Heart Beet Boutique: busy book

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Thursday, August 8, 2019

Busy Book Basic Pages

The pages are made with a muslin background. There are 2 layers of white felt inside each page to make it sturdy and soft. The finished pages are about 9.5" by 9.5".

You will make your pages first, using the 10 inch square as your background. Make sure you leave at least an inch all the way around so you will be able to put the pages together. Once the pages are made you are ready to assemble them. You will assemble 4 of your pages into one "signature" which are the assembled pages for your book.

For each "signature" of pages you will need:

1/4 yard muslin

1/4 yard white felt

Cut the background squares 10 inches by 10 inches. (You can get 4 squares from 1/4 yard. It takes 4 pages to make one "signature.")

Each page can be made up of 2 single page spreads and 1 two page spread or it can be made up of 4 single page spreads. Make sure you work out the order of your pages so you don't separate any of your two page spreads.

Sew your pages right side together down the middle of the first two pages. If it is a two page spread make sure they are sewn together and in the right order.

Now sew the next two pages together but this time leave a hole about 6 inches in the middle of the seam. This will allow you to turn your pages right side out.

Now put these right sides together and match the seams at the top and bottom of the pages. Pin really well. There will be some pulling and bulk because of all of the felt you have on your pages so make sure to pull it flat, match it, and pin well.

Sew all the way around the pages.

Clip the corners.

Turn the pages right side out. Use something pointy to push the corners out so they are nice and square.

Press the edges.

Insert two pieces of felt into each side of the pages. Push them to the corners and make sure they lay nice and flat.

Hand sew the whole shut.

Sew down the middle of the pages. This will keep the felt in the right place.

Your signature of pages is done!

Memory Game Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

Here are some basic instructions for the memory matching game page:

You will need:
(1) 10" by 10" background page
Fabric with pictures on it to make 16 memory cards (2 each of 8 pictures)
Fusible web
Felt for the back of the cards
16 sticky Velcro circles, scratchy side only

Fuse your picture fabric onto your felt. Cut a 1.75" x 1.75" square around the pictures. Make you have 2 of each picture to make a match. Top stitch around the cards to hold the layers together.

Mark the placement for your Velcro onto your background fabric. Using your marks, position the Velcro scratchy side up on the background. You will store the cards felt side down. This will hold your cards on so you don't lose them.

Apple Tree Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

This color sorting page is a fun one.

Here is the pattern and some basic instructions:

You will need:

(2) 10" by 10" background pages

Dark green felt

Red felt

Apple green felt

Yellow felt

Dark grey felt

Dark brown felt

Brown yarn

Cut out the pieces according to the pattern. Position the trunk of the tree onto your background page and stitch around it. Position the tree top on the page and stitch. Stitch the dark grey ovals on the second background page. Top stitch the top rim of each of the buckets, then position them over the ovals and stitch the sides and bottom. leaving the top open so it can hold the apples.

Cut out your apples. Using a large needle stitch a short piece of brown yarn on the top of each apple to make a stem.

Shoe Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

The shoe tying page is a classic in busy books.

Here is the pattern and some basic instructions:

You will need:

(1) 10" by 10" background page

Red felt

White felt

A white shoelace

Fusible interfacing

Metal eyelets if not making buttonhole eyelets

Fuse the white and red felt onto the fusible interfacing. Using the pattern cut out the pieces.

Stitch eyelets as marked on the pattern using your buttonhole attachment or insert metal eyelets as directed on the package.

Top stitch around the tongue of the shoe and as marked on the pattern on the shoe top.

Stitch the soul onto your background page. Position the tongue of the shoe, then place the shoe top then the shoe toe over the soul and pin well. Top stitch around the outside of the shoe top and toe.

Thread the shoelace through the eyelets and tie a bow.

Shirt Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

Another busy book classic, the button up shirt, is really fun to make.

Here is the pattern and some basic instructions:

You will need:
(1) 10" by 10" background page
6 inches of fabric
3 buttons

Cut out 4 shirt pieces, 2 face up and 2 face down on your fabric.

With right sides together, sew around the shirt where marked, leaving a hole in the end of each sleeve. Clip the corners and turn right side out. Press well. Press the collar down. Press the seam allowance into the holes of the sleeves so they are straight and pin. Mark the button holes as marked on the pattern. Sew the button holes. Mark the position of the buttons on the other side and sew them on. Button the pieces together, then position it onto your background page. Top stitch across the bottom of the sleeve and up to the shoulder of the shirt.

Spider Web Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

Weave your own spider web with this page.

Here is the pattern and some basic instructions:

You will need:
(1) 10" by 10" background page
Tissue paper
Fusible interfacing 10" by 10"
18 white buttons
1 1/2 yards white yarn
Black felt
Black yarn

The spider:
Cut out 2 black spiders. Cut 4 pieces of yarn to make the 8 legs. Tie a knot toward each end of the black yarn. Position the yarn on top of one of the black spider pieces, and position the white yarn at the back of the spider. Then put the other spider piece on top of it, enclosing the legs and the end of the white yarn. Stitch around the spider, securing the legs.

The web:
Trace the pattern onto the tissue paper to make the pattern. Fuse the interfacing to the back of your background page. Pin the tissue paper pattern to the back of the page and stitch the web lines using cream thread. Tear the tissue paper away. Mark the dots onto the front of the web. Stitch a button over each dot. Tie the other end of the white yarn onto one of the outside buttons to secure the spider to the web.

Gumball Machine Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

The gumball machine page is really cute and fun to make. To play you sort the gumballs by color onto the corresponding colored square.

Here is the pattern:

You will need:

(1) 10" by 10" background page

Red felt

Blue felt

Light blue felt

Yellow felt

Dark grey felt

Black felt

Purple felt

Fusible interfacing

12 sticky Velcro circles, the scratchy side only

Fuse the interfacing onto the back of the gumball pieces. Attach a Velcro circle on the back of each gumball. Assemble your gumball machine in the following order: gumball machine body, gumball machine base, slot, machine handle, gumball machine glass, then gumball machine top. Top stitch each piece and the colored squares onto your background page.

Pizza Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

The pizza page is a favorite at my house. I have included a few pizza toppings in the pattern but you can add more if you want. This is a two page spread with a pocket on the left and the pizza sewn onto the right.

Here is the pattern and some basic instructions.

You will need:

(2) 10" by 10" background pages (1 is a pocket)

Tan felt

Cream felt

Red felt

Green felt

Sandstone felt

Black felt

Cut out the pieces.

Stitch the pizza down and then the cheese on top of it on the right page.

Cut out the toppings.

Store the toppings in the pocket.

Monster Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

This monster page is really fun to make and to play with. You can make the features for the monster any color you want. It is a two page spread with a pocket on the left and the monster body on the right.

Here is the pattern and some basic instructions:

You will need:

(2) 10" by 10" background pages (1 is a pocket)

Several colors of felt scraps

Purple felt

Cut out your monster body and top stitch it onto your background page.

Cut out the different monster features from whatever colors of felt you want.

Make a pocket on your left hand background page. Store the features in the pocket.

Flower Pot Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

Here are the patterns and basic instructions for the flower pot page for your busy book.

You will need:

(1) 10" by 10" background page

Tan felt

Red felt

Pink felt

Green felt

Purple felt

Dark blue felt

5 yellow buttons

Cut out the pattern pieces.

Stitch the flower pot onto the page. Trace the stems onto tissue paper. Position your tissue paper where you want your stems on your background page. Satin stitch the stems on. Tear the tissues paper away.

Stitch the flower pot onto the page. Stitch the leaves onto the page. Stitch the buttons onto the ends of the stems.

Cut out the flowers. Make a button hole in the center of each flower. Make sure the button holes are long enough for all of your buttons so the flowers can be moved around. Button your flowers on and you are done!

Dog Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

Here is a cute dog care page for your Busy Book.

Here is the pattern and some basic instructions:

Note: Make sure you print actual size. Do not fit to page.

You will need:

(2) 10" by 10" background pages

blue felt

dark blue felt

grey felt

purple felt

turquoise felt

yellow felt

white felt

tan felt

dark brown felt

brown felt

black felt

red, turqoise, yellow, and purple thin yarn or embroidery floss

Cut out the pieces. Assemble the brush, shampoo, and towel. Attach a coordinating 8 inch piece of thin yarn or embroidery floss to each one. Anchor the ends in the lower corner of your background page. Cut out a 2" by 2" brown square for a box. Stitch the sides and bottom, leaving the top open as a pocket.

Stitch decorative lines across the top of the tub. Sew on the bubbles. Stitch the tub to the background page, leaving the top open as a pocket.

Assemble the dog. Stitch the 2 dog bodies together, inserting the tail. Fold the ears over the head and stitch on. Add eyes and a nose with black thread. Make a collar and leash from the thin red yarn or embroidery floss.

Make the dog house. Sew the dog house side to the dog house front. Top stitch around the doorway. Stitch the black doghouse back to the background page. Anchor the end of the leash on the background where it will be covered by the dog house. Stitch the dog house to the background, stitching the sides and bottom, leaving the doorway open as a pocket. Stitch on the roof. Stitch the dog food and bowl to the background page.

Jigsaw Puzzle Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

The jigsaw puzzle is a fun page to make. You can make it out of any fabric with a picture on it or you could print out a photo onto fabric if you want.

Here is the pattern and basic instructions:

You will need:
Fabric with a picture on it about 5.5" by 7.25"
Fusible web
White felt
Sticky Velcro circles

Here is how it is done:

Print the pattern. Make sure you print actual size. Do not fit to page.

Cut out your picture fabric, fusible web, and felt slightly larger than your finished puzzle will be. Sandwich them together with the right side of the fabric facing out, the fusible web in the middle, and the white felt on the back. Iron well to fuse them together.

Print out the pattern and trace it onto tissue paper.

Lay the tissue paper pattern on top of your fabric and felt sandwich. Pin it well. Stitch through the lines on the tissue paper pattern to make the outlines of the puzzle pieces. Tear the tissue paper away. Using an 1/8 inch wide zigzag with very short stitches, satin stitch along each side of your stitch lines and around the border so all the sides of each puzzle piece have been satin stitched. Cut your puzzle pieces out between your rows of satin stitching and treat with Fray Check if desired.

Place the scratchy side of the Velcro on the background page as marked on the pattern. This will make it so it holds the puzzle pieces on when assembled.

Paper Doll Busy Book Pattern and Instructions

This is probably my favorite page of the Busy Book: the Paper Doll.

The paper doll page was one of my favorite ones to make. It's a two page spread with a dresser holding the clothes on one side and sleeping back pockets to hold the dolls on the other side. The dolls are two layers of felt thick so they are a little bit dimensional. You can do just one doll or you could do two.

Here are the patterns and some basic instructions for the paper doll pages and the dresser:

You will need:

(2) 10" by 10" background pages

Felt in many colors

2 pieces dark brown felt

Dresser: Cut out 3 drawers, 1 dresser (on the fold), and 1 white background out of felt.

Cut out 1 sleeping bag pocket per doll, fold it in half, and topstitch it onto your second page of the spread.

Sew the white background onto your first page. Sew the three drawers in place on half of the dresser. Fold the dresser in half, position it over the white background felt and stitch down the middle to make a spine that opens. This is like a mini book for you to keep your paper doll clothes in.

Here is the first "page" of the dresser when it's all assembled:

And here is the second:

Paper doll:
Cut out 2 paper doll bodies for each doll. Stitch them together. Add hair and features as wanted. Stitch the undies onto the doll. Make a line of stitching to create the legs.

Clothes:
The possibilities are endless with the clothes. Use the basic patterns included and embellish them however you want. I used tiny buttons, mini rick rack, doll lace, bias tape, and stitching to decorate mine.

Have fun!!!

*Make sure you print actual size. Do not fit to page.

Busy Book

I love my vintage sewing machine. It can do just about anything I want it to do. I wanted to make a project that showcases many different sewing techniques that are fun for a beginner or an expert so I put together this project: the Busy Book.