to moms on the go.
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Indecision may or may not be my problem. -Jimmy Buffet

  
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Posted on: 8/12/14 8:27 PM ET
A book of familiar objects from the child's life is good too. I don't remember what we used but our older daughter and I made a cloth book with hand drawn pictures of things like our family car, a spy cup etc. (that should be "sippy cup" but the iPad doesn't like it!) The older daughter was about three or so. I did the drawing but she helped with ideas for what to include.

Pages with Photo transfers of pictures of family members mixed with fussy cut objects from juvenile print quilting cottons would work well too.
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