Lovely handmade crafts

Fun for kids and adults alike! A collection of DIY beanbag (otedama) ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.

Beanbag play is suitable for infants and toddlers once they can sit up.

Even if they can’t throw yet, simply repeating the motion of letting the beanbag drop is fun.

This time, we’ll share ideas for handmade beanbags that adults can craft to enjoy playing with children, as well as simple handmade beanbags kids can make themselves using origami or balls.

It’s a wonderfully engaging toy—sing while tossing, or balance it on different parts of the body.

By all means, try playing together with handmade beanbags tailored to your child’s age.

Fun for kids and adults! A collection of handmade beanbag ideas (1–10)

Beanbags made from plastic bottle caps

[No needles or thread needed] Easy! Let’s make beanbags with plastic bottle caps! [How to make beanbags #2]

Beanbags made from plastic bottle caps

No needle or thread needed! Here’s how to make beanbags using plastic bottle caps.

What you’ll need: two plastic bottle caps, rice, and vinyl (electrical) tape.

First, fill one of the caps with rice.

Place the other cap on top to close it, then secure the caps together with vinyl tape—that’s it! Make a second one so you can have more fun.

It’s also recommended to decorate the caps with drawings using permanent markers, or with washi tape and stickers.

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Tadpole beanbags you can make and play with

[Handmade Accessories] Let's Make It! Tadpole Beanbags

Tadpole beanbags you can make and play with

I’ll show you how to make a very cute tadpole beanbag! You will need: a 12 cm × 22 cm piece of black fabric, a 5 cm × 16 cm piece of fabric for the tail, pellets, a needle and thread, and felt eyes.

First, place the tail fabric right sides together, align the edges, and sew.

Turn it right side out to finish the tail.

Next, make the body.

With right sides together, fold the short edges to meet; starting 1 cm in from the left side, insert the tail and sew it in together.

On one end of the tube, do a running stitch.

Add the pellets, then close the opening securely and stitch it on the inside.

Finally, sew on the eyes, and you’re done!

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Beanbags you can make with kids

How to Make Beanbags: It’s so easy that even a child can make one alone 🙌 Clear, step-by-step instructions / With hiragana subtitles / Let’s make and play with a traditional Japanese toy♪

Beanbags you can make with kids

Great for practicing needlework! Here’s how to make a beanbag that even kids can sew.

You’ll need a piece of fabric you like, 10 cm by 16 cm, 45 grams of dried azuki beans, and a needle and thread.

First, place the fabric horizontally and fold it in half.

Sew along the open edge.

Start with a backstitch: insert the needle again at the starting point and stitch the same spot twice.

Next, do a running stitch, alternating from front to back in order.

Once it forms a tube, sew one end closed and turn it right side out.

Fill it with the beans, then sew the other end closed while tucking the fabric edge inward—and you’re done!

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Sing and play! Frog beanbags

[Handmade Accessories] Let's Make It! Frog Beanbags

Sing and play! Frog beanbags

Beanbags are a great item for keeping time with children’s songs! How about making a frog-shaped beanbag and enjoying some nursery rhymes? You’ll need a rectangular frog-pattern fabric, pellets (filling), beads for the eyes, and a needle and thread.

First, place the fabric right sides together, align the short edges so the pellets won’t spill out, and sew a running stitch.

After sewing and tying off one end of the tube, turn it right side out, sew along the edge on the opposite side, and add the pellets.

Fold the fabric inward and stitch so the pellets won’t come out.

Next, sew on the eyes.

Once both are attached, it’s complete! Try playing along with nursery rhymes.

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A beanbag rabbit you can play with

How to Make Beanbags [Rabbit Beanbags]: Machine-Sewn Beanbags

A beanbag rabbit you can play with

Here’s how to make a rabbit beanbag using a sewing machine! You’ll need: a beanbag pattern measuring 4.5 cm × 9 cm, an 11 cm collar for the rabbit, ears measuring 2 cm × 4.5 cm, a rabbit face made from 5.5 cm fabric, and pellets.

First, cut two identical sets according to the beanbag pattern.

Use a 5 mm seam allowance.

Sew the two sets together into a pouch, arranging the patterns so they cross.

Turn it right side out and fill the pouch with pellets through the opening.

Finally, hand-sew the rabbit’s face onto the beanbag, and you’re done.

It’s cute as a decoration too, so be sure to try making it with your kids!

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