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Sunday, June 21, 2009

An Addition to the Busy Book family: Bitty Busy Book

Two Sundays ago we were sitting in church and Caden had finished looking at his Big Busy Book! I put it on the seat next to me and Drake picked it up. I haven't really used it with him because I really made it with Caden in mind. I watched him fumble around with the big book and decided that he needed one that was more his size. I watched as he played and kept note of all of the things he liked and the things he passed by without a care. And so the Bitty Busy Book was born. I used it today in church and It kept Drake happy and engaged for the whole hour! He actually cried when I had to take it away so he could go to Nursery class.
P.S. I bought the lock and calculator from the dollar store but everything else was left overs and re-purposed old clothes. You would be surprised what you can make from left over scraps!

Cover:
I used Steam to Seam to put the letters on the cover and then hand sewed the buttons to add some texture. When Drake first saw it he stared at it and touched each of the buttons.

Lock and Key:
In the Big Book Drake loved the keys in the pocket so I made this activity. I built the pages with the intent for them to be interesting but still present a challenge. Drake loves to try to put the key in the lock but that is as far as he goes. As he becomes more skilled he will unlock it and try to lock it onto the middle ring.

Magnet Maze:
I used some mesh material from my dad's old scrubs pocket and slipped a ball bearing behind it. I sewed two lines so that it was like a very simple maze. I sewed a very strong little magnet into the pouch and attached it to a rope. I used fabric markers to draw the blue and red dots. Caden really enjoyed the maze aspect but Drake was more interested in trying the magnet out on different things. I anticipated that which is why I put it adjacent to the Lock and Key page, so that there would be some metal to try it out on.

Buckles:
Drake is very in to buckles! He can't undo them yet but he loves to buckle them! Half an hour was spent buckling them and then looking at me to unbuckle them again.

Shapes and Color Matching:
Drake played with this for about a minute but it wasn't to big of a hit. I mostly put it in because of the educational value.
Wallet:
This was Drake other favorite. The flap has to snaps holding it shut and the green fabric at the bottom holds a click pen with the ink removed.

When opened there are pockets for laminated play money and credit cards. A zipper pocket with play coins and a little flip calculator that I got at the dollar store

Letter Pockets:
These are four little pockets with a letter on the front of each one and the beads attached to rope are for sorting into the pockets.

Leave a comment if you have any specific questions about how to do something.

27 comments:

  1. That is so cool. My mom and I are currently mending my DH's old busy book for RockerTot. He loves it as it is, but it needs some TLC. You have some great ideas in there. I may make him a second one to mix things up a bit. Thanks so much for sharing!!

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  2. Wonderful book! I need to make busy books for my kids, and you've just provided me with some excellent inspiration, thank you!

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  3. That is AWESOME! I just wrote into a homeschool forum asking how they keep their young ones happy, quiet and busy during church. This is the best idea yet that would work for my little ones!!!
    Would you ever sell them?

    It looks like a ton of work!
    What does each page have in it? Is it batting?

    sharonsaad at gmail dot com

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  4. You have so many great ideas in your busy book...I love it! Thanks for sharing! I've passed along your link to my readers at One Crafty Place!

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  5. This is so cool! What a creative idea!

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  6. That is so clever and creative!! I can just imagine my little guys loving that. I would love to feature it at Dollar Store Crafts in the next couple weeks. And I totally need to make one! How long did it take?

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  7. I love this! I am defiantly going to attempt this. I don't have a sewing machine...do you think I can still do it?

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  8. You should sell these!!! Very creative, and cute!

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  9. wow this is fantastic! Now I want to make one for 2.5 year old...I think her 6 year old sister will want to play with it too!!

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  10. THis is so darling. Did the noises of the activities (lock, buckles, snaps, etc) not bother others in worship? I'm asking before I tackle this kind of project.

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  11. I'm also interested in buying one of these books if you ever decide to sell. Email me at kdrlng at yahoo dot com.

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  12. Thank you for your fantastic tutorial! I will be busy myself busying myself making a busy book for my grandson :0)
    I am a Christian living in the High Peak in Derbyshire UK, it is always a joy to find a sister's blog.
    Blessings, Val

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  13. You should sell these!

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  14. Amazing! Such great ideas. I'm going to incorporate some into the busy book I'm making for a my granddaughter. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  15. can't tell you how much i love this. i really need to bite the bullet and make one!

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  16. I love this. The first one and the addition. My 2.5 year old son would LOVE this. Any chance you want to make another one? I'd buy it from you.

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  17. I too would love tqo of these books! Would you please conaider selling some! Its amazing! Please emIl me if you will consider selling some one for my 20 month old and one for my 12month old! My email is ermilawatts@gmail.com

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  18. Not to be repetitive....but would it be possible to PLEASE purchase one of these? I don't have a sewing machine! :(
    I would REALLY appreciate a reply :)


    fotogrlnic@aol.com

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  19. This is such a great idea. I would love one of those for my 22 month old. As others have asked, have you considered selling these? Email me if you are interested: jessie.ullerich@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. jessie, I am going to get me some stuff this weekend and try and make one. if it comes out right I will let u know. I love to sew and am a homemaker, so let me see what I can find to put it in and I will get back to you.
      u can email at my other email : shakywoman27@yahoo.com. anyone else would like one, let me know.
      I will go Thursday and buy my supplies and see what I come up with.

      thanks
      ruth

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  20. I would be interested in buying one as well for my almost 2 year old!! Great ideas!!! email me if you decide to sell! alissa2266@aol.com

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  21. seo forum

    It's quite hard to find a good site. And I think I am lucky enough to have come here. The posts are doing great and full of good insights. I would be glad to keep on coming back here to check for a new update

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  22. I love your BusyBook! How busy were you doing it? Wish I could sew. Wish I had the patience,...

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  23. Somebody may have already asked this and received an answer, but (being a mom) I don't really have time to scroll through all the comments. What are the pages made out of? Are they fleece, felt, or something else? And did you include padding? I have some pages planned out for my own busy book, but the actual material for the pages is my big question.

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  24. LOVE THIS "BITSY BUSY BOOK" WHAT IS THE BOOK MADE OF? i HAVE A 4 YR OLD GRANDSON THAT GETS BORED SO EASY, HE WOULD LOVE THIS. JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO PUT IN IT. LIKE THE LOCK AND KEY, BUCKLES, SHAPES N COLOR MATCHERS, DO SOMETHING THAT HE NEEDS TO LACE UP. ANYMORE IDEA'S LET ME KNOW.

    THANKS
    RUTH
    shakywoman27@gmail.com

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  25. mine also, what are the pages made of, do u have some instructions for your that you made?

    ruth

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  26. I love this idea! My 2yr old grandson loves buckles. I wish someone sold these because I don't have a crafty bone in my body :(

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