Tutorials

How to make Nursery Blocks for your Teddies

I have developed the method below and it works for me.  I am sure that there are lots of other methods that would work as well or better.

Materials

• wooden blocks - mine are 51mm wooden blocks
• PVA glue - I believe some use Mod Podge (which is a lot more expensive)
• Paint Brush 
• Pictures  for covering the blocks
• Scissors or craft knife
• Sandpaper - optional
• Pencil

Method

I bought my 51mm blocks from www.woodcraftshapes.com.  They arrived very quickly and were just what I wanted.

I purchased a collection of images some time ago - I think it was from Etsy.

My images were printed on an inkjet printer, so to seal them, with my paintbrush, I covered each image with a thin coat of PVA glue.

When the glue was dry, I placed a block over the area of the image I want to see on the finished block.  I drew around the block, then cut out the image with scissors.  I didn't need to be too careful, as any overlapping paper can be trimmed later.

I added a generous amount of PVA to a face of the block and stuck down the image.  To begin with, I added all the images, and then trimmed the overlapping paper flush to the edge of the block.  I soon discovered, it was much easier to position each picture, then trim it.

 If a corner tears, it doesn't really matter as it helps to make the block look old and played with.

After trimming, and the PVA had dried, I added a layer of PVA over five faces of the block and allowed it to dry.  Once it was dry, I covered the last face with PVA and let it dry.  Obviously, if you apply PVA to all six faces at once, the block is likely to stick to whatever surface you dry it on. :)

I then carefully sanded all the edges of the block with fine sandpaper.  This helps to create the appearance that the blocks are playworn.

Lastly, I added another layer of PVA to seal the block.

Old family photos

I took some very old pictures of my family (my parents and grandparents) that were in JPEG format, printed, them and made another block from them.

 There is no end to the themed blocks you can create!  Enjoy!