How to Make Flannel Board Characters

Think of the money you can save when you make your own flannel board characters! Plus you can come up with virtually endless possibilities for what characters and props or accessories you can use when using a flannel board as a teaching tool. Making your own flannel board characters is so easy. It does help to be able to draw outlines very well, or know someone who can do them for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Flannel sheets
• Tracing paper
• Quality scissors
• Pencil
• Permanent marker

1. Pick illustrations, such as children's books, coloring pages, or other sources, as models. Draw or trace an outline of a character that you want to turn into a flannel character onto tracing paper with a pencil.
2. Place the tracing paper over a piece of felt. Trace the outline of your character again, using a permanent marker. The marker will bleed through the tracing paper and on to the felt. If you are good at drawing freestyle, then you can skip Steps 2 and 3 and draw directly on the felt.
3. Cut out your felt character. Now you can use other illustrations to cut out accessories for your character, such as clothes, tools and equipment. You can also make props like trees, houses or the sun.
4. Store your felt characters into a zip-lock baggie for protection when not in use.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful that permanent marker does not get on any furniture.
• Don't let young children near sharp scissors.