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August 17, 2020 By Brandy 29 Comments

Home » Sewing

Elephant Dry Erase I-Spy Bag Tutorial (Video)

Filed Under: Kids Crafts, Sewing

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This elephant dry erase I-spy bag is so easy to make and keeps kids busy! A simple sewing project that includes a free cutting template!  
Our I-spy sensory box is another fun activity for kids!

Watch our step by step video!

In 2011 I shared a simple tutorial for making a dry-erase I-spy bag. I made two for my boys (who are now 16 and 14 years old1!) and we used them for years and years! It was time to make a new one for Mac, so I updated this post with new photos and a new style.

elephany i-spy bag next to laminated dry erase key card
What made our tutorial unique was that it came with a laminated card for kids to mark off the items as they found them. At the time, every homemade I-spy bag came with a list to check off. My boys couldn’t read, so a laminated card worked out so much better!
elephant i-spy bag ont able
And that little elephant shape? That’s new. Just because. You can make this dry erase i-spy bag set in just about any shape you’d like! I created a free pdf template that you can use to make our little elephant. Wouldn’t a hippo or pig I-spy bag be cute?
two felt elephant cut outs with pins, rice, small trinkets and fabric paint
This is a great scrap felt project. You’ll need a bit of felt and clear vinyl. I buy clear vinyl by the yard on Amazon, but you can also use the packaging from a shower curtain.
You’ll also need fillers for your I-spy bag. I found buttons, beads, legos, and other odds and ends. I always use rice for my I-spy bags because it’s cheap and I always have it on hand, but it will eventually create a small amount of dust inside the bag. A popular filler nowadays are these clear bean bag filler beads. You can get a bag for about $5.

How To Add a Pocket To Your I-Spy Bag

Our old version included a pocket in the back to hold the card and a marker. I skipped that step this time, but you can totally add one if you’e like. Just cut out a 3rd elephant shape, cut it in half (width-wise), and stitch it to the back when you sew the other elephant shapes together.. Print the card to fit the pocket, and slide it inside for storage.

More Creative Activities For Kids

Indoor Kinetic Sandbox
Backyard Bingo
Dry Erase Daily Bingo Cards for Kids
Preschool Puzzle Sticks

Elephant Dry Erase I-Spy Bag Sewing Tutorial

elephany i-spy bag next to laminated dry erase key card
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5 from 1 vote

Elephant I-Spy Bag Tutorial

This elephant dry erase I-spy bag is so easy to make and keeps kids busy! A simple sewing project that includes a free cutting template! 
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Active Time20 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Yield: 1 bag
Cost: under $5

Equipment

  • sewing machine
  • pins
  • scissors
  • laminator

Materials

  • elephant cutting template
  • felt
  • clear vinyl
  • small toys and trinkets
  • rice or clear plastic beads
  • fabric paint
  • laminating sheet or contact paper

Instructions

  • Cut out 2 elephants from the printable template. Cut a hole in the center of one elephant (using the printable template).
    two felt elephant cut outs with pins, rice, small trinkets and fabric paint
  • Cut a square of clear vinyl to cover the hole on the elephant.
    hand holding piece of clear vinyl
  • Sew the vinyl over the window on the back of the elephant. Stitch close to the edge of the circle.
    Tip: Dip your finger in water and run it over the top of the clear vinyl. Vinyl can stick to the pressure foot on the sewing machineand be tricky to work with, but when it is slightly wet it glides much easier.
    clear vinyl sewn over window opening on i-spy bag
  • Trim off excess vinyl.
    Place the back elephant piece behind the front one and pin into place. Stitch around the outer edge, leaving an opening for adding rice and toys.
    scissors trimming vinyl
  • Stich from the top of the trunk base to the bottom. This will prevent toys and rice from getting stuck in the trunk.
    elephant i-spy bag with stitching across trunk
  • Lay out the toys and trinkets on your work surface. Snap a photo. Print out the photo and laminate it.
    phone taking picture of i-spy toys and trinkets
  • Fill the elephant with a couple spoonfulls of rice and a handful of small toys and trinkets. Pin the opening closed.
    Stitch opening closed.
    i-spy bag filled with rice and toys and pinned closed
  • Add details with fabric paint. Let paint dry.
    hand adding eye details to elephant in fabric paint
  • Tuck dry erase I-spy bag in your purse or in the car to keep little ones busy!
    elephany i-spy bag next to laminated dry erase key card

Video

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About Brandy

Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com without any additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Faith Pray says

    March 27, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    This is brilliant! The dry erasers are a great solution!

    Reply
  2. Firehousecrafts says

    February 11, 2012 at 4:08 am

    Great tutorial! I think I’m going to make up two of these tomorrow for my boys.

    Reply
  3. Averyl Minori says

    January 29, 2012 at 5:43 am

    Found you on pintrest. Made your dry erase I-Spy Bag this evening. Your directions were amazingly easy! Thanks so much! I plan to make a few more over the next week to take for my son on our trip across country next month! Thank you!!

    Reply
  4. pvcmachine says

    October 10, 2011 at 2:26 am

    Great collection of tutorials. Keep it up…

    PVC Windows

    Reply
  5. Joan J says

    July 12, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    Just wanted you to know I made one of these yesterday. Your tutorial is excellent and the entire project (minus the time it took me to hunt down the paper for my laminator.. argh!) took about 30 minutes. My husband said my 5 yr old grandson would never play with it because it couldn’t compare to a Nintendo DS. He was wrong. My grandson thoroughly enjoyed it. Photos on my blog. Thanks so much!

    http://joanoh2.blogspot.com
    How to be a Housewife

    Reply
  6. Ani says

    July 4, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    That’s an awesome idea. I’m looking for great busy activities for a friend who just had her fourth child. I figure a little occupation for her other little ones will be quite helpful. Thanks so much for such a great idea!

    Reply
  7. Joan J says

    July 2, 2011 at 1:44 am

    What a great idea (and tutorial)! Thanks so much for this. My 5 yr old grandson is about to take his first airplane trip, and this is going to be a great present for him to take along. I’ve been wanting to do an I Spy bag, but thought I needed little white plastic beads. But rice! Who knew?! I’ll be making one of these (or two or three) tomorrow.

    Reply
  8. Tanoi says

    June 23, 2011 at 3:14 am

    I just made this and it was so quick and easy! I used regular fabric since the fleece options are limited and only available in solid colors here. It still worked great. I’m going to make these for all of the toddlers for Christmas this year. (Brandy, I’ll post a pic on CC for you to look at. *smile*)

    Reply
  9. Marianne says

    May 26, 2011 at 4:28 am

    What a great idea for our trip to Norway this summer. My 2 year old will love this.

    Reply
  10. Emily says

    May 25, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    I’ve seen these around but love your version with the pockets and laminating the picture! My 3-year-old will love this for our long car rides this summer!
    [email protected]

    Reply
  11. Rachel Harwood says

    March 4, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    I just LOVE these! Thanks for sharing your tutorial! These are going on the to-do list 🙂

    Love to have you link up to my new link party, For the Kids Fridays!
    http://sunscholars.blogspot.com
    :)rachel

    Reply
  12. Laura Emmons says

    March 2, 2011 at 5:01 am

    Can’t wait to make this for my Grandson. Thanks
    Laura
    http://lauraemmons.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  13. Jan says

    February 28, 2011 at 6:04 am

    Hi! I found you on Craft-o-Maniac’s blog hop and am now following. You have soooo many projects I’m interested in. The wooden peg matching dolls and the blue iced shower cupcakes immediately caught my eye. I’m looking forward to reading more.
    :)Jan at Jewelry4Change
    http://www.jewelry4change.blogspot.com

    Reply
  14. Jenn says

    February 28, 2011 at 4:51 am

    This is going on my to-do list for sure! Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Reply
  15. Wendi says

    February 26, 2011 at 4:41 am

    My school has purchased these for $$$$. I never thought about making them. Thanks for posting on TTJ!
    http://www.project-purple.blogspot.com

    Reply
  16. Jamie says

    February 24, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    What a cute idea. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m your newest follower. It would be great if you could stop by my blog Monday and add your project to The More The Merrier Link Party.

    http://diyhshp.blogspot.com

    Reply
  17. Foundinthe-ALI says

    February 24, 2011 at 2:00 am

    This is a fantastic idea! Probably great for car rides 🙂

    Reply
  18. Me says

    February 23, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Found you through, Whatever Goes Wednesday.
    I love this! I made some ispy bags after Christmas and used poly fill beads and they are NOT working for us, using rice as the filler is genius!

    Reply
  19. DANA says

    February 23, 2011 at 6:15 pm

    I found you through Someday Crafts and would love for you to come link up at my link party! Every month the featured links have a chance to win tons of prizes, just for linking!

    http://www.thesaturdaymorningsblog.com/2011/02/strut-your-stuff-for-february-link-up.html

    Reply
  20. Katie@a mom, a wife, and a me says

    February 23, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    Great idea! We have always just used pictures with out little guys but the dry erase is AMAZINGLY BRILLENT! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  21. Hilro says

    February 23, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    Super idea. I’ve seen these in stores but never thought about making one. You are so clever!

    Reply
  22. Robin says

    February 23, 2011 at 11:42 am

    I LOVE this idea! love it
    xo
    Robin

    Reply
  23. ACE says

    February 23, 2011 at 4:44 am

    I agree with everyone – great idea. I know what my neice and nephew’s are getting for their birthdays!!

    Reply
  24. Erica @ http://bisforboycreations.blogspot.com/ says

    February 22, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Great idea! That is exactly why I haven’t made these yet but now I will have to give them a try! PS I LOVE the tractor fabric- where did you get it?

    Reply
  25. Natalie says

    February 22, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    That’s a great idea! I made these for my kids preschool classes out of empty water bottles, but I like this a lot more!

    Reply
  26. Sippy Cup Central Mom says

    February 22, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Love this idea. Karen

    Reply
  27. Mama Thompson says

    February 22, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    That is such a great idea!

    Reply
  28. Connie Wallace says

    February 22, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    What a clever idea. My kids would love to have some of these for church. Thanks for sharing.
    Connie from the crafterbug

    Reply
  29. Greg and Stef Brown says

    February 22, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    That is a great tutorial..wish I still had young ones to make this for them 🙁
    Great blog!

    Reply
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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