This is without a doubt the easiest DIY I’ve ever done!

For this project you will need:

Infant Seat Stroller (in good condition)

Laundry Basket

Spray paint

Blankets/Pillow

I knew that I wanted a stroller with cup/phone holders and a basket underneath.  Because these strollers are used by parents for a short period of time, charity and resale shops typically have them readily available.

I bought this stroller for $25 at Once Upon A Child.

I found a laundry basket that was the perfect fit for this stroller.

This basket fits snugly on the base.

I found a pillow in my attic that fit securely in the the basket.  

Add a fabric cover to the pillow and securely attach it to the basket.

KNOW YOUR DOG!!!  Some dogs might jump out of this open top stroller.  Ours won’t.  

If your dog is a jumper be sure to leash the puppy to the stroller.

Our girls LOVE this stroller!!!  Daisy sits up and watches the world go by.  Holly sleeps as soon as her feet hit the pillow.

SAFETY NOTE!!  Use the safety strap to secure the basket to the stroller.

I laid the panels out in the yard and spray painted both sides.  Allow the paint to dry between sides.  Depending on the paint you choose the panels may require 2 coats of paint.

Remove the Glass

Fold Down Picture Tabs

Make Picture Tabs as Flat as Possible

Fold down the metal tabs that hold the glass in place.  Make them as flat as possible.  Remove the glass.  Install the painted pegboard panels. Smooth side facing out.


Use to metal picture tabs to hold the pegboard in place.

On the back of the picture frames, use liquid nails to glue the pegboard in place.  Allow to dry overnight.

You will repeat this process with both picture frames.  Once the glue has dried overnight, spray paint it black.





Stack the completed display boards together.  Add two hinges.

Add the hasp closure and two handles to the top of the display case.

All Done!!!

Mario and Luigi Hats in various sizes

From time to time people ask me to make Mario and Luigi hats for parties.  Several years ago I made a batch of these hats for my son's birthday party and they were a real hit!

Mario and Luigi Hats - Party Favor

 The other day a reader of this blog reached out to me and asked if I could make a large batch of hats in various sizes and colors for a video game themed family party. 

Party Favors are usually One Size Fits All

Children's party favors are usually one size fits all.  Because this order was for Small, Medium and Large hats I needed several patterns.  This blog post will cover the pattern making process for various size hats.

If you need to make one or two hats, read this blog post!


Pattern Making Materials
To make this pattern you will need:
Felt or fleece
Ruler or Tape Measure
Marker
Scissors
Circle Skirt Calculator (available online)


Hat Sizes
I have divided the hats into Small, Medium and Large
Small - child size hat (approx 12" across - unsewn)
Medium - teen size hat (approx 14" across - unsewn)
Large - adult size hat  (approx 16" across - unsewn)

Making Circles
These hats are basically 3 circles.

3 Circles

There is a solid circle = top of the hat
Circle with a hole = head band
Small circle = the bill of the hat


Use your ruler or tape measure to begin marking a circle on the fabric.  For a 16" circle mark a spot at the tip of the tape measure, the center point (at 8")  and the end point (at 16").

Marking the circle

Using the center point as an anchor, continue to mark the circle.

Mark a circle

Connect the marks on the fabric to draw a circle.

Draw the circle

Cut the circle out.

Cut out your new pattern

Calculating head size

Using a tape measure, measure your head.

Measure your head

Fold your hat pattern in half

Fold the pattern in half

Fold the pattern in half again.

Fold in half again

Find a circle skirt calculator on the Internet or on your phone.  There are LOADS of circle skirt calculators available.  I use Circle Skirt App - By Hand London but they're pretty much all the same.  The skirt calculator will help you cut the correct size hole for your head.

Circle Skirt App

On the circle skirt app select "Full Skirt".  Also select Mini (this selection doesn't matter).

Waist size = head size

When asked for the waist size, enter your head size.  My head is 20".  Because the fabric is stretchy, I entered 19 inches.

This is the number you need

The number that you need to pay attention to is "your waist radius".

Measure and mark

Measuring from the center point of your folded fleece, mark the pattern.

Mark your fabric.

The circle skirt calculator told me that I needed to measure 2 3/4".  So I measured and marked 2 3/4" from the center of the folded circle.

Cut out the center

Cut out the the center circle as marked.  Your pattern is now complete!

Your pattern is now complete.

Putting it all together - Making the Hat

Fold a piece of Blizzard Fleece in half.  Mark the pattern on the fabric.

Fold fleece in half - mark and cut pattern

You will end up with 2 circle.

2 Circles

Carefully cut the center circle from one of the hat pieces.

3 Circles

Fold the smallest circle in half.  Cut along the fold.

Fold the circle in half

You should now have 4 hat pieces.

4 hat pieces

Sew the outer edge of the hat pieces together.

Sew the outer edges

Sew the outer edge of the hat bill.

Sew the hat bill

Turn the hat at the bill inside out.

Turn the hat inside out

Center the bill on the edge of the hat band.  Stitch in place.

Stitch the bill in place

Adding the Letter

Using white fleece, cut a circle that is small enough to fit on the front of the hat.

Cut a white circle

Cut colored fleece that is smaller than the white circle.

Must fit inside the circle

Fold the colored fleece in half and out your letter.

Fold fleece in half

Cut out basic letter shape

Center the letter on the circle

Stitch your letter to the white circle.

Stitch the letter on the circle

Stitch the white circle to the hat

Stitch the circle to the hat

That's it - You're Done!!