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Crafting Memories: A DIY Baby Play Mat Quilt Journey

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Are you a parent who’s always dreamed of creating beautiful DIY projects for your little one, only to find that reality has a way of interrupting those plans? If so, you’re not alone. In a world where Pinterest-perfect nursery decor and handmade baby toys abound, sometimes life has other plans.

In this blog post Jenna shares their journey of intending to create a delightful baby play mat quilt, brimming with colorful fabrics and personalized touches. However, as often happens in parenthood, their plans were derailed by the unpredictable twists and turns of pregnancy and early motherhood.

Jenna’s story is a familiar one to many parents. Full of excitement and enthusiasm during pregnancy, they meticulously gathered supplies and envisioned the perfect play mat quilt for their little one. Yet, as pregnancy sickness took its toll and the demands of caring for a newborn consumed their days and nights, the project remained unfinished, relegated to the realm of forgotten dreams.

But this tale isn’t just about a project left undone; it’s about resilience and the enduring spirit of creativity that persists even in the face of life’s challenges. Despite the setbacks and delays, the author’s desire to craft something special for their child never waned.

So, if you find yourself with a half-finished baby quilt tucked away in a closet or a Pinterest board filled with unrealized projects, take heart. Parenthood is a journey filled with unexpected detours and delightful surprises, and sometimes the best memories are made not in the completion of a project, but in the intention and effort put forth.

Read more about this adorable play mat quilt here.

Play mat for cars that go zoom

Tutorial: Snakes and Ladders Playmat

Free pattern: Merry-Go-Round playmat

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Recycled Paper Cylinder Face Art – A Colorful Win for All Ages

I recently stumbled across this super creative project on Instructables – “Face With Recycled Paper Cylinders” – and I had to share it with you all because it’s just the kind of craft that checks all my favorite boxes: recycled materials, hands-on creativity, and fun for literally any age.

The idea is simple but genius—roll strips of recycled paper (think junk mail, old magazines, leftover printer paper) into cylinders, then arrange and glue them to form a unique abstract face. You can make it funky, realistic, Picasso-inspired—whatever your mood or style dictates!

What I really love is the blend of eco-conscious crafting with true artistic expression. This isn’t just another kids’ project—it’s something you could easily do with a group of little ones, a classroom full of teens, or even as an adult art therapy or weekend wind-down activity. It’s super relaxing and surprisingly satisfying seeing all those paper rolls come together to form something new and expressive.

The tutorial itself is easy to follow, with plenty of visuals to guide you along the way. You don’t need any fancy materials—just glue, paper, scissors, and a board or piece of cardboard to serve as your canvas.

I also appreciate how this project leaves so much room for personalization. Want to make it into a full face? Go for it. Prefer to focus on a single eye or mouth? Totally works. You can even play with color schemes by choosing papers with a certain palette, or painting over them once they’re rolled.

In short: this is a total keeper for anyone who loves crafting with purpose. It’s the kind of project that sparks creativity while gently reinforcing the idea that beautiful things can come from what we usually throw away.

Highly recommend giving it a go—solo or with a group. And if you try it, tag me or drop a pic—I’d love to see your recycled masterpiece!