Handmade Stuffed Owl Tutorial

 For Christmas I wanted my 2 girls to be able to make and give something to the other that they both would love.  For some reason I just can't get myself to give them some money and let them buy them something.  I just want it special I guess. 

 So, while one sister was away (napping or at school)  I took the other sister and we picked out fabric from my stash and designed these cute little owls. 

 They were both so excited to make them for each other.  I don't know who was more excited....The girls, my hubby, or me! 

I let the younger pick out some extra fabric to make a special one for the baby that won't be here for a few months yet.  Mostly cause I KNOW how they feel about having a family.  We always need a mommy, daddy, and baby at our house :)

And of course since we let the younger one open her present first the older was was REALLY surprised!  It was so much fun.

The girls both loved picking out the best fabric for the other.  They did really good.  They know exactly what color the other one LOVES.  

So how did we make them?
1.  Each of the large owls measure about 10 inches tall by 8 inches wide.  The baby is more like 5x4
2.  I free handed an owl shape on some paper before.  That way the 5 yr old could attempt to cut out the fabric by herself.  One way to make this step easier is to just draw 1/2 of the owl and then use the mirror image of it to cut out the other side.  That way you will always have an even owl.  If you don't dare freehand it do a quick google search for owl clipart and print off the one you like the best.
3.  Since this was for a 2 and 5 yr old to make I decided not to add any wings or extra stuff.  Just the bare essentials.
4.  The eyes are oval shapes (1 inch by 3/4 inch) with 1/2 inch middle eye parts.  The nose/beak is about 1 inch wide triangle.  I raw edge appliqued them on (meaning I just pinned them where I wanted them and then sewed around them using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
5.  I used a decorative stitch to sew around the outside edge of the owls AFTER I had sewn on the eyes and nose/beak to the front piece.
 6.  I seem to sew things "backwards" (since I do the rag quilting the most) so I sewed them together with the wrong sides together.  I used a 1/2 inch seam and plan on the edges fraying
7.  Make sure to leave a little opening so that you can stuff the owl.
8.  After stuffing the owl sew up the last little bit and you have a quick little stuffed owl

From start to finish I think each owl took us about a 1/2 hour.  Perfect for short attention spans!