Quick Craft: Turn A Tsum Tsum Into A Bookmark!

Plush Tsum Tsums are the world's snuggliest menace, you guys. They sneak their way into our homes, onto our desks and shelves and dashboards, and then they SIT THERE and they do NOTHING. 

You know, except be soft and look cute.

So in an effort to make one of my extra Tigger Tsums earn his keep, I turned him into a bookmark.
That's right, bub, you're pulling double duty now!

 Plus he looks even cuter this way, right? He can sit on my desk like this when not in use, then opens out like this:

 

 And tucks into a book like this:

 Now THAT is a good stretch.

Want to make your own? Then good news: it's super easy. Especially once I stopped trying to kid myself about being able to sew it and just broke out the tacky glue. (Awww yeaaah.)

So let's make one!

YOU WILL NEED:

- 1 plush Tsum Tsum

- matching polyester ribbon (1.5 inches wide is perfect)

- fast dry fabric glue or tacky glue

- scissors

- binder clips or clothes pins

 Step 1: Explain to your Tsum this may sting a little.

 Sorry.

Step 2: Make a slit in the side and remove the little bean bag, if it has one:

Step 3: Continue cutting all the way around the middle until you have 2 half-a-Tsums:

Step 4: Remove about half of the stuffing from each side:

Note: This next step should be done with two hands, so just imagine I'm doing the same thing on both sides:

 Step 5: Push the sides in like so, then pinch the top and bottom together like this:

 See how that works? Now do that again, only this time after you apply glue on all the fabric edges. (This will be a little messy, so have a wet paper towel nearby to wipe off your fingers.)

Once you're happy with the pinched seam, use binder clips to hold it together while the glue dries:

 After the glue is thoroughly dry, take off the clips and brush on a little more glue over the seam to prevent fraying:

 And once that glue dries, you can use scissors to trim off any excess fuzzies. 

Now take the edge of your ribbon - which IS polyester, right? - and wave it near a candle flame to melt the very edge. (Otherwise it could fray.) This may take some practice, but it should be a nice even edge with no scorch marks, like this:

Now glue that edge to the underside of your Tsum's front half:

 Measure out the length you want your bookmark to be, then repeat all that for the bottom half:

 

 I made mine fit this hardcover book exactly, so of course that IS a little limiting; it will only work for this height of book or shorter:

Shorter books will just have some of the ribbon hanging out the back end, though. No biggie.

Speaking of back ends, I think this pinched bottom is ridiculously adorable:

And the front's not bad, either:

When you're not using your bookmark, bring the two ends together and set it down like this:

 See? Now no one will ever guess this lazy lil' loafer has a secret second job. ;)

 One more stretch:

  

(I realize this should really be a Figment Tsum Tsum, but would you believe Disney hasn't made one yet? Boggles the mind.)

I hope some of you give this a try; I'd love to see a whole shelf of Tsum bookmarks, maybe arranged in rainbow order? (Hint hint?) Or if you have any suggestions for improvements, I'm all ears in the comments.

Happy crafting!

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Oh, and if you want more projects and tutorials, then check out my Craft Page! I've got over 150 DIY goodies to choose from there, guaranteed to help you waste many, many hours. ;)