Babies love to see pictures of themselves (and the people they love). They also love to to open things…so today we’re using a couple travel packages of baby wipes to act as doors and windows on a felt house! The opening and closing of the “door” and “windows” will provide great fine motor practice for your little love.
Although this little house looks a bit labor intensive, it took less than 45-minutes to make (with several distractions, mind you). It would make for a great handmade birthday or Christmas gift!
Here’s what you’ll need: a piece of cardboard, various colors of felt, 3 packages of travel wipes (Target brand 40 ct. is what I used), a hot glue gun,3 pictures of loved ones, packing tape and scissors.
Here is an example of the wipes package I used.
1. Trace a rectangle and triangle on a piece of cardboard to make a house. My rectangle measured 8.5″x9.5″.
2. Cut out a piece of felt (8.5″x9.5″) and hot glue it onto the rectangle.
3. Trace the triangle onto a piece of felt and cut it out as well. Hot glue it on the cardboard.
4. Remove the plastic opening off of the wipes package.
5. The plastic “door” will still be sticky on the bottom, but go ahead and put some hot glue on the bottom of it to ensure it stays in place.
6. Attach the door and two windows with hot glue.
7. Hot glue pieces of felt on top of the plastic.
8. Use gray felt to make window panes and two windows beside the door.
9. Use packing tape to secure a picture in each of the openings (or you could also put the pictures down FIRST and then hot glue the plastic pieces on top).
We put a picture of each of the boys in the upstairs windows and Prince Charming and me in the front door opening. :)
Little Brother L-O-V-E-D it!
I did have to open the containers so that they weren’t completely secure, but still shut, so that he could lift them open. I’m okay with that, though, because the house will be able to grow with his fine motor abilities!
Just look at that happy face! Big Brother got a kick out of it too! :)
You could also add various textures (like sandpaper, cotton balls, etc) to make it a sensory activity as well…too bad I thought of that AFTER I made it! :)
you could try gluing a piece of a sheet protector to the back of the wipes container and leave the top unglued from the felt. The picture might catch on the felt though so you could glue another piece of a sheet protector to the back of the first just on three sides, or maybe glue the sheet protector to the felt first. Just brainstorming, love the idea!
What a great homemade and personalized gift :-)
That is the cutest thing ever! Great idea!
Great idea. I have a bunch of those Target travel wipe packages laying around. I really like the sensory idea too! Thanks for sharing.
http://puppydogtails.blogspot.com/
This is sweet :)
My girls are 3 & 6 and would probably still love this!
CUTE!!
This would be nice to do with pics of distant relatives to help keep them fresh in the minds of the little one. I love it! =)
oh my goodness, I am so about to dig a wipes container out of the trash to make this! Thanks for posting, so awesome!
This is adorable! I wonder if there is a way to alter it so that the pics can be changed out?
you could try gluing a piece of a sheet protector to the back of the wipes container and leave the top unglued from the felt. The picture might catch on the felt though so you could glue another piece of a sheet protector to the back of the first just on three sides, or maybe glue the sheet protector to the felt first. Just brainstorming, love the idea!
lovely idea – think I will be making one of these with my 3 and 5 year olds this week. Thanks
Great Great Great ideas!!
PLEASE keep them coming!
Love it! Great recycling!
I totally made one! Thanks for the inspiration! http://at-home-adventures.blogspot.com/2010/11/one-box-many-uses.html
Love this!!!!
What a great way reuse the wipe covers.
oh my gosh! how cute!!!!
So cute! I have been saving the wipes packages for the crinkly plastic but now I am SO happy that I saved all the lids too!
Love this !
I thought I'd let you know that I made a modified version of this and linked to your blog from mine…
http://cherishedmystery.blogspot.com/2011/01/reflecting-and-repurposing.html
What a fabulous idea! I think I'll have to try it.
I LOVE this! And what a good way to reuse those travel containers!
This is FANTASTIC!!!!
This is FABULOUS! My 15 months old LOVES peek-a-boo books right now and I can’t wait to make it for her.
It’s an amazing article in favor of all the internet visitors;
they will take advantage from it I am sure.
I love this idea and I’ll definitely be putting it in my plans for my 1-2 year olds. Thank u this website has helped me tremendously with my classrom.
Brilliant! I knew I could use those for something. thank you.
Thank you for the wonderful website . I cant wait to see you other ideas. I love the ideas i have already seen.
Thanks Gretchen! You made my day! :)
This is GENIUS! I love it and I know my daughter will too. THANK YOU!
Thanks so much, Arianne! :)
This is an awesome idea. thanks for sharing it. I made one for my little niece :)
Thanks so much! So glad you liked it! :)