This has to be one of the cutest memory games I’ve ever seen. Imagine your toddler playing this game and recognizing his family and favorite toys and pets’ pictures.
The first time I saw this idea was in a Hallmark magazine fifteen years ago. As I recall, the lady took pictures of pets, wallpaper, and items in her home. Although I’ve planned to make this game many times over the years, the time has finally come!
The original article gave directions for making each of these game pieces individually, cutting out 3-inch squares, stacking, sewing, and pinking the edges. As I was in the process of printing the pictures, it dawned on me that it might be easier to just use basting spray on the fabrics and felt and streamline the process a little.
This method has to be much easier and quicker.
Preschooler Memory Game
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Supplies
- 12 digital images – 2″ x 2″ square
- Ink Jet Photo Fabric
- 2/3 yard 36-inch wide white wool felt
- 1/2 yard 45-inch wide cotton print fabric
- Iron
- Basting spray
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Scissors
- Zigzag pinking shears
Memory Game Directions
Print the Photos
Use your photo editing tool to position twelve 2-inch x 2-inch photos on an 8-1/2 x 11-inch blank canvas. Space them evenly, three across, and four down. I used PicMonkey to do this. Position the pictures 5/8 of an inch apart. (I realized the third column of pictures is only 1/2 inch from the second after I printed them. It isn’t critical, but you have to have enough room to pink the edges and leave a border.)
Follow the directions on the photo fabric envelope and print two copies of the photos. Allow the photos to completely dry. I let these dry overnight.
Peel off the paper backing. The package directions say to rinse the printed photos under cool water for 30 seconds. The ink did not bleed at all. Lay flat on a towel and allow to completely dry. It doesn’t take very long.
Preparing the Fabrics for the Memory Game
Notice I’ve used the little iron I used on the paper napkin transfer on wooden bunnies. I love this little craft iron!
First, wash, dry, and iron the printed fabric.
Lay the photo fabric on two layers of wool felt. Leaving a generous border on all edges, cut the felt larger than the photo fabric.
Cut a piece of the printed fabric slightly larger than the felt layers.
Lay the printed fabric right side down on your work surface. Apply Basting Adhesive to the wrong side of the printed fabric. Center one piece of felt on top of the adhesive on the fabric. Apply more of the basting spray to the felt.
Apply more of the basting spray to the second piece of felt. Center the photo fabric, photos up, on top of the felt with the adhesive.
Stitching the Memory Game Pieces
Use the outline of the photos as a stitching line and machine stitch through all four layers. Start stitching along the bottom edge of each photo. Backstitch when you begin and end. It’s a good idea to stitch around the center photos first, then the photos on the outer edges. The basting spray really holds well.
I used white thread to stitch around the pictures. When I turned the project over and looked at the backside, I wasn’t really happy with how much the white thread showed on the red fabric. I was brainstorming what I could do.
Then, I used the pinking shears to trim around one of the photos. The white felt is visible now and the white stitching seems appropriate.
Use pinking shears to trim all the layers leaving an even border around the pictures.
Repeat for each of the remaining photo prints. If you just print two pages of 12, you’ll have 24 pieces. If you want 18 photos for your memory game, add 6 more pictures on another blank canvas and duplicate each. You’ll want two of each picture. Then, repeat the entire process.
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