(Sometimes called “Stuffed Minis and Plush Emojis” and/or may be combined with other similar programs/themes, such as “Fashion Crafts”)
Unleash your imagination and bring your own creatures to life! In Creature Creators, students blend art, science, and storytelling as they dream up and design animals that could exist — or that might only live in their imaginations. Each week, young makers explore how real-world biology inspires creativity, crafting hybrid creatures, sculpting models, and designing habitats, food webs, and origin stories. Using clay, paint, recycled materials, and wild ideas, students discover how to think like artists, scientists, and inventors all at once. From dragons to deep-sea critters, furry friends to fantasy beasts, Creature Creators is a world where creativity has no limits — and every creature tells its own unique story.
In Stuffed Minis, we will learn to sew while creating miniature versions of our favourite stuffed animals, crafting them into plush characters! This fun, hands-on program allows students to complete projects quickly while developing their sewing and crafting skills. Throughout the program, we will create brand-new, one-of-a-kind, miniature stuffies to hang on our backpacks, adorn our tote bags and cuddle as a part of our stuffed animal family!
Welcome to Stitch Squad—a cozy, creative club for kids who love to sew, stitch, and make things by hand! Whether they’re threading a needle for the first time or already crafting up a storm, young makers will learn the basics of sewing through fun, age-appropriate projects. From hand-stitched creatures to simple accessories and decorative designs, each week offers a chance to build skills, patience, and confidence. Along the way, kids will explore different fabrics, patterns, and techniques while sharing ideas in a supportive, social environment. If your child loves to create and wants to join a crew of crafty friends, Stitch Squad is the perfect fit!
NOTE: In Stitch Squad, your participants will most likely want to focus on Stuffed Minis. Please refer to the Fashion Crafts resources for additional ideas and feel free to create small accessories if your group is interested. Contact Liz if you need additional supplies for these crafts.
In this program, it will be up to the Instructor(s) to gauge the interests of the group and decide how best to structure the overall term. Some things to consider:
- Instructors should always prepare for the lesson(s) by pre-cutting stuffie patterns and threading needles. It’s a good idea to have at least twice the number of needles prepared than the number of students – so you don’t have to do this on the fly.
- Instructors MUST keep track of all needles. If you hand out 10 needles, you need to get them all back before the end of class. Do not ever give a child a new needle without having them return the one just used.
- Children are NEVER permitted to draw on their stuffies with any type of marker.
- Stuffies should NEVER be sewn inside out and then turned. When working with felt, please sew along the outer edge for the best finished product.
- Stitches should be small and close together to keep the stuffing in – keep an eye on student’s work and correct/encourage where needed. Check all work before allowing a student to take home a completed craft – it should be done to that student’s best ability (this means it will often take 2 weeks to complete a project).
Stuffed Minis Packing List
Additional items may be requested by emailing Liz at any time. Please give at least 1 week notice when requesting supplies.
| QUANTITY | ITEM | |
| PAPER | 1 folder | white paper |
| 1 folder | white cardstock | |
| 1 folder | large white paper | |
| DRAWING & ART MATERIALS | 1 bag | pencils |
| 1 bag | pencil crayons | |
| 1 bag | crayons | |
| 1 bag | sharpies (for instructor use only) | |
| BASIC SUPPLIES | 1 bag | scissors |
| 2 bottles | white glue | |
| 1 set | glue gun and glue sticks (never glue a stuffie together, this is only to be used by an instructor for embellishments) | |
| 20 | zip lock bags for craft storage | |
| CRAFTING MATERIALS | 1 bag | ribbon |
| 1 bag | small yarn skeins | |
| 50 pieces | felt | |
| 1 container | buttons | |
| 1 bag | pom poms | |
| 1 container | key rings | |
| 1 tin | sewing needles | |
| 1 tin | straight pins | |
| 1 bag | embroidery thread | |
| 2 bags | stuffing | |
| PATTERNS | 1 folder | patterns (instructors are encouraged to also source/print/create their own patterns to suit the group) |