Mermaid

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Total Time Needed:: Afternoon Or Evening

Fish-scale-print fabric sewn into a "tail" turns stroller-bound tadpoles into glamorous mermaids.

Materials

White infant tee or onesie
Tea bags
Scissors
Peach-colored felt
Fabric paint
Paintbrushes
Glue gun
Double-sided tape
"Fish-scale" fabric
(1 yard)

Pencil
Thread
Ribbon
Velcro closures
Nylon stuffing (one bag)
Length of blue microfleece fabric (48x48 inches)
Safety pins
Fiberfil, sponges
Bubble wrap
Wavy chenille pipe cleaners

Instructions

Cut two shells from the peach felt. Draw lines on the shells with fabric paint. When dry, use glue or double-sided tape to affix shells to the shirt.
To make the tail: If you have fish-scale fabric, skip to the next step. If not, lay your teal fabric on a flat surface. Cut the foam tube in half, dip the semicircular end of the tube into black paint, press "scales" onto fabric, and let dry.
Create a template by drawing a fish-tail pattern on a piece of paper (make it extra long; your child's feet should just reach to the narrowest part of the tail). Use template to trace and cut two matching tail shapes (front and back piece) out of your fabric. Sew the front and back pieces together inside out (scale-side in), then sew a hem at the top of the tail and turn it right side out. Thread a piece of ribbon through the hem to create a drawstring. Fill the bottom of the tail with nylon stuffing.
Dress your child in the top and place her legs halfway into the fish tail; tie the drawstring.
To make the stroller cover: Drape microfleece over the stroller and safety-pin the fabric in place. Cut holes to accommodate the stroller straps (you'll need to cut matching slits in the back of the fish tail). To make a wave top for the stroller, sew a blue satin hood with a wavy bottom edge. Stuff with a layer of Fiberfil, then slip over the stroller top.
If desired, decorate stroller cover with a sea creatures, such as starfish, fish, and coral made from sponges, jellyfish made of bubble wrap, and sea horses made using chenille pipe cleaners. Attach your sea creatures to the fleece using glue or double-sided tape.

Variations:: If you can't find a fish-scale print, plain teal fabric will work. You can paint the scales on with fabric paint. Lay your teal fabric on a flat surface. Cut the foam tube in half, dip its semicircular end into black fabric paint, and press "scales" onto the fabric. Let dry, then proceed with Step 3.

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