Craft for Shelters


The official day of National Craft for your local Shelters Day is July 21st.  It was started in 2012.  Help us keep it going and growing!  Read below for all the details and plan your own Craft for Shelters event!


We are calling all fellow blog friends, pet lovers, and crafters around the Nation to join us on this special day.  Please help us spread the word!

What is National Craft for your Local Shelters Day?
It is a day set aside to recognize that we can give back to our local shelters in a crafty way.  This includes making beds, toys, vests and bandanas that say "adopt me," leashes, and sew much more.  What better way to give back to a shelter than the best way you know how - and for us, it's crafting.


How can you join the force?
We've come up with a list of things to think about to help everyone interested
1.  Decide on a shelter to donate to - contact them and make sure they want to receive your donation.
2.  If you are not sure what to make, ask your shelter of choice what it is they could use the most - besides money and food of course.
3.  Decide what materials you are going to need.  Utilize what you know you are great at and make sure your "game plan" is realistic.  Do you need a pattern?  How long does it take to make one of your items?  Etc.  If you decide on "adopt me" items like vests or bandanas, make them bright and eye-catching.
4.  Set a date to craft and also think about organizing a craft night with your crafty friends just for this project.  How fun would that be?!
5.  Don't forget the cats and other animals in shelters.  Cats could use bandanas for adoptable pictures and to help attract attention.


Extra things to think about
1.  Do you know anyone with connections or access to materials (i.e. screen printing, embroidery)?  When Sebastian and I donated vests in the past, we called up our savvy embroidery girlfriend for help so we could add a beautiful "Adopt Me" message.  You can see photos here.  
2.  Don't know many crafters or people with "skill?"  No problem!  If you throw a craft party, you can set up "stations."  For example, a few people can cut out pieces while others pin them together for sewing.
3.  Sponsors!  It never hurts to ask.  Does your craft store have product they'd be willing to donate to your project?  Are friends willing to donate money for supplies?  Do they have supplies they don't need that they could give you, like extra fabric?  Think outside the box to make it happen.  

Taking your handcrafted items to the shelter
You are all done and ready to donate your finished handcrafted items (the most exciting part).  Call your shelter of choice and ask when a good time to donate the items would be.  Ask if you can take a picture with one of the dogs utilizing the item so you can later blog/share it and help spread the word.

Inspiration and Links
1.  One girl makes 110 vests for 5 of her local shelters in Texas as part of a Girl Scout project.  Wow!  And she also shares instructions/ideas.  See them here.
2.  Some handmade dog toys - it does not get any easier than this! 
3.  Pet bed tutorial link here
4.  Fabulous collar and leash tutorial here

Are you a shelter owner?
Would your shelter benefit from any of these handmade items?  We are starting a list of shelters in need of specific items so please email us at sewdoggystyle@yahoo.com to be added to the list.  Make sure you let us know what item(s) you need.

Take the Pledge
I know I'm a lot more likely to do something if I write it down or talk about it to others.  So Sebastian and I are asking you to leave a comment on this page saying "I take the pledge!" and include a link to your blog or facebook if you have one.

Feel free to also leave comments here with any questions, suggestions, or links to share.


XOXOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian

34 comments:

Unknown said...

Leela and I take the pledge! So excited to do this. Thank you so much for organizing this. Leela and I have worked with charities in the past, and we have donated some pet beds to a shelter in OR, but this is the first time we participate in a national craft day. Such an awesome idea!!!

Unknown said...

Oh, and you can find us on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/oohleela

Carrie, with Tanner and Oliver said...

We'd like to join in too. Tanner and Oliver and I LOVE to see the look on the volunteer's faces when we take packages to our local Shelter or rescue.

One of the easiest toys to make is a braided tug toy made from cute quilting squares or old jeans, cut up and braided. Thanks for organizing this event and good luck to you all!

DeeDee said...

I take the pledge....

http://deedeescraftspot.blogspot.com


I regularly take things to my vets office when they need them

Thanks Erika.. this is an awesome event...

ibcmeir said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ibcmeir said...

We'll take that pledge.

We want to do all we can to help pets find forever homes.

Coffee, Cats n' Yarn
http://www.coffeecatsnyarn.com/2012/07/national-craft-for-your-local-shelters.html

FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee-Cats-n-Yarn/156529431091615

Preston said...

We are taking the pledge! What a great idea..now to get mom to the craft store to buy supplies :-)

Tee said...

I'm a shelter worker and wanted to say thank you all so VERY MUCH for your time and talents. All shelters appreciate these self-less efforts of kindness.

An idea for cat gifts. Fleece squares. Simple - no sew - cut 'em up and your done. Some of our kittens favorites are ones that have fringe cut around the edges. It gives them something to play with as well as nap on. Call your local shelter and ask if there is a specific size they'd like to have. Our shelter takes ANY size and are grateful.
Also wanted to add an experience I had lately. I found about 8 yards of fleece at a Christian based thrift store. I think they wanted a total of $12. I told them about my job and they were able to sell it to me for $6. When you make minimum wage, it never hurts to ask, right?
I'm off to add our Shelter to Erika and Sebastian's list.

Thanks again!
Tee

Sarah said...

I will be taking the pledge this week! I actually just posted about this on my blog, too!

MarshaLaw said...

I pledge to continue making items for our local pet shelters. I just sent off some cat beds and bow ties to the adoption centre.

Unknown said...

I want to pledge. Can i get advise on resources to do this at a local.piblic middle school?

Kristina Lotz said...

I Take the pledge! www.afairytailhouse.com www.facebook.com/afairytailhouse.com (also editor for iHeartDogs.com. I will be making Fleece Tug Toys!

Mimi D said...

My library has taken the pledge adn we are making fleece tug toys for the Broward County Animal Shelter!

Katie said...

I will take the pledge! I am not very crafty myself, so I will probably just braid some fleece for dog toys and cut up some fabric with fringe like the ones you linked to. I also just recommended a few handmade Etsy goods on my blog theartofpetrescue.com for anyone who doesn't have the time to DIY this year!

Black Cat Dog Designs, Inc. said...

We pledge to continue making items for our local shelters - sock/bottle chew toys, small dog pillow beds, catnip mice...you name it :-) We also pledge to donate some of our bedframes to local shelter fundraisers...have been doing that since we started last year :-)

Jon said...

This is a cool idea. Great way for people to use their talents to help.

Sarah Jordan said...

Count me in! I love this idea. Thanks for sharing.

Elkbee10 said...

I take that pledge! I create products each year from old felted wool sweaters for a Christmas show. I always make dog and cat toys from my scraps for my pets, but I guess I will have to step it up to include my local shelter. I have also created a small pet bed from a sweater following instructions from Handimania.com which is full of great craft ideas for pets.

Jens C. Kruse said...

ThanksThanks

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sarkari job said...
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ogonn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ogonn said...

We are taking the pledge! What a great idea..now to get mom to the craft store to buy supplies


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Charlotte said...

Great idea. I am unable to find the pattern for the bandana. I clicked every where, went back and forth to different pages but no pattern. Thanks if you can direct me?

link within

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