It's kind of like a European Shoulder Bag.

Well, I know bug’s been feeling a little left out since I make all the fun ruffly stuff for mini.  I haven’t done much crafting or sewing for boys at all.  I have a few ideas up my sleeves for things I’d like to make him (oh, if only there were 10 more hours in a day!)  (Or if my house would just clean itself!)  but this idea suddenly popped into my head as I was up feeding mini at 6:00 Easter morning.  So when I was done feeding her, I quickly ran downstairs and made it for bug for Easter.  My first official “boy accessory.”  

It was inspired by a picture I saw in Disney’s FamilyFun magazine.  You can find the directions for how to make this initial inspiration here, on their website.  I warn you, once you see it, you're sure to want one!  So, here’s their version:

As soon as I saw this I knew I wanted it for bug.  Alas, we don’t drink two liter soda here, and definitely not sprite, 7-up or Sierra Mist, or any other green bottle varieties.  What to do?  Buying soda simply to toss it down the drain and use the bottles seemed to defeat the purpose of upcycling.  I was stumped.  I thought if I could just find something I have enough of laying around my house that’s shaped similarly, I could just paint it or something.  

And then, as I fed mini in the early morning hours, the clouds parted and the epiphany bloomed - just like that.  And that is when I came up with this:

Cool whip!  It’s bigger than the inspiration piece, but bigger’s better, right?  

Here’s how I did it.

1. I placed the cool whip containers with their openings together, one on top of the other.
2. I picked out some cute green fabric from my stash and wrapped it around the containers.  I started by putting the fabric under the containers, pulling it up what would be the back of the frog and over the top, leaving the front open, you know, kind of like a taco. 
3. I hot glued the fabric down, working in small sections; back, top, top container’s sides, bottom, bottom container’s sides.  I folded and trimmed the fabric where necessary and tucked it over the containers edges, gluing just a little bit in the inside of the containers.  I made sure to leave the fabric connected in the back, because although the containers would be held together with a zipper, I wanted the extra help of the fabric to keep the containers as one solid unit.
4. I hot glued on the zipper, working slowly and putting down just a little at a time.  Now, here’s where you start to think, “gosh, this is going way too smoothly for her.”  And you’d be right.  When I was done with this step, I immediately checked my work by trying to open it up and it’s a good thing I did!  In some places, the hot glued had seeped onto the zipper, so it was pretty much glued shut.  I tore the whole zipper off, spent forever prying up the dried hot glue, then re-glued the zipper on, being much more careful this time.  It worked!  
5. I cut out a small rectangle and folded and glued it over the ends of the zipper on the back of the frog to hide the unsightly glue globs and end of zipper ugliness.  
6. I hot glued ribbon around the top and bottom of the black zipper for a more finished look.
7. I rummaged for some pom-poms I was sure I had like a year ago.  Where are they?  Where ARE they???  I was amazed I actually found them.  Instead of doing the same for the googly eyes I know are SOMEWHERE in the basement, I glued some tiny blue buttons onto some medium-sized white buttons, then hot glued them to the two green pom-poms I miraculously found.
8. Voila!  Frog!

Here are some pictures of the frog in action.  You see that there are many uses for the frog.  It is not only cute, but very practical.  

It’s a hiding place, a hat, a drum and a storage container, all in one!  

Now, while bug was using it, I noticed he got really frustrated trying to carry it.  Because even though he has large hands for a two yr old (he really does.  He was born with big hands) he just couldn’t find an easy way to grasp the frog.  Dexterity in the hand department is challenging for a two yr old!  Plus, he likes to carry about 20 things at once.  So, today, I whipped out this little strap I’d been saving for no good reason (but thank goodness I did!) and stuck it through the fabric rectangle on the back of the frog.  

I think its original purpose was to hold keys in a laptop bag I bought a while ago, but I never used it.  Now bug has a carrying strap! 

I call it: the froggy carryall.  

Oh, and the best part?  I didn't spend anything to make this.  Everything used was already on hand!

Now go make your own frogs for all your cute little guys.  Hop to it!  (hee hee...)

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