Summary
We spent an afternoon turning a pile of felt, stuffing, and thread into “Ele” the elephant — with a few detours along the way. Between Rueben’s big enthusiasm, a quick switch from sewing to hot glue, and Jack’s attempt to join in, it was a craft project full of laughs and lessons. Here’s how it went, and some tips if you want to try it with your Scouts.
Intro
Sometimes craft projects pick you. That was the case with this one — our friends over at FabricLA, who sponsor WackyScouter, sent us their DIY Felt Elephant Kit to check out. No strings attached, no “you must say nice things” clause — just a brown cardboard box with a friendly elephant waiting inside.
The Great Unboxing
Opening it was straightforward. Slice the tape, and inside was one neatly packed bag with everything you need:
- Felt sheets (two gray, one purple, and a smaller pink for the hearts)
- Needle, thread, and black beads for eyes (tucked safely into a little plastic tube)
- Stuffing
- Pattern (printed on the back of the box)
- A small pair of scissors
- Step-by-step instructions
Nothing fancy in the presentation, but everything was tidy, well-organized, and ready to go.
Now, I thought this was a “no sew” kit, so seeing thread and a needle made me do a double-take. Turns out, it’s designed for hand stitching...
Sewing vs. Hot Glue (and Why We Switched)
We started off doing it “by the book” — threading the needle and hand-stitching pieces together...
- Adults should handle the glue gun for younger kids
- Tacky glue could work as a safer alternative, though it needs more drying time
- If you do stick with stitching, maybe pre-thread needles to save time (and sanity)
Jack joining in
At one point, our ever-curious Jack decided he needed to supervise...
Pattern, Cutting, and the Color Mix-Up
This is where things got… colorful.
Karen had carefully cut out all the elephant pieces from the gray felt...
- Pre-cut pieces for younger Scouts
- Pin the paper pattern to the felt before cutting to keep it from slipping
- Have multiple pairs of good scissors available...
Finishing Touches & The Final Result
From start to finish — including stopping to take photos, notes, and help Rueben — we clocked in around 1.5 to 2 hours...
Tips for Scout Leaders (If You Want to Try This)
- This is a great small-group project, especially for a rainy-day meeting or badge work...
- Younger Scouts will need a little extra prep and patience breaks...
- The box says 9+, but you can adapt it for younger Scouts with some help...
- One kit can become the “master pattern” for a whole den or troop...
- Hot glue is great for speed, but sewing holds up well...
Share your experiences
Have you tried a kit like this with your Scouts? Share your tips or photos — we’d love to see them in the comments below!
Why We Think It’s Worth Doing
Here’s the thing — our “Ele” isn’t museum-perfect. He’s got a little extra personality...
Whether you follow the instructions to the letter or put your own spin on it, these kits are a fun, low-stress way to spend time making something with your Scouts (or your own kids). And if you decide you want to give it a try, you can pick from an elephant, monkey, or cat — each kit is $15.95.
Here’s the link to grab one: Craft Adventures