Here’s the first in the series of tutorials on creating your own story pieces for flannel or magnet boards. Besides being super fun for your kids, I think these custom flannel board pieces would make an adorable gift for a favorite school or church teacher, children’s librarian, babysitter, etc. Maybe wrapped up with a coordinating book?
To make felt story pieces, you’ll need:
- Image(s) you love!!
- Color printer
- T-shirt transfer paper
- Iron
- Felt sheet(s)
- Scissors
1. Print your image(s) on t-shirt transfer paper. There are a couple of different kinds–I used the one that’s recommended for white or light fabric.
The transfer paper package will give some tips on printer settings, but one tip that’s really important: if your image has numbers or letters you’ll need to flip (or mirror image) your picture BEFORE you print because when you iron your image onto the felt, it will be opposite of what it looks like on the printed paper.
Check your printer properties–often you can check a box that allows you to print “mirror image.”
2. Iron your fabric or felt to release wrinkles or moisture.
Fun Fact: Our iron gets used more often for craft projects than actually ironing clothes! Am I alone here?!
3. Place the printed iron-on transfer face down on your felt.
Press with a hot iron for about 20 seconds, moving around. (Check the transfer paper’s package for exact temperature settings, as it may depend on the kind you buy and the fabric you use.)
4. Allow to cool completely, then peel off the transfer paper backing in a swift, smooth motion.
Look at the copyright and you can see what I mean about the mirror image . . .
5. Cut around the images.
6. Stick to a flannel or felt board, and play!
If you try this tutorial, I’d LOVE for you to e-mail or post pictures on Facebook!! Let’s inspire each other!
Linked to: I Can Teach My Child, No Time For Flashcards, Kids Co-op,
We love Mister Seahorse at our horse too, its a current favourite of our four year olds.
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I love your digital felt! Is this how you make it and then scan it back onto your computer? I’ve been reading a few tutorials and it looks like you can create objects to look like felt in Photoshop but your stuff just looks so realistic! You are very talented!
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pameladonnis Reply:
December 17th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Thank you!
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A magician never shares her tricks, but I will say that I do a combination of real and digital
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Wow! I found this through SugarDoodle. I didn’t know felt could be so easy to use. I know it is probably against copyright law, but I wonder if I could scan images from a book. I do know you can use so much of a percentage of the book as long as it is for personal use. Just wondering. Thanks for the tutorial. This looks super easy!
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I will be using this book in my class in May. Can I please ask where you got the Seahorse patterns from. I just bought the book and waitung for it to be delivered. Thank you for the tutorial. I’m always looking for easy ways to make flannel board stories. God Bless. Mrs. Valerie
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pameladonnis Reply:
April 17th, 2013 at 9:52 pm
The seahorse patterns are some I made. I didn’t make the whole story, just these seahorses. But I’d be happy to send them to you, if you’re interested.
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I have been trying to think of a way to make my own flannel board stories so this is very exciting to me. I home school and love the bible felt stories on line but just can’t afford them so this is a great help and these little figures are SOOO adorable. Thank you for the time you put in and I would absolutely love more Bible stories/ characters available.
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Your felt characters are FABULOUS and your tutorial on how to make them is soooo easy. I can’t wait to try it and use these in my classroom. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with everyone!!!!
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