When I transitioned my girls to homeschooling, I looked into buying them the same moveable alphabet set that they had both loved so much in their Montessori classroom. I found a set online, made in China out of plastic, quite expensive, and ready to ship to me across the country. Yeah…no. If you’re not crafty you still have choices, of course you could price an even more expensive wooden alphabet and ask your local toy store to special-order it for you, or shop on etsy for a handmade version, still shipped cross-country but made in the U.S., but if you’re crafty, then why not simply make your own alphabet? Whether you have a child who’s learning her letters, or you simply recognize the decorative potential of a lovely font, a handmade alphabet can be simple to make out of a wide variety of eco-friendly materials. If your green crafting ethic prefers upcycling, or if you choose to use only natural materials, read on for a variety of ways to craft your own handmade letters. Wondering what to do with that extensive collection of smooth rocks that you’ve collected on your daily hikes, or that bucket full of big clamshells that you gathered on your last beachside vacation? If so, check out this hand-painted rock alphabet and tutorial from Susan Phillips of Momtastic, created freehand with acrylic paints and black Sharpie and then glazed. Make the full set, or just spell out your name and leave it on the coffee table for guests to unscramble. [Image from Momtastic, used with permission] Next » If you’d like a stuffed alphabet that’s less fiddly to make than my turned and sewn and neatly hemmed stuffed alphabet, check out this plush alphabet tutorial from Chez Beeper Bebe. This alphabet uses up any fabric of your choice and stash quilt batting, and uses a clever construction technique that makes each letter quick and simple to sew. If you think this alphabet is sweet and smart by itself, you’ve got to see the ingenious way that Chez Beeper Bebe turned each letter into a magnet! [Image by Chez Beeper Bebe, used with permission] Next » As an understated holiday garland or a matching game for a child, cardboard, a black pen, and a good pair of scissors are all you need to make an entire alphabet such as this festive alphabet garland from Flights of Fancy. Choose your own font to mimic or use the download at Flights of Fancy’s alphabet garland tutorial, and you’ll have a complete alphabet in no time. For the cardstock required for the project, consider repurposing any thin cardboard food packaging, or use thicker cardboard boxes or stash mat board for a more durable alphabet. [Image by Flights of Fancy, used with permission] Next » With broken crayons and food crafting molds, you can make a colorful alphabet that’s also an art supply, such as these recycled crayon letters from One Charming Party. While a silicon mold such as this one does work, getting the finished crayons, especially the curvy ones with fiddly bits, out of the mold can be tricky–if you’ve got a larger vintage mold, even if it wasn’t originally intended for food crafting (as long as it’s heat-safe!), then you’re really in luck. To make layered recycled crayons that don’t have that groove from settling wax at the top, check out my layered recycled crayons tutorial. [Image by One Charming Party, used with attribution] Next » Bean bags can serve any purpose from children’s toy to high decor, depending on how you stencil them. Alphabet bean bags, such as these in the alphabet bean bags tutorial from Mama Michie’s Musings, can feature even the most elaborate font, because freezer paper stenciling is one of the simplest and most effective embellishment techniques that you can learn. For a top-stitched hem on all sides, apply the techniques from my stenciled bean bags tutorial. To make this project, consider using organic cotton and organic dried beans or rice, or make an upcycled set using any type of repurposed fabric and any repurposed filler, such as beads or ball bearings. [Image by Mama Michie’s Musings, used with attribution]
