![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.pinkimono.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Personal-Zoo.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe personal zoo is pretty much finger puppets, tissue paper, some cardstock, and a cardboard box. It’s super simple and super cute.<\/p>\n
I really love how this gift turned out. I originally\u00a0made personal zoos as party favors for my son’s first birthday party. (Check out my post on planning a 1st birthday party<\/a> for more details.)<\/p>\n They were a hit. So now I give them as gifts. They’re perfect for 1 years olds because you can:<\/p>\n So whether you need a unique birthday gift, or just want to make something fun for your one year old, give the tutorial below a try! Lets go!<\/p>\n Step 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Unpackage the TJENA Box with Lid. Follow the directions from Ikea to assemble the box.<\/p>\n Photo Credit: Ikea USA<\/p><\/div>\n No need to add the name plate. You’re going to personalize the box with the alphabet stickers. To add extra security, use your hot glue gun to\u00a0secure the bottom closure of the box.<\/p>\n Sept 2:<\/strong> Find the letters needed from your scrapbook alphabet stickers to personalize your personal zoo with the recipient’s name. Place them on one of the long sides of your box.<\/p>\n Step 3:<\/strong> \u00a0Take your chartreuse and moss papers and Paper Trimmer. Cut two 3″ x 11″ pieces of paper from both sheets\u00a0of paper. You should have 4 strips – 2 chartreuse and 2 moss.<\/p>\n Step 4:<\/strong>\u00a0Make a mark\u00a02.5 inches from the top of your strips along the long sides. This is your “stop” marker. Using your fringed scissors, cut your “grass” to the stop marker. You need to leave the bottom\u00a0of the paper\u00a0strips untouched so you can adhere it to the box.<\/p>\n Step 5:<\/strong>\u00a0Cut your strips again – this time in 3.5″ x 2.5″ sections. You should have about 12 sections of grass.<\/p>\n Step 6:<\/strong>\u00a0To add depth to your grass, take some\u00a0green tissue paper and scrunch it up. Begin adding it to your box. You can pack as little or as much as you like.<\/p>\n Step 7:<\/strong> For presentation purposes, add a bit of tissue paper to each of your finger puppets. This will help them stand up on their own.<\/p>\n That’s it. All you have to do now is add a sweet little birthday note, wrap up your box and voila! You can give the gift of safe, wild animal entertainment. Ha!<\/p>\n Is it just me, or does it seem like finding the perfect 1st birthday gift for your little one’s friend is one of the great challenges of being a new mom? Maybe it’s just me. My fear is that I’m going to buy the same gift as someone else. So I try when I can to DIY my gifts for little ones. I’ve done everything<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Supplies for A\u00a0DIY Birthday Gift – A Personal Zoo<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Steps<\/h2>\n
To Create The Box For Your Personal Zoo<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>(Because my present was for a sweet little boy who goes by his initial’s, I chose to spell out “RJ’s Zoo” versus using a full name.)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nTo Create The Grass For Your Personal Zoo<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> Begin to glue your grass sections along the inside of the box on the side where you added the recipient’s name. Layer and stagger your pieces along the inside of the box.<\/p>\n<\/a>Also, alternate your colors as you layer and stagger them. Make sure you don’t place your grass too high because you’ll need to place the lid on the box. (Your grass will bend backward, but that’s okay. It will give your grass a more “authentic” look.)<\/p>\nTo Finish Off Your Personal Zoo – Add Animals<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Once you stuff your puppets, add them to the tissue paper grass. Note:\u00a0Feel free to use all 10 puppets, but some of the animals included in the package don’t REALLY live in the grass in a zoo (i.e. the shark and sea turtles.) Depending on how accurate<\/em> you want to be, feel free to leave some of the non-grass zoo animals out of the box.<\/p>\nEnjoy Your Personal Zoo With A Little One<\/h3>\n
<\/a>So how did your personal zoo turn out? Was it Grrrrreat!? ( =\u00a0Post your pics\u00a0to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #htgawcrafting.\u00a0I can’t wait to see how they turned out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"