Lettered Beanbags

You can make enough beanbags for the entire alphabet or just specific words or names. This would make a great gift for a baby shower or child's birthday! It can also be used for nursery or home decor if you set them on a shelf or table.

Materials:

• Fabric
• Freezer Paper
• Fabric Paint
• Beans
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Iron

Directions:

Step 1: I made a square template 6 1/4" x 6 1/4" and used it to cut 2 squares from each piece of scrap fabric I had.

Step 2: I cut 8.5" x 11" pieces of freezer paper to run through my printer*. I printed out S-I-E-N-N-A in both capital letters and lowercase letters. Then I cut out around the letters and also cut pieces of blank freezer paper to place behind the fabric. I used a razor blade to cut out the letters to make a stencil.

*I use Powerpoint to create my letters but if you have trouble here is a file you can download.

Note: Freezer paper has a waxy side that adheres to the fabric when you iron it on. The non-waxy paper side should be on the side you are going to iron. Make sure to adhere all the edges and your paint won't go on any area that you've ironed the paper onto! Just be careful not to use too much paint on each layer....or the freezer paper will start to unstick if it gets too wet. Do 2-3 light coats of fabric paint!

Step 3: I ironed each freezer paper stencil onto the front of a piece of fabric (and ironed a blank piece to each back to keep paint from bleeding through).

Step 4: Then I used fabric paint (I use Jacquard Fabric Paint) to fill in each stencil.

Note: Be careful not to use too much paint on each layer....or the freezer paper will start to unstick if it gets too wet. Do 2-3 light coats of fabric paint!

Step 5: Once dry, I peeled off the freezer paper stencil and voila!

Step 6: I placed each piece of fabric right sides together and pinned.

Step 7: Then I started in the middle of one side of a square (do not start on a corner) and I sewed all the way around with a 1/2" inseam. I stopped 1" from where I started sewing to leave an opening.

Step 8: I turned the square right side out and ironed flat (this also heat sets your paint).

Step 9: Next I topstitched around the edges of my square making sure to leave an opening where the previous one was (so that there is hole to put the beans through).

Step 10: I filled the beanbag 3/4 full with dried beans (I used pinto beans).

Step 11: Lastly I sewed the opening shut!

One cute little beanbag finished!

Find more great craft projects from Ashley at Lil Blue Boo.