How to Make a Penguin on a Bed Spring

Recycling at it's best--just imagine how much room you will be saving in a landfill when you craft several of these bed spring penguins.They are wonderful for craft shows, and because they are so inexpensive and quick to make, you can pass a great price along to your customers. Create this cute penguin on a bed spring as a fun winter bobble head to decorate your home. Make a whole flock as a gift for a teacher or a neighbor.

Things You'll Need

• Black felt
• Off-white felt
• Orange felt
• White pipe cleaner
• Red pipe cleaner
• Two green 1-½-inch pom poms
• Small amount of Christmas fabric
• Stuffing
• Blush
• Cotton swab
• Two black seed beads
• Bed spring
• Hot glue gun
• Sewing machine
• Black crochet thread
• Off-white embroidery floss
• Orange embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Four inch heart pattern
• One inch heart pattern
• Long doll needle
• Scissors
• Pins
• Pencil
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Cut an 8-inch tall by 14-inch wide piece of black felt. Match the two 8-inch ends and form a tube by sewing together using a ¼-inch seam.

2. Sew a running stitch along one end of the tube using the black crochet thread. Gather the end closed. Tie off and clip the thread.

3. Turn the right side out and stuff firmly.

4. Sew a running stitch along the open edge using the black crochet thread and the long doll needle. Gather the end closed and knot. Clip the thread.

5. Trace the 4-inch heart pattern onto the off-white felt and cut out. Cutting straight across, cut 1 inch off the point. Pin the heart to the front of the penguin head. Blanket stitch around the heart using the off-white embroidery floss.

6. Trace the 1-inch heart pattern onto the orange felt and cut out. Pin the heart to the center of the off-white penguin face. Whip stitch the heart to the penguin face using the orange embroidery floss.

7. Sew the two black seed beads to the penguin face above the orange beak ¼ inch apart. Apply blush to the cheeks using a cotton swab.

8. Wrap the white and red pipe cleaners around a pencil to spiral. Shape the length of spiral into an arch and hot glue to the sides of the head behind the widest part of the off-white face. Hot glue the green pom poms over each end of the spiraled pipe cleaners.

9. Rip a 1-inch wide by 12-inch long piece of Christmas fabric. Tie the fabric into a bow. Glue the bow to the bottom of the penguin's chin.

10. Set the head on top of the bed spring and attach it using the black crochet thread.

Tips & Warnings

• If the bed spring is rusty, you may want to spray it with clear acrylic sealer to keep things touching it from getting dirty.