for a two year old

Today was our buddy Lincoln's second birthday. We celebrated with cupcakes and time in the sandbox and lots of play with his new little kitchen.

I wanted to make a gift that he would really enjoy -- one whose fun wouldn't wear out immediately, that would be useful in at least a couple of ways for a while. I have a cache of crafty ideas waiting for just the right recipient, and this one I found in Alicia Paulson's book Stitched in Time seemed right up Linc's alley. I hope I was right!

Using iron-on transfer sheets for the printer, I printed out some pictures from the past year: friends' faces, mama and papa, the dinosaur at the zoo, one of our chickens Lincoln took a shine to, and a few others. I ironed them onto some white twill, and with some polka-dotty quilting cotton for the backs of each card and felt to stabilize the middle, I made 14 memory cards (two of each photo). I sewed around each picture and pinked the edges to curb the fraying. 

To finish off the gift, I whipped up a little felt bag for storage, and (sloppily) embroidered the front. 

Happy birthday, Lincoln! I hope you like your present.