We’re happy to have another contribution from Beth’s talented mom, Betsie Johnson. (You may recall the adorable party goodie bags she made last month.) Her latest invention: A dress-me-up book that she made for her granddaughter, Iris. Beth confirms that this book is a huge hit! It kept the toddler busy on a long plane ride and continues to be a daily source of play since she received it from Grandma a few weeks ago. All you need to make one of your own is some colorful pieces of felt, a pipe cleaner, a small piece of Velcro, glue and colorful thread. Click through to the next page for Betsie’s simple how-to instructions!

Betsie’s Dress-Me-Up Book:

To begin the book, start with two felt squares. Pick any colors you like in the standard size in which they’re sold — 9×12. Blanket stitch the two pieces together and fold it in half horizontally. Then, measure in 1/2 inch from the left-side border all the way around the left-hand side of the book and blanket stitch a piece of felt on the bottom, right and top edges. That will be the pocket for the dress-up clothes.

Using cardboard, cut out the shape of a little person. Then, using that template cut out a flesh-colored felt. Embroider the person as desired — eye color, facial features, hair and even a belly button! Then, stitch that silhouette onto the righthand side of the book, centered in the middle of the page.

To create the clothes, use the cardboard shape again as a reference. Scraps of felt or any other fabrics can be used — have fun! I made an umbrella with a pipe cleaner, tied little laces on shoes with thread, and more. But note: while the felt will naturally adhere to itself when placed on the body, any other fabrics will require velcro. So if you use other fabrics, you’ll need to sew a small amount of the scratchy-sided velcro onto them.

For the book’s closure, cut two stripes of felt and blanket stitch them together. Sew velcro on one side of the front underneath the flap and the corresponding part on the strip. I also put a decorative button above the velcro on the front to fake a button seal. (You can also put the tab in early between the two pieces of felt — instead of on top — in the beginning part of the construction if you want.)

On the front cover, you can sew on cut out letters to spell “Dress Me,” or decorate it in any way you want. Have fun!