Simple Farm Take-Along Toy

I had a bit of red and white wool felt leftover from the fold up kitchen set I made last week, which worked out perfectly to make this sweet travel farm set! It was an easy, quick and very frugal sewing project that gave the girls hours of imaginative play!

The animals are the free figurines that come with boxes of Red Rose Tea, and now they finally have a home. The girls loved this set so much, I couldn’t keep them away from it!
The felt play mat folds up to fit inside the barn too. I added a handle to the barn so they can carry it with them wherever they go — picnics, Grandma’s house, the garden. The poor dog kept knocking on the barn door, but no one would let him in.

The ducks and geese took several dips in the pond, the rabbit loved eating all that tasty grass….
…. and when it was time to go, we packed everything back up into the barn!

Watching the girls play with this farm set made me think of all my new farmer friends from the Stonyfield Barnstorming Tour. I miss being out on the farms!

I listed this post on:

Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tattertots and Jello
Market Yourself Mondays @ Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Just Something I Whipped Up Monday @ The Girl Creative
I Made the World Cuter Today @ Making the World Cuter
DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Show Off
It’s So Very Creative @ It’s So Very Cheri
Sunday Showcase @ Under the Table and Dreaming
DIY Tutorial Linky Party @ Fine Craft Guild
Sew Cute Tuesday @ Creative Itch
Get Your Craft On @ Today’s Creative Blog
We Did It Wednesday @ Sew Much Ado
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies and Jellybeans

Comments

  1. Wow! That is so cute, and I imagine it would be a lot of fun in the car, while waiting somewhere. I bet other kids are in constant awe of the amazing stuff your daughters get to play with!

  2. I have never had red rose tea, but my kids would love those little animal figurines. I'll have to buy some. Does each box come with a figurine?

    That barn is adorable.

  3. Deborah Rabbon says

    CUTE!

  4. Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog says

    @ Jenny H — I admit, I have craft fantasies that someone will see the girls playing with a toy I made for them and ask me where I bought it. πŸ˜‰ Hee hee! It's happened once or twice and it TOTALLY makes my day!!!

  5. Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog says

    @ Christy — I think it is the large box of Red Rose that has them, and it's marked on the box. Mark would know for sure, since he's the one who drinks it. I love tea, but save the Red Rose for him, since it's his favorite. Well… I save it for him *most* of the time, anyway. πŸ˜‰

  6. Lenetta @ Nettacow says

    Perfect. I love it! I'll be linking for sure.

  7. I'll bet they get hours of fun from this. Great job.

  8. MaryAnne says

    Very cute!

  9. An Almost Unschooling Mom says

    That is so cute, it almost makes me want to make peace with my old nemesis – the sewing machine!

  10. oo how fun! Sammy loves his little barn animals (dollar spot at target). I might need to make a barn too! I am busting out my sewing machine (its home is in my closet.. very sad location) to work on some fun projects. I think I am going to make something for Sammy then too πŸ™‚

  11. seriously Val – where do you come up with this stuff? That is very clever.

  12. angelina says

    oh val you are killin me with your coolness. i love it. wool felt is tops. ps. thank you for your comment on my WALDORF DOLL tutorial!!xxx

  13. Raising a Happy Child says

    You ARE the coolest frugal mom ever. Can I send my daughter to you when she is older, so you can teach her how to sew?

  14. Fun! Maybe Mark will tell all of us which box comes with the figures (not that I need more).

  15. Just Breathe says

    Your so great at sewing projects.
    What a cute idea.

  16. Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog says

    @ Lenetta — Thank you so much for the link! I really appreciate it! xoxo πŸ™‚

    @ Scott — The girls played with this set all morning today too. I love that they are enjoying it this much! Makes it so worthwhile!!

  17. Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog says

    @ MaryAnne — Thanks so much!

    @ An Almost Unschooling Mom — Yes, yes!! Do it!!! I'll be cheering you on! πŸ™‚

  18. Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog says

    @ Lindsay — I think I saw those barn animals at Target! What a great idea!! Have fun! xoxo πŸ™‚

    @ LJ — Awww… thanks so much! It probably has something to do with the fact that I never really grew up. LOL I say I make these things for the kids, but really I make them just as much for myself too! πŸ˜‰

  19. Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog says

    @ angelina — I couldn't believe the difference between wool felt and eco felt. Amazing!!

    @ Raising a Happy Child — Yes! Send her over and I'll put her through boot… er… I mean sewing camp! LOL

    @ Ticia — Turns out the figurines are only in specially marked boxes. We've accumulated quite the collection over the years (thanks to Mark). πŸ™‚

  20. Very cute!

  21. Very cute. This gives me an idea for my grandsons for Christmas.

    • Thanks so much! I think the possibilities for a play set like this are pretty limitless — a space ship with aliens, a car carrier with cars, a train station with trains, just to name a few! Have fun!! xoxo πŸ™‚

  22. I just love toys that let kids use their imaginations! Your girls are clearly having a lovely time! I hope you’ll stop by my First Pretty Packages Party and share some of your fabulous talent!
    Just pick up a button for an easy reminder!
    http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com
    Smiles!!

    • Me too! They are my favorite types of toys!! I’m heading over to check our your link party — thanks for the heads-up!

  23. great idea.

    so I’m extending you an invite:

    come link your tutorial up with us so our readers can find you:
    http://www.finecraftguild.com/diy-tutorial-linky-party-7/
    (for your future creativity: new party = every wednesday, findable from the home page)

    we love to feature you,
    r

  24. So much to love about this project! I love that it is made of felt! I love that it can fold up!! SO genius!

    • Thanks, Alison! I’m a big fan of felt too!! I am loving that the girls still spend lots of time playing with this set — it was a big hit over here!

  25. How fun!! Thanks for linking @Creative Itch’s “Sew Cute Tuesday”!

    • You’re welcome! I love seeing what everyone else comes up with too… thanks for hosting!

  26. You’ve got a great blog here. Would love it if you’d link up some of your creative ideas for toddlers on my Tot Tuesdays Linky Party:
    http://www.mydeliciousambiguity.com/

  27. Ahh…very cute – I could have used this idea for my son’s birthday last month! We made a “life-size” pretend barn out of a cardboard box for him to play inside of. Imaginative play on different scales πŸ™‚

Trackbacks

  1. […] up trumps, because here she is again,this time with something she made for her girls – a “Farm in a Bag” – or should I say the bag is the farm and you put all your farm things inside! I am telling […]

  2. […] South Africa, this version of our Farm Take Along Toy looks adorable, and I’m sure it will give Celiah Ann’s son Andy hours of great pretend […]

  3. […] Speaking of barns… we were inspired by our collection of Red Rose Tea figurines to design this CUTE take along farm toy! […]