On-The-Go Car Activity Mat @ Fiskarscraft

Designer:  Lisa Storms

I created this on-the-go activity mat for my 3 year old, who always wants to haul his car and tracks around with him when we leave the house.  Not only is it a confined (and super cute) play area, it also comes with pockets for his matchbox cars.  The whole thing rolls up into a neat, small bundle that is tied together for extra security.  I don't know if my son will have more fun playing with it or if I had more fun making it!  I am glad I had my versatile and high quality Fiskars sewing tools to make this project go together easily.

Difficulty rating

Advanced

Instructions (Print version)

Roads

1.  To keep the road structure very simple, cut out four 5" x 7" pieces of scrap paper and place them in a grid on a half yard of gray felt on a cutting mat two inches from the edges and from each other.  (You can alternately draw out any road system you can imagine free-handed to cut out.) 
2.  Draw around each with disappearing ink fabric marker and remove.  Draw in any driveways needs (I added one for the car wash). 
3.  Cut out all marked areas out with ruler and rotary cutter.
4.  Trace roadway onto iron-on adhesive paper and trim. 
5.  Follow packaging instructions to iron onto roadway and iron roadway onto green base fabric.
6.  Once cooled and secure, sew around all road edges with gray thread.
7.  Add a running stitch of yellow embroidery floss through all roads.  Note: I didn't worry about where dotted lines would be on a real road since kids this young aren't usually aware of what the lines mean and crashing is the most fun part of playing cars anyway, right?
8.  Trim green base fabric 1 ¼" around top, right, and left side of roadway.  Trim fabric 4 ¾" from left side of roadway.

Gas Station

1.  Cut out felt gas pump and canopy using a rotary cutter and ruler. 
2.  Cut off 5" from end of black shoe string and securely (several times) sew trimmed end onto green base.
3.  Sew all felt pieces onto base with gas pump covering sewn-on shoe string.

 

Car Wash

1.  Cut out felt pieces for stop sign, building, roof, and washing flaps.
2.  Sew on all pieces as shown being sure to add flaps first so tops are covered by building.
3.  Sew on four clear button bubbles.

Pond

1.  Cut out pond, lily pad, grass, and cattail.
2.  Sew all pieces onto green base adding stems on cattails with thread.
2.  Sew silk flowers onto lily pad with button center.

Construction Site

1.  Cut out felt dirt mound and safety cone.
2.  Sew all pieces onto green base.  Sew only one line through safety cone as shown so it can be pushed up during play.
3.  Add "under construction" ribbon or twill around dirt mound by sewing down with embroidery floss every couple inches.

Pockets

1.  Fold blue fabric in half (iron crease) and trim to 3 ¾" wide and the length of your green fabric.
2.  Sew ribbon trim along folded side of fabric.
3.  Lay onto left margin of green base and pin evenly approximately every 3 inches.
4.  Sew line at each pin to form six compartments.

Final Assembly

1.  Fold wide checkered ribbons in half and sew down each edge to form thinner ties.
2.  Lay green base over striped exterior fabric and trim to size using ruler and rotary trimmer.
3.  Place fabrics right sides together and pin, adding two long ribbons folded in half pinned into the inside of the fabrics.
4.  Sew around perimeter leaving 5" gap to pull mat right side out.
5.  Use stuffing tool to create neat edges and corners and iron perimeter.
6.  Hem and pin 5" opening and sew final stitch around entire mat.

Tip:  Be sure to customize your car mat for the age of the child.  For example, for a young toddler you should consider forgoing any buttons or small pieces and replacing the ribbons with a velcro closure.

Supply List:
Fiskars Brands: 45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_45-mm-comfort-grip-rotary-cutter.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 24 Inch x 36 Inch Mat
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_24x36mat.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 3.5 x 18.5 Acrylic Ruler
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_35-x-185-acrylic-ruler.aspx
Fiskars Brands: 12-in-1 Sewing Multi-Tool
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_12-in-1-multi-tool.aspx
Fiskars Brands: No. 8 Razor-Edged Scissors
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/s_razor-edged.aspx
Fiskars Brands: Pinking Shears
http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_pinking-shears.aspx
Other:  Assorted felt, fabric, and ribbon, sewing machine and thread, embroidery floss, sewable iron-on fabric adhesive, disappearing ink marking pen, buttons, silk flower, shoe string

Comments

[sharla]

This is killing me because I came up with a thing very similiar to this that I called a Car Cozie ;) and I just now came across this and yours is so similiar to mine but I think yours is so much cuter :) So I just love it...:)

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It's so lucky for me to find your blog! I am very glad, and welcome you visit mine.

[Jacqui]

i can't get the instructions, help please! LOVE the idea!

[Whitnee]

What a fun idea! I'd like to share a link to this tutorial on sewwhattoday.blogspot.com on April 29!

[Adin]

That is such a cute car mat! I bet your little guy is loving it. :) I am planning on making on for my little guy since he loves his car so much. He likes to group them according to sizes. :) That is so cute! Thanks for sharing! My first visit here and found your blog on Homemade by Jill's blog.

[amy]

I loved your car mat so much I made one for my son. I posted about it on my blog and linked back here to your site. Thanks for the tutorial.

amy
craftedbymama.blogspot.com

[jennifer dedonato]

This is just the best...the buttons for bubbles and shoe lace for gas pump. Such a great idea.

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[Cathy Hutton]

Thank you so much for a wonderful idea for boys! I thought you might like to know that I have linked to it from my blog along with a picture of my finished product. I also made a couple of template sheets to help with cutting out the shapes for the four play areas (I hope that this is okay). My blog is: http://createdbycathy.blogspot.com

[Amanda]

Hi i am just looking at this wonderful tute and the pictures wont load up. I just want to see how it all rolls up!! Fantastic idea!

[Mariane]

Thank you so much for this tute. My son loves his activity mat. I blogged about it here: http://cookyousomenoodles.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/car-caddy-activity-mat/

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Good article, I will mention it on my weblog.. Cheers

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