Poliwag Plushies!

Yay! I finally have my camera with me and can post this! 

This time I made a cute little Poliwag plush!!

He was simple to make and doesn't require much sewing skill!
Also, he would make a very cute present for someone.  All together this project costs less than $1! Each piece of felt costs between 27¢-33¢, and I used three colors.  The light blue and white pieces are really just scraps though! I also used a little bit of stuffing! A huge bag of stuffing costs $5.

Let's make him!

Here's what you'll need! 

1. A Pattern!
2. Front Body Piece
3. Back Body Piece [same as 2]
4. White Round Tummy Piece
5. Light Blue Tail
6. White End of Tail
7. [Optional] Blue Strips for the Tail
8. Small Blue Feet

 Cut out two circles from your pattern!

 My pattern close up.

 Making everything fit.

 I wanted to make a two tone tail like Poliwag.  I cut out a blue tear drop, then traced a piece of white using the tear shape.

 Then I cut the white where I wanted it.

 Making sure it all looks good!

 Thought I'd consider moving the feet around, most pictures I've found of Poliwag have his feet hanging down like this.

 Sewing on the stripe!

 I did a very basic stitch down the middle, since it was going to be visible from both sides.

 I used a stripe on both sides of the tail in the same area.

 Just another shot!

 This is what it looked like when I was done!

And the other side! I also stitched the white crescent-like shape to the blue.

 Sewed on the tummy! Getting ready to puff paint his spiral.

 Practiced it just to make sure it would come out the right thickness!

 Puff painted tummy spiral!

 Then I started practicing a mouth.  Most Poliwags I found while making this were frowning, or making a sad face.  I wanted mine to be happy!

 Puff painted his mouth on!

Starting the eyes, with a paint brush.

 I lightly outlined the eyes with the paint brush and then went back and filled it in.  I used the white pearl metallic paint again to make them shine, but I may go back over with white so that they're brighter.

 Using the same technique, I outlined the black of his eyes with a very thin paint brush.

 Close up of the shape.

 Filled in the eyes.  One looked kinda wonky but I figured I'd fix it with an outline.

 Outlined the eyes! I like the shape a lot more now.

 Close up.  I swear his mouth isn't that light, the camera kind of washed him out.

 Sewed on the little feet!

Sewing on the tail. I made very little stitches in the shape of a triangle to secure it while still letting it move around.  You can hardly notice the little triangle.

 Blanket stitching him together!

 Finally got to stuff him! [I ran out of stuffing halfway through making him.]

& his back. :]

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it is easy enough to understand! If you have any questions don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me at milkpolka@yahoo.com

Thank you for reading!
♥Riley


P.S. Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my blog posts!

New Pokémon Tutorials!

Two new projects completed!! They'll be up in the next couple days... 

I'm really excited about them, they're adorable!  I've made two more Pokémon plushies! 

Can you guess what they are? Hint: They have similar coloring and shapes but are not the same type.

Etsy ♥

Just a note! I have an etsy store :] 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MilkPolkaCrafts  

I have a couple things up right now, and tutorials up for both!  I'd appreciate if you checked out my store.  Do you have Etsy? I'd love to see the stuff you guys are making! If you have a store post the link in the comments! :]

Also, if you don't have an Etsy store yet but are planning on making one, you can click the link below and we'll both get 40 free listings!!

http://etsy.me/13HyKLJ

Til next time,

♥ Riley

Life Update!

One of the reasons I was gone so long from posting was that my sorority had our summer retreat.  We did all kinds of activities that promoted bonding and getting to know each other even better.  It took place over a weekend at a sister's house.  We spent the night each night and we were far enough from school that we stayed there but not too far so that we didn't mind driving there.  It was really nice to see everyone there and catch up.  It was a bit overwhelming though.  My sister's are so loud! But we had a ton of fun! :]

With summer retreat brought the realization that school is really almost here.  It's the 23rd today and school starts the 26th.  Back to school time brings up a lot of feelings for me.  Mainly, anxiety.  I have always been a very nervous person.  I was an extremely anxious child.  I'm hoping that the anxiety will decrease a bit with the fact that I only have 3 days of school this semester.  Another much more confusing feeling is the one I got when I realized that this is my last year in school. Ever.  [If I don't go for my Master's, which won't be for a while anyways.]  I don't know how to be anything other than a student.  That sounds kind of silly, but I really don't.  My family kind of discouraged me from getting a job until I finished school. [So I didn't get any experience, and now it's harder to find a job, but oh well.]  

I am also excited.  I've always loved back to school season.  The back to school clothes and supply shopping, the choosing of classes, seeing friends again.  I am very excited to see all of my friends again, but the truth is, I really am sad to see summer go.  My summer was two and a half months long and I wouldn't mind if they made is a little longer.  My classes this semester seem easy enough, and I know I have sisters in at least a couple of them.  

I am really excited to spend time this year with my best friends, sorority big sister, and sorority little sister.& of course my blood sister, but it's much easier to see her!  

My best friend Hayah and I need to spend as much time as possible this year. & every year! She keeps me sane.  She knows me.  We do the funnest things together.  She's my Disneyland pal!  A year ago we worked out our schedules so that we could go to Disneyland 3 times a week! [We don't live that close to it either!]  This year she's transferred to another school, so it'll be a little more difficult to go now, as we are on opposite sides of the park.  

I've mentioned it before, but Hayah is Muslim.  I only bring this up because it brings up the idea of marriage.  I know that she will be getting married soon and that I also want to get married in the near future.  This doesn't mean that we won't see each other, it just means that things will be different [hopefully for the better!] Her and my boyfriend Dave get along really well and we all spend time together often.  I know that we need to make the most of this time and spend as much of it together as possible! ♥

I also can't wait to spend time with my big sis Alex!  [It's very weird for me to call her by her first name!!]  Even though she is my "big" sis, I am older than her.  But I'm a year behind in college, so we're both graduating in Spring of 2014.  We've had almost a year together now as Big and Little.  I always have so much fun with her.  We're very different but we also have a ton in common.  She is so accepting and never holds anything against me. We can talk about anything and know that it won't be shared with anyone it shouldn't be.  

My Big is going to be less involved in campus life this semester and I'm super excited about it.  Senior year is stressful enough as it is without having positions in sorority and the campus activities board [aka she ran the school lol], which is what her Junior year was like.  With all of her newly opened time we're going to spend loads of time together! :] She also has a Disneyland pass! So we'll be going there a lot this semester.  ♥

Aaaand finally my Little.  Last semester I got a little sister in sorority and I'm too excited about it still.  I semi-stalk her.  But in a loving way I promise!  I won't get to see her this semester at all, at least not in person.  She's studying abroad in England.  I'm extremely excited for her!! But I'm sad to see her leave so early into our relationship.  The bright side: It's only for one semester! I'll get to spend a bunch of time with her in January term and Spring term next year!

Just thought I'd update you guys a little into what is going on in my life right now!
♥ Riley



P.S. Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my blog posts!

Charmander Plushies! <$5 gift!

Hi Everyone! 

Long time no see! Do not worry, I have another tutorial for you all :] 

Charmander Plushie!!

I recently got a suggestion to do a Charmander plushie. How could I say no? Charmander's are adorable! I love all starters though.

This is a really cheap craft that would make a great present for all Pokémon lovers alike! Assuming you already have paint, needles, and thread it'll run you about $2, if you're rounding up how much stuffing you will use!

Here's what you'll need!:

• One piece of orange felt, 33¢ at Michael's, 27¢ at Hobby Lobby
• One piece of yellow felt [a scrap would do fine] also 33¢/27¢
• Tiny amount of red felt, 33¢/27¢
• Embroidery floss or thread in any color [I used white]
• Sewing needle
• Stuffing [$5 for a HUGE bag]
• Paint for the face and details

From those supplies, the pieces you need to cut are:

1. Two body pieces of equal size, orange felt
2. One tummy piece, yellow felt
3. Two arm pieces of equal size, orange felt
4. Two feet pieces, orange felt
5. Two little circles for the "pads" of the feet, yellow
6. One tail piece, orange felt
7. One flame piece for the tail, red
8. One smaller flame piece for the tail, yellow

Make a stencil! You can feel free to follow my example or create your own! & cut them all out :]

 Once I had everything cut out I tried a couple things before I started sewing.

 Arms up.

 Arms down.

Having sewed the tummy piece on.

 Sewing the tail on.

 Tail, then red flame, then yellow flame.

 Sewing pads onto the feet.

 Sewed the arms and feet on.

 Blanket stitch the two pieces together.

 Leave enough unsewed to stuff the plush.

Stuff the plush! Make him as fat or as small as you'd like :]

Here's the back after stuffing!

 Then I started practicing the face. Some silly drawings here!

 Mixed an eye color using sea breeze, silver, and metallic ice blue.

All three from different brands.  I wanted them to shine!

 Started with an outline of black using a very small paint brush.

 A little more, pleased with the eye color!

Here's the face before adding the rest of the mouth.  Was tempted to leave him like this! What do you think?

He looks a bit evil! But maybe he's more mischievous.

 Here's Charmander trying to take over the world.

 Another back view.

 His left side.

And right side.

So this plushie actually took me longer than others I have done.  I kind of struggled conceptually. I really like the result though.  

He doesn't stand up on his own, but I didn't want him to.  If you make a Charmander and do want him to stand up, refer to how I made my hijabi dolls stand up here: http://milkpolka.blogspot.com/2013/07/hayah-hijabi-dolls.html

If you make this craft please send me a picture! I'd love to see your take on it. :]

If you have comments, questions, or suggestions, please email me at milkpolka@yahoo.com 

Hope you're having a great day!
♥ Riley  


P.S. Charmander is now available in my Etsy store! I'd love it if you took a look! 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/160573333/cute-hand-sewn-charmander-plush

P.P.S. Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my blog posts!

Hoppip Plushie! MilkPolkaMon!

Hoppip Plushie!♥

Continuing with my Pokémon Plushie theme: Hoppip!

[Also, I'm considering calling them MilkPolkaMon?]

Completed Hoppip Plushie :]

Make a stencil! :]

 Here are all my pieces, two for the body, two for arms, four for legs, one for a tail, and two leaves.

 Laying out everything.

 Sewing on the arms to the front, only sewed the top so that they can move up and down but they won't come off.

 Sewing the legs together and stuffing them.

Sewing the tail onto the back side [will sew it all together later].

 Detail in the leaves!

 Sewing the leaves, tail, and legs on to the back.

 Back of the back.

 Placing the front on, ready for sewing! :]

Sewed around 75% of it, now stuffing!

 Back side.

 Painted on eyes using a yellow paint. 

 Painted on a mouth!

 Painted on ears!

 Finished back of the Hoppip!

Finished front of the Hoppip!


Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my post!
♥Riley


P.S. Update! Hoppip is now available at my Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/listing/160941179/hand-sewn-felt-hoppip-plush?ref=shop_home_active



P.P.S. Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my blog posts!