Lovable Ladybugs in Handmade Plush Crochet

American ladybugs are red with black spots.  Asian ladybugs are yellow or orange. Plush ladybugs handmade in crochet in red, yellow and orange are simply adorable!  Each of these plush ladybugs can be found in my Etsy Shop Coastal Crochet Crafts.

Let's take a closer look at each one.

Red Ladybug in Crochet

 

Plush Ladybug in Red

Red Lady Bug loves warm weather and garden-time, flitting and frolicking among the plants. Since she's a plushie, she's also fun to cuddle.

This Red Lady Bug measures about 6-1/2" long and 5" high and is 4" across. She's hand-crocheted in durable acrylic yarn in red and black and softly stuffed with polyfil. Her antennae are crocheted and her facial features are embroidered in red on a black face.

Pretty Yellow Ladybug in Plush

 

Handmade Crochet Yellow Ladybug

This is my plush crocheted replica of a Yellow Lady Bug!

Yellow lady bug is bright and cheerful and loves sunshine and flitting about the garden.

Yellow Lady Bug measures about 7" long and 5" high and is 4" across. She's hand-crocheted in washable acrylic yarn in yellow and black and softly stuffed with polyfil. Her antennae are crocheted and her facial features are embroidered in yellow on a black face. 

Adorable Orange Ladybug Stuffed Toy

 

Handmade Ladybug in Orange Crochet

Orange ladybug is a fun toy ladybug who measures about 6" long and 5" high and is 4" across. Hand-crocheted in washable acrylic yarn in orange and black and softly stuffed with polyfil, orange ladybug has crocheted antennae and embroidered facial features in orange on a black face.

Ladybugs, ladybugs.... at home on Etsy

 

Red, Yellow and Orange Plush Ladybugs

Whether red, yellow or orange, a ladybug plushie is an adorable stuffed toy!  Come visit my plush ladybugs currently waiting for your visit at Coastal Crochet Crafts on Etsy.

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home...

 

Well, what if a ladybug hasn't learned to fly?  Here's a cute storybook about a ladybug learning to fly.  In the story called "Look Out, Ladybug!" we follow a little ladybug as she bumps into all kinds of animals along the way while trying to learn to fly.  Children who are learning new things will understand the 'practice-makes-perfect' message. 

For Ladybug designs in home decor, check out these hand-crafted ideas, including ladybug coasters and kitchen refrigerator magnets and a quilted purse in a ladybug print.








Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

A Pair of Purple Plush Penguins in Crochet

Penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds who live in the Southern Hemisphere.  They are typically tuxedo black and white in coloring, except for the Australian Little Blue Penguin.

Purple Penguins in Plush

When penguins are handmade by crocheting them in yarn, they become a plush toy which can be any color you can imagine.  Today we are going to look at a pair of penguins created in shades of purple who are currently living in the Etsy Shop of Coastal Crochet Crafts. In addition to liking shades of purple, I just discovered that Ultra Violet is the Pantone Color of the Year for 2018, so these purple penguins are definitely up-to-date! :)

Purple Plush Penguin

Paul the Purple Plush Penguin

Come meet Paul, a purple plush penguin pal handmade in crochet.

Created in purple and white acrylic yarn, Paul the Purple Penguin is stuffed with soft new polyfil and has lock-washer safety craft eyes for features, along with his gold crocheted beak and feet.

Paul Penguin is a squeezably soft purple penguin plush animal who measures a roly-poly round 5 x 5 inches.  

Lavender Penguin in Crochet

Lori, the Lavender Plush Penguin

Paul's penguin friend Lori loves being a plush penguin because she can be an imaginary color for a penguin and she chose her favorite, Lavender!

Lori is a plush Penguin handmade in a lavender shade of acrylic yarn. She is stuffed with soft new polyfil and has safety eyes for features, along with a beak and feet that are crocheted in gold yarn.   Lori measures a roly-poly round 5 x 5 inches.

If You Were a Penguin …

 

Colorful Penguin Colony

If you were a plush penguin, you could be purple or lavender or any color you chose.  The Coastal Crochet Craft Etsy Shop has a bunch of plush penguins available in all the colors of the rainbow, plus the standard tuxedo color combination.  Check out the Penguins in the shop's Penguins in Plush  section and see a virtual rainbow of color choices, including those in shades of purple. These plush penguins love visitors.

A Book about Penguins

Penguin book available on Amazon

This darling picture book for ages 4 to 8 years is a cute way to help children imagine what it would be like to be a penguin.  Told in rhymes, the story introduces scenes of penguin life from swimming underwater to tobogganing on ice.  If You Were a Penguin book is a delight for young children. 

For a selection of penguin-related gift ideas, check out this Penguins & Polar Bears Gift Guide.

Penguin Awareness Day is January 20 

 (c) Written by Wednesday Elf on 4/8/2015. Updated on 1/19/2018




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Playful Dinosaurs as Stuffed Animals and Toys

Playful toy dinosaurs are favorites of children. These ancient creatures seem to hold a fascination for kids and are enjoyed in many forms of plush animals and toys.

There are many different kinds of dinosaurs whose names I've always found hard to pronounce (or even remember), but most little boys can name them all.

Babysaurus - Dinosaur Baby Plush Toy

 

Babysaurus - the Plush Toy Baby Dinosaur

My favorite dinosaur is a plush toy version called a  babysaurus.  I created it in crochet with the thought in mind that it would make a darling new baby gift.  

Hand-crocheted in soft pale yellow acrylic yarn, babysaurus measures 21 inches from his nose to the tip of his tail and stands 10" tall at his head. In addition to having a pretty yellow body, babysaurus has pastel green spots and the pads of his feet are green. The mouth is crocheted in light pink yarn and the eyes are blue crocheted circles. A pastel delight, this dandy dinosaur is available in my Etsy Shop Coastal Crochet Crafts. 

Babysaurus Comes with Baby Blocks

 

Set of Baby Blocks for Babysaurus

Baby dinosaur also comes with a set of four blocks which spell out B A B Y.  Created with plastic canvas and acrylic yarn, the blocks make a cute decor accent for a baby's room and can be played with when baby is a bit bigger.

Wood Toy Dinosaur

 

Waldorf style Toy Dinosaur

A friend of mine in Missouri creates beautiful wooden toys with a scroll saw.  This Waldorf style toy dinosaur  This Waldorf hand cut wooden toy dinosaur will provide hours of imaginative fun for your little one. Perfectly sized for little hands, with rounded edges and an all natural polish, this dinosaur is safe for children ages 3+.

Susan's dinosaur toys can be found in her very charming Etsy shop she calls “Ooh Look! It's a Rabbit!”. The shop is filled with many other kinds of wooden hand-cut scroll saw toys, including a rabbit! 

Other Dinosaur Gifts

For more dinosaur stuffed animals and toys, check out this Dinosaur Gift Guide.

RAWR!  That means 'I Love You' in Dinosaur talk!

SUPER CUTE Dinosaur Poster RAWR small by bunnieclaire

 

(c) Wednesday Elf 3/11/2015. Updated 5/16/2020

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Plush Panda Bears

Crochet Panda Bear

This is an introduction to my hand-crafted interpretation of a Giant Panda Bear and those of other crafters who love to create plush animals as I do. 

The above cute Panda Bear currently resides in my Etsy Shop where he would welcome your visit.  Panda Bear is just one of the collection of bears (and bear-related items) who frolic in my Land of Crochet.  

Giant Panda Bear in Crochet

Plush Panda Bear in Crochet

This toy Giant Panda Bear is hand-crocheted in black & white acrylic yarn and filled with soft, new polyfil. His features are crocheted and embroidered, with plastic safety eyes in the center of the black 'patches'. 

This little roly-poly panda is just 5 x 6 inches and weighs about 8 ounces, a much better size to be a child's playmate as compared to the real Giant Panda who lives in the mountains of Central China and can grow to 4-6 feet tall and weigh over 250 pounds. 

 The Red Panda

Red Panda Cards by Sylvestermouse
 

The Red Panda also lives in China and the Himalayas.  Much smaller than the Giant Panda, the red panda is only a bit larger than a domestic cat and looks more like a raccoon than a bear.  You can see what a red panda actually looks like in this beautiful photo by Sylvestermouse. She put this darling red panda photo on a lovely greeting card, which is available in her Zazzle store.  It is also featured on other items.

Red Panda Plush Toy

Red Panda Plush Toy

Adorable Red Panda toy bear handmade in crochet by Liliya of Westfield, MA. It can be found among a variety of plush toys in her Etsy Shop BabyCrochetsShop. 

National Panda  Day

 

Available on Amazon

I see by some calendars that March 16 is National Panda Day.  A fun way to celebrate would be to read your child a book about Panda Bears while they cuddle a plush animal Panda Bear. 

Please, Mr. Panda is a delightful storybook about 'manners' showing a panda bear offering donuts to his black & white animal friends (a penguin, a skunk, and a whale) who forget to say "please" and "thank you".  The book is geared toward 3-5 year olds in the pre-school to kindergarten range. 

For more "bear" stories, visit the Parade of Plush Teddy Bears.  

NATIONAL PANDA DAY

March 16

*Plush Panda Bears Article was written by Wednesday Elf on 3/4/2015 and updated on 3/16/2021.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Two Seals and a Walrus ~ Plush Marine Animals in Crochet

Baby Harp Seal, Plush Harbor Seal, Crocheted Walrus Toy

I loved watching the seals play among the rocks along the coastline when I lived in California. It was my inspiration for creating plush seals and other sea life in crochet

There are many kinds of seals who mainly live in cold ocean waters. My crocheted seals are much smaller and love to live in toy boxes and play with children who like seals. They can be found on Etsy in my shop called Coastal Crochet Crafts.

Baby Harp Seal in Crochet 

 

Toy Baby Harp Seal

I once saw a picture of a baby Harp Seal and fell in love with how cute and cuddly-looking it was.  So I decided to create the harp seal in crochet and he's just as cute and cuddly as that picture.

When a Harp Seal is born, he is white like the ice flows he lives on to protect him from predators.  His white coat will change to the standard silvery gray as he grows. 

The scientific name for the Harp Seal means “"ice-lover from Greenland" and he's usually found in the north Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

Since Harp Seals grow up to be up to 6 feet long and weigh 300-400 lbs., this crocheted plush toy Harp Seal is the perfect size for a child because he's just 7 inches long and weighs about 2 ounces.  Definitely a much better size for a child to cuddle.  Toy Harp Seal is hand-crocheted in white acrylic yarn and filled with a soft fiberfil.

My plush toy harp seals now live in Pennsylvania, Texas and Oregon. The latest one is currently in my Etsy Shop.

Toy Handmade Harbor Seal

 

Plush Harbor Seal

After crocheting the baby harp seal, I looked for patterns to crochet other kinds of seals.  This Harbor Seal handmade in crochet was the result.

Harbor Seals live in coastal waters of the northern  Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  They can be brown, tan, or gray.  I chose a Heather Gray acrylic yarn for my crocheted toy version.

This hugable Harbor Seal measures about 10" long by 7", wide across his 'flippers'. His nose and whiskers are embroidered in black yarn and he has black 'safety eyes'. Since he's a toy, he gets to wear a (removable) yellow ribbon around his neck.

Real Harbor Seals like to make their homes along the rocky ocean coastline, giving them places to hide if danger comes.  Toy Harbor Seals feel nice and safe and happy living in a child's toy box or keeping them company on their bed.

 

Crocheted Toy Walrus Named Wendy

 

Plush Toy Walrus

I discovered that walruses are from the same 'family' as seals, so definitely had to add a plush toy walrus to my collection of crocheted sea animals. 

The walrus has brown or pink skin. This cute crocheted walrus was handmade in a brown & tan ombre yarn with a light tan nose and white tusks.

 The walrus is a very large (10 feet long and up to 3,300 lbs.) marine mammal called the 'Gentle Giant' of the Arctic because they are friendly.  This toy walrus only 7 inches long weighs about 8 ounces and is a size just right for little hands to hold. Of course, he is a friendly plush animal.

Both the plush Harp Seal and the toy Harbor Seal live with their crocheted friend Wendy Walrus in my Etsy Shop ready to travel to their 'forever' home.

A Seal Storybook

 

Seal Storybook Available on Amazon

Illustrated with beautiful pictures, your child will "see what a seal can do" as they follow the seals from their spot napping on rocks to diving deep under the sea. 

A delightful seal story for ages 4 to 8 years, this story book will be even more enjoyable if your child has a hugable plush seal or walrus toy to cuddle while listening to you read the book to them. Storybooks and stuffed animals just naturally go together.

More Plush Sea Creatures

*For more plush 'Sea Critters', check out this page of  crocheted clams and the story of plush dolphins.




(c) Wednesday Elf.  Article written on 2/18/2015. Updated on 2/19/2018



















Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

A Parade of Plush Teddy Bears

A Collection of Plush Teddy Bears on Etsy

 
The teddy bear is most often the first stuffed animal toy a new baby receives and many more plush teddy bears often follow throughout childhood.  My son received his first teddy bear as a newborn and it became his constant companion for the first 4 years of his life. Other stuffed animals were added over time, but none had as much love as his 'Teddy Bear', his daily (and nightly) stuffed 'friend'.

Originally created by toymakers Morris Michtom (U.S.) and Richard Steiff (Germany), the idea for the teddy bear came from the cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt refusing to shoot a black bear cub trapped in a tree.  As a result, the toy bear was named after 'Teddy' Roosevelt.

As a crochet crafter, teddy bears are a favorite of mine to create. There is just something so cute and cuddly about a soft plush bear.  My latest 'bear' creations are found in my Etsy Shop and are described here.

Plush Baby Bear in Green

 

Plush Toy Baby Bear

Since babies like soft toys to cuddle and hold, a Baby Teddy Bear is a good choice.  This Baby Bear is hand-crocheted in a very soft pale green acrylic yarn with white nose, paws and ears. She sits 9 inches tall and is filled with soft new fiberfil stuffing. Her eyes are crocheted and her features are embroidered, making her soft and safe for even the tiniest of babies. 

Baby bear wears a bib just like real babies and has a pretty green bow on her head.  Both the bow and the bib are removable if need be. Baby bear is a darling stuffed toy perfect for a baby shower or new baby gift.

Stuffed 'Cuddle-Me' Teddy Bear in Pastel Blue

 

Cuddle-Me Teddy Bear

Another sweet teddy bear is this one in a pastel blue, just right for a baby or toddler boy. Blue teddy bear is as cuddly as his name and is handmade in crochet in a pastel blue acrylic yarn.  His paws and nose are white and he's filled with new polyfil stuffing. His eyes are safety eyes (plastic animal eyes that fasten securely with a washer) and his nose and mouth are embroidered.

Cuddle-Me blue bear sits just 8 inches tall and is a nice size for little arms to hold.  He's a very lovable bear for baby's first teddy and is ready to share a hug with a sweet youngster.

Toy Replica in Crochet of a Black Bear Cub

 

Black Bear Cub in Crochet

One more teddy bear currently available in my Etsy Shop is this crocheted version of a black bear cub. Handmade in black acrylic yarn with gray highlights, black bear cub has safety eyes and nose for features and wears a bright green (removable) ribbon around his neck. He's filled with polyfil stuffing and is 8 inches tall in his sitting position. A squishably soft black bear cub is a darling teddy bear for a child. 

FUN FACTS ABOUT BLACK BEARS:

• Winnie-the-Pooh was named after Winnipeg, a female black bear cub that lived at the London Zoo from 1915 until 1934.

• In the spring of 1950 a black bear cub was caught in the Capitan Gap fire. After being rescued he was made into the living representative of Smokey Bear, the mascot of the United States Forest Service. (This story was my inspiration for creating this bear cub).

Come get your own 'crocheted' version of a Winnie-the-Pooh Bear, or Smokey Bear today.

All three of these teddy bears are available in my Etsy Shop Coastal Crochet Crafts.

A Teddy Bear Story...

Ted Bear Esq. - his photo album (Small Folk Tales - 3)

Recently a friend of mine in Australia wrote a sweet little ebook called Ted Bear Esq. - his photo album which features a teddy bear she has had for 65 years.  The book is available on Kindle from Amazon and shares Ted Bear's special moments and memories in his life in a series of pictures and descriptions for children just getting interested in reading. This book is part of author Christine Larsen's 'Small Folk Tales' series and is a delight for children and the parents who read to them.



These handmade in crochet Teddy Bears, and their creator  Wednesday-Elf, hope you have enjoyed visiting with us today.

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Happy as a 'Crocheted' Clam

Plush Clams in Crochet

The expression “Happy as a Clam” is short for “Happy as a Clam at High Tide” (when it can't easily be dug up and eaten). These hand-crocheted clams are always happy because they are soft and cuddly plush toys.

Crocheted clams are so cute they would  make anyone happy. These handmade clams can be found in the Etsy Shop of Coastal Crochet Crafts.

Seaside Stuffie

These sweet seaside stuffed clams are handmade in crochet with yellow, blue and burgundy acrylic yarn.  They live in a brown clamshell lined with tan yarn.  

Crocheted clams have black plastic craft eyes for features and are stuffed with soft polyfil. They measure just 3 inches across and are surrounded by a 4 inch brown clamshell.  This clam and her clamshell make a cute two-piece set.

 Clams can also be created in any colors you desire. :)

Clams as Food

Bowl of Clam Chowder (Wikimedia)

Since we all know that 'real' clams are delicious to eat, you might like to know that February 25th is “Clam Chowder Day”.  Celebrate by having a bowl of yummy clam chowder of your choice (my favorite is New England Clam Chowder). Just don't let your crocheted pet clam know.

Homemade Clam Dip

For a tasty snack for a party or any get-together, here's a recipe for my personal homemade clam dip to serve with chips or pretzels. 

Clams are Fun, Whether as a Delicious Morsel to Eat or as Plush Toys

 

Clamshells on the Beach

Whether you enjoy eating clam dishes or are enchanted by an adorable plush toy clam handmade in crochet, my crocheted clams and I hope you had a good time at our playtime beach today.

National Happy Clams on Half Shell Day 

March 31st

(c) 2/4/2015 Wednesday Elf.  Updated 3/31/2021

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Handmade Honey Bee in Crochet

Plush Toy Honeybee

Nothing is sweeter than honey and that goes for this sweet plush toy "Holly Honeybee", hand-crafted in crochet, that I made for my Etsy Shop. Plush toy bees love to buzz around in my 'Land of Crochet'. 

This Honey Bee is handmade in crochet using yellow and black acrylic yarn. She measures 4 inches long and 4 inches tall, counting her wings).

Holly Honey Bee's wings are created in white yarn. She is softly filled with new polyester polyfil. Her features (eyes and a smile) are embroidered in yarn

 

Differences Between a Real Honey Bee and this Toy Honey Bee

• Real Honeybees live in hives of 50,000 or more bees

• Toy Honey Bee is happy to be a child's playmate and live in their home.

• Real Honeybees make lots of honey which beekeepers harvest for people to eat.

• This plush crocheted honeybee and other plush animals enjoy having a tea party with honey cookies and the children who enjoy them.

Honey Bees and Bumble Bees

Bumble Bee in Amigurumi Crochet

• Honey Bees are wasp-like and slender
• Bumble Bees are furry and pudgy

Bumble Bee and Honey Bee in Handmade Crochet

My crocheted bumblebees and honeybees are typically similar in color and not much different than each other! Plush animals can be anything the crochet crafter wants them to be. :-).

Honey Bees and Honey

This cute board book is available on Amazon

Pooh's Honey Trouble

The best thing about honey bees is they make honey.  And no one likes honey better than Pooh Bear.  So it's not surprising that this sweet plush Honey bee's favorite book is “Pooh's Honey Trouble” starring her favorite character, Winnie-the-Pooh. Toy honey bee loves to read all about Pooh looking for his favorite honey snack in this fun 'touch-and-feel' board book. The book is perfect for babies and toddlers and plush toy honey bees.

Honey Cookie Recipe

 

Handmade Honey Bee doesn't really eat, but she would be very happy to keep you company at a tea party where you are serving some delicious Honey Spritz Cookies.  Sweet honey is the main ingredient in this recipe over at the Food Network. 

Come Visit this Cute Plush Honey Bee 

Happy Honey Bee is ready for your visit to the beehive in the Etsy Shop of Coastal Crochet Crafts. With little encouragement, this honey bee would be very pleased to follow you home. 

More Plush Insects on Etsy

Plush Caterpillars in Crochet

Toy honeybee and bumblebee are friends with other plush insects in my Etsy Shop, and we all know there is nothing cuter in the insect world than ones created in colorful yarn that are very friendly, soft and lovable.  Come to my Etsyland and check out a cuddly colorful caterpillar friend who sports five different rainbow colors and whose creation was inspired by the Baby Einstein caterpillar.  There is also a small 'stick' caterpillar in orange & yellow with a leaf on his head, inspired by the animated Tumble Leaf series.  A 'cute and cuddly bunch for sure.

More BEE News

• Honey Bee and her caterpillar friends hope you enjoy National Honey Bee Day each year on the 3rd Saturday in August

• And, if you'd  like to learn how to encourage bees to visit your backyard garden, read Beverly Owens article about "Bees Should be Encouraged to Thrive."  Bev tells you just what flowering plants and trees encourage bees to visit.

(c) Wednesday Elf. Article written on 1/14/2015. Updated on 8/21/2021









Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”