Even if you are not very crafty it can be easy and fun to make clothes, houses and accessories for your Sylvanian friends. This page will highlight some of the easy things you can make and do for Sylvanian Families. We will add new ideas to the page regularly so keep checking back. Also if you would like to showcase your homemade items and ideas on our pages contact us and let us know.

Sylvanian necklaces and headbands

These are so easy to make, all you will need are:

• elastic
• beads

Simply choose some lovely beads, thread them on to the elastic (if possible double up your elastic) and make them the size you wish. When you're finished threading knot the ends together (you may need a parent to help with this bit). We found a wide variety of fab beads at our local independent craft shop. You can also use strings of the beads to make straps for Sylvanian dresses, necklaces, and ear bands.

Our 5 year old helper was able to thread the beads on to the elastic if we helped her so this is a great activity for children and adults to do together.

Sylvanian food

A great way to make Sylvanian food is with coloured modelling clay (this comes in air and oven drying varieties such as Fimo. You can make whatever you want. We like making heathy fruits such as apples, bananas and oranges, tasty snacks such as doughnuts and cakes, right through to entire dinners.

Sylvanian Houses and shops

Want a new place for your Sylvanians to play? (Our helpers made a river and boats for their Sylvanians to play in). Maybe you have a favourite place that you would like to recreate? Then grab yourself a cardboard box (a shoe box or something bigger dpending on what you plan making). Some of the Leapsterrific Kids decided to make their own mini version of our local museum. They used scraps of wallpaper to decorate the walls, halves of toilet roll tubes for pillars, lots of little painted frames for the pictures on the walls, and even decorated Mr Badger in toilet roll to make him into a mummy!

Sylvanian Clothes

Sylvanian clothes can be very tricky to make but you can make some fairly easy clothes too.

One of our favourite materials to use is felt, we've made simple scarves, waistcoats, capes and dresses from felt (see the photos on the right). Children can help by picking the coloured felt, deciding on the type of clothing, and Sylvanian. You can also more complicated halloween and party costumes.

You can also thread elastic through a concertina of material to  make a simple tutu or dress. You can add ribbon to tie around the neck for straps and sew beads on for decoration. We are not very 'crafty' but have managed to make a number of simple Sylvanian outfits (see photo left).

You can also try to make fun and different outfits for your Sylvanians. Our three year old helper made a mummy for a Sylvanian Families museum out of toilet paper and sticky tape. One of our crafty friends made a wizard costume for another Sylvanian.

If you (or a friend or relative) can knit you can also make cute outfits and accessories. Our friend made hats and scarves in a rainbow of colours for these Sylvanians (see photo left).

Sylvanian soft furnishings

It can be quite easy to make simple soft furnishings such as duvet covers, pillows and sleeping bags. The basic premise for a cushion or duvet cover is to take a long rectangle, fold it over inside out, sew up the three edges, turn the right way round, stuff, and sew up the last side. We made a cover and pillows for our four poster bed (see photo right). Matching curtains can be made from fabric sewed and threaded on to sticks of wooden dowel with ribbon tie backs.

Sylvanian rennovations

It can also be fun to rennovate items you already have by adding wallpapers (try craft shops for scrapbooking papers), carpets and rugs (use offcuts), or making items like pictures and accessories to add to your buildings.

The photos below show how you can use fabric samples and squares of felt for rugs, and a bethroom redecorated with craft paper.

An example of a redecorated Oakwood Manor and a big Sylvanian fan is below:

Check out our range of Sylvanian figures, houses, accessories and more by clicking the picture below