When did life get so… heavy? There once was a time when things were just plain old fun and positively carefree. Then all of those seemingly ancient family members (who were actually still quite youthful) started cluing us into the Debbie downer future ahead, saying things like:
Time flies, you’ll see. One day, the only mail you’re gonna get is bills. No use crying over spilled milk. Save those tears for when your car starts falling apart.Such “sky-is-falling” warnings may have been easy to dismiss back in the day, but now that we have all been wearing our official “adult” hats for a while, those words are haunting, and perhaps even far more legitimate than any of us would like to admit. Drats! The moral of the story is that we all need to have more fun while we can, and though there is a certain age where happily skipping along with a treasured stuffed animal in our sweaty little mitts is no longer acceptable, for wee little ones, the sky’s the limit. Help your “mini-me’s” eek a little more joy out of their all too fleeting childhood by upcycling their absolute favorite stuffed buddy into a cuddly backpack that will receive the day-to-day workout that it so rightfully deserves.
Basic supplies
- Large stuffed toy
- Old pillow case (for interior backpack lining)
- Recycled fabric belts (for backpack straps)
- Assorted sewing notions (such as needle, thread, snaps, pins, etc.)
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pen
- Patience

Photo courtesy of cotton&curls.
Upcycling strategy
Prepare your child’s stuffed animal for its backpack future 1) Select a stuffed critter from your child’s stash that will lie flat against their back without totally engulfing him or her. Be on the lookout for a toy with an ample torso or belly so that, upon being hollowed out, it will still sufficiently accommodate your child’s possessions. Things to bear in mind:- Whatever toy ultimately becomes your sacrificial upcycling lamb, just be sure to leave its head, arms and legs fully intact!
- The opening of the backpack will ultimately lie flush against the interior of your child’s back. In other words, you will perform your surgical upgrade on the back of the stuffed animal rather than its belly.