This year all Kamille wanted for Christmas were 2 teacup pigs, which she was calling purse pigs. So, I tracked them down and they were actually pretty affordable - $12.99 for the pig and it's plastic teacup. I wanted them to be a gift from the man in red, so I needed them to have a bit more pop than just presenting naked pigs under the tree.
Last year we did a post on upcycled dog toys. One of the items was from a blogger who took an old suitcase and turned it into a small dog bed. I don't have a small dog, but I still had that project in my mind because it was so cute. So, I decided to take this old rummage sale find - a hairdryer case - $2.00 and turn it into a little bed for the piggies.
This project wasn't hard and had a lot of give because all of the trim covers up an little mistakes you may make. However, it took several hours. First, I used hot glue to put a layer of fleece on the outside of the case, top and bottom. I wanted it to look upholstered. Once I had the fleece on there, I trimmed away the excess. Next, I added the fabric with more hot glue. It is a slow process to smooth out the fabric and get it looking just right. Use HIGH temp glue for the best results. I then trimmed away the extra fabric. Then I used ribbons to form a decorative band around the edges and to cover the fabric. I also glued some trim onto the handle strap to jazz it up.
After that, I used the same ribbon trim to make some "hinges" that would hold the case open. I added the self-sticking hooks to hold extra clothes (which are mia somewhere in Kamille's room right now) and accessories. Finally, I filled the bottom with stuffing and then glued in the leopard fabric to make the bed. I left enough room that she can close the case with both pigs inside and carry it around or store it.
I also made some outfits for the pigs. They sell outfits that retail for about $10.00 - which is crazy. Plus, the outfits have arms and legs. No 3-year-old is getting the arms and legs of one of these little pigs through the sleeves of some tiny outfit. I based my pattern on a dog coat. It velcros under the neck and tummy.
The final item I made was this little purse that holds both of the pigs.
