Tutorial: "BOO"bbles

I haven't done a tutorial in quite a while, and I had a brainstorm walking through the dollar store, triggered by this cute project.  While it's true that kids love to put stuff on their hands and smear it around, I wasn't enthused about hand sanitizers (which is good, since our Bath & Body Works was out of them anyway) and was looking for a fun alternative.  Here's what I found:

These were in the wedding department of Dollar Tree.  Yes, one is missing - I forgot to take a picture before I started my project.  Here's what I made with them:

These are "BOO"bbles.  I hesitated to call them that because it could be misconstrued, but figured if I capitalized the BOO it would be read properly...

WARNING:  The bubbles themselves and the items used to create this project include choking hazards.  Please make sure these are given only to older children!

Here's what you need to make them:

• Mini bubbles (these are 2 1/4" high, and about 1 1/4" across)
• Black felt - 2 pieces approximately 2 1/2" high x 5 1/2" across for each bat
• Lightweight white fabric - 5" square for each ghost
• Roll of 2 1/2" wide gauze - approximately 12" per mummy
• Google eyes - 4mm-5mm for ghost, 8mm for mummy and bat - two per bottle
• Bat template
• Sticky strip or similar adhesive
• Glue dots (the thin, small ones)
• 1/8" wide ribbon in color of choice

GHOST:

This is the easiest one, so I'll start with this one.  Cut a 5 1/2" circle (I used pinking shears) out of lightweight white fabric.  You can just tie a ribbon around the neck of the bubble bottle (which is also the neck of the ghost - handy!), but if you have extra thumbs like moi, you can cinch the fabric first with one of these:

Then tie your bow and add some google eyes and you're done!

BAT:

Cut two batty shapes from black felt, using the template (click to get correct size, then print):

Put sticky strip or ScorTape or whatever as shown below:

Stick the other piece to this one, then slide the bubbles down inside:

Here's what it looks like laying down:

Add some google eyes:

And a bow if you want to:

MUMMY:

This one takes the longest and has the most steps, but it's still easy.  Adhere google eyes onto front of bottle as shown (I used thin glue dots):

Put a strip of adhesive down the back of the bottle and around the edge of the bottom (uderneath).  With one edge even with the top of the bottle, wrap 2 1/2" wide gauze around the bottle, covering the eyes and sticking the excess to the adhesive underneath as you go, then trim gauze, leaving enough to overlap where you started:

Put a strip of sticky tape or other double-sided adhesive on beginning edge, then stick the trimmed edge down over it.  Add bits of tape or glue dots to adhere the excess on the bottom, too.

Here's what it should look like so far:

Using pointy scissors (a technical term), clip a couple of the threads over the eyes and tuck the gauze around them to tidy things up:

Cut a couple of  1/4" - 3/8" strips from the gauze (I didn't measure, but they're probably about 9" long).  They don't have to be perfect - it'll probably look better if they aren't:

And wrap those randomly around the bottle to add dimension and make it look more "mummified", sticking the ends down with thin glue dots or whatever:

I made sure to wrap the neck of the bottle to hold the top edge of the gauze in place, but you could also tie a ribbon around it, if you want:

And that's all she wrote!  I may get enthused enough to make a little gift package for these guys similar to the one that sparked these ideas, but we'll see how my week goes...  Meanwhile, if you decide to make some of your own, please link them up in the comments so I can see!

Here's the group shot again:

Have a great Monday to start off a great week, and thanks for stopping by!

Comments

[Marilyn (mlj-mlj)]

How fun, Sue! Love these little guys.

[Erin G]

I MUST MAKE THESE!!! I just shared this post with my sister to make for her wee ones!