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12 
Member since 4/16/05
Posts: 137
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Posted on: 11/5/06 8:45 PM ET
I am wondering if anyone has made a " busy book " also know as " activity books" for young children? Looking for creative ideas for incorporating a zipper, button, velcro, etc. I was planning on using a good quality felt, making buttonholes and binding with ribbon or notebook rings. I believe that the Big Four used to make a pattern for these books, but my search turned up nothing! Thank you in advance for your ideas!

  
Member since 1/30/03
Posts: 2172
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Re: Ideas for making a toddler busy book (posted on 11/5/06 9:23 PM ET)
SewBaby.com offers a great little activity book pattern, as well as a notion kit.
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Leslie
  
Member since 8/16/05
Posts: 839
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Posted on: 11/5/06 11:21 PM ET
I know I've seen some things on the net somewhere in my travels....
Shape Book
Grab Ball
"How to dress" snake. More along the lines you're looking for maybe.
Toys & Dolls....worth a look.

HTH
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Brisbane,
Sunny (mostly) Queensland
Save the earth !! There're no other planets with chocolate.
  
Member since 10/25/04
Posts: 7464
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Posted on: 11/5/06 11:41 PM ET
In reply to CAgirl
A friend of mine made a superb activity book for her GS. I can only remember the machine appliqued ladybird in it. Almost full page size, red with a small black zip down the back, between the wings. Her GS could unzip the ladybird to find a little surprise underneath..but I can't remember what that was


ETA: This is machine embroidery, but may give you an idea.
Click on *View Designs* then *View Children's Designs*.
Each panel incorporates different colours and textures, plus a fasteners. Children can practice tying a bow, snapping studs, and fastening a buckle.
Rowena Charlton kids designs
-- Edited on 11/5/06 11:54 PM --
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Vonne šOš Brisbane Australia
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Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever.
We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
  
Member since 6/2/03
Posts: 328
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Re: Ideas for making a toddler busy book (posted on 11/6/06 2:27 PM ET)
I made one of these!! My toddler loved, loved loved the old, men's wallet put into it. I velcroed an old bi-fold wallet. Into the wallet, I put lamenated photos of friends and relatives and all of the "credit cards" - you know, the fake ones sent with the applications - in it.

I also put the usual buttons, zippers and old bib overall connectors into it. Think of it as a way to practice welt pockets/zipper placement and different button holes and it becomes fun!

Sometimes, I recycled things into it. I remember putting the onsie snaps on a page - snipped out the crotch and serged the sides. When you snapped them, you didn't see anything, when you unsnapped, you saw Mickey Mouse - an applicay from the onsie.

Bib overalls - cut 1/2 and the strap - play with placment. I put an old, flat rattle into the 1/2 pocket.

Lacing - cut off sides to a shoe and serge in. I think I got new shoe strings for this.

Sounds like fun!!

Mary
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 7614
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Re: Ideas for making a toddler busy book (posted on 11/6/06 5:40 PM ET)
Mary, those are wonderful ideas! I love the creative recycling you've incorporated. I've got a nephew that just turned three this summer and I think I have to get one made for him now.
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Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com

If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
  
Member since 4/16/05
Posts: 137
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Posted on: 11/6/06 6:08 PM ET
Thank you to everyone who replied! I couldn't wait to get home from work today to see the replies and I wasn't dissapointed! Lots of good ideas and links. Now... I have to put them into action!
  
Member since 9/14/05
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Posted on: 11/6/06 6:41 PM ET
  
Member since 2/25/06
Posts: 1950
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Re: Ideas for making a toddler busy book (posted on 11/6/06 8:45 PM ET)
I made a denim pillow that had lots of different fastenings on it for preschoolers to use to learn to do belts, zippers, buttons, etc. It looked like a face the way I arranged it. I had taken a sleeve cuff with snaps and cut it off, flattened it out by slitting the side opposite the snaps, and used that for the hair. It looked like a part where the snaps were. Definitely a hit when I student taught kindergarten. Used old belts, made big button holes with nice big buttons, etc.
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"puhPOjhu"--a river that sinks into a mountain with fury and winds around underground for miles before emerging in calm down the road...
  
Member since 12/29/03
Posts: 351
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Posted on: 11/6/06 9:25 PM ET
In reply to CAgirl
My cousin, who lives out of state, was here a few months ago with her 2 year old daughter. She had the cutest thing which was store-bought. It looked like a "big girls" purse but opened up and became a busy book with all the things mommy has in her purse (all sewn versions). Various pockets inside had velcro, ribbons for tying, snaps, etc. My description isn't doing it justice. It was truly unique and I'm sure whoever bought it for her paid quite a bit in a boutique, etc. Was very unusual.
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ceedee aka carol
  
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