**NATIONAL CRAFTS FOR YOUR SHELTERS DAY** Crafting with Cats ~ How We Made A Mini Cardboard Scratcher **UPCYLE YOUR CARDBOARD BOXES**

Happy Friday Fluffies

NATIONAL CRAFTS FOR YOUR SHELTERS DAY PART II

It's Crafting for Your Shelters Day II, and here's a quick recap in case mew missed yesterday's pawesome post. 

As we love to upcycle, recycle and re-purpose items here at BBHQ, today's project which is #4 in the photo below can be made without having to buy anything in.

 Melvyn as mew can see is really enjoying all the things we made.

To see the rest of the projects in the picture, visit our Crafting with Cats page.

SO LET'S CRAFT ON

This is a completely NO SEW project.

Our Mini Cardboard Scratcher is purrfect for our kitty comrades in shelters, as it will fit easily inside small pens and give the kitties a much-needed scratching outlet. 

 

What We Used

A small cardboard box*

Scissors or craft knife** or cutting wheel**

Extra cardboard boxes***

Ruler

Pen or pencil

Glue non-toxic

Optional catnip

Optional ribbon

>^.^<

*we used a small amazon prime box  6.5" x 9"  approx size

**purrlease be super careful if you're using these cutting tools, take your time and always cut away from yourself and we also recommend that you wear some special cut resistant gloves like this: Cut Resistant Gloves for Safety. These are just an example we found on Amazon and this is not an affiliate link. 

***save all those home delivery boxes to recycle 

*    *    *

Let's Begin

1. Get a small box - this is ours.

2.  Measure approx 1.5" up from the bottom.

3.  Draw a line all the way around.

4.  Cut surplus off and mew should be left with something like this.

5.  Use part of the surplus cardboard to cut a test strip, it should be a fraction less than 1.5" high.

6.  Try the test strip to make sure it fits snuggly, and it's not too long or too high.

7.  Once mew've got the correct size cut lots of strips.

8.  Before mew begin glueing the strips, stick the flaps down in the bottom of the box.

9.  Begin glueing the strips in place.

10.  Smooch was on paw to offer more boxes when we needed to cut some extra strips.

11. & 12. A short while later, and it should now look something like this.

Here's our finished Mini Cardboard Scratcher

Mew can leave it as is, or if mew'd like to add a little more pizazz like us; we used a length of hessian ribbon and simply glued that around the outside. 

Also, mew can add a little sprinkle of catnip to add to the fun.

This is a really supurr project to recycle your old boxes and bring a bit of joy to a kitty or even kitties in shelters.

And ours has lasted four years at BBHQ, so way better than any shop ones we previously tried.

We do hope mew've enjoyed the last two crafting posts and feel inspired to make something for your local shelter. And if there's anything mew'd like us to make, leave a comment with your idea/s.  

We'll be back on the morrow with the final and a brand new project for this year's Shelter Craft-Fest, until then...

Keep calm and craft on

Epically crafty purrs

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

If mew missed any of our previous crafting posts, visit our dedicated crafting page: 

Crafting with Cats

Disclaimer:

We at BionicBasil HQ are not responsible or liable fur any injuries to person/s and/or cat/s, crafting addictions, glue on cats, paper cuts, misplaced pins and needles, cats stealing your supplies, broken scissors, cat fur stuck on your projects, or your project not turning out as planned. Be super careful if you're using cutting tools, take your time and always cut away from yourself and we do recommend that you wear some special cut resistant gloves like this: Cut Resistant Gloves for Safety. these are just an example we found on Amazon and this is not an affiliate link. This project is not suitable for younger readers without parental/adult help. By using this information you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless BionicBasil and staff from and against any and all claims for personal injuries or damages of any kind arising from use of any Crafting With Cats posts we may share.  

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com and www.pizap.com

**RERUN**Easter Eggstravaganza** Crafting With Cats ~ Easy Catnip Easter Eggs ~ The Only Kind of Easter Eggs Mew'll Want

Welcome to

Supurr Greetings Pawesome Pals

Thanks for joining us for our first Easter Eggstravaganza Crafting with Cats rerun.

  Mew know we have so much fun making all this stuff, and we hope mew enjoy seeing it and/or making it too. 

If mew missed any of our previous CWC posts, here are the links:

Merlin's Wizard Hat

Smoochie's Supurr Hero's Cape

Magical Kitty Lantern

Supurr Luxe Pom Pom Hammock

Kitty Observatory ~ Cativity Centre

Halloween Catnip Toys

Valentines Heart Crinkle Mat

Puzzle Treat Box ~ Fish Fur Treats

Catnip Pumpkin Toys and The Spooky Haunted House Photo Set 

Valentine's Catnip Hearts & Kicker Toy

*    *    *

**Purrlease Note**

All Crafting with Cats ideas and creations are of our own design and we share them for purrsonal/home use only.

  So purrlease do not copy fur commercial/resale purrposes.

Copyright ©BionicBasil®

*     *     *

This time we're making some pawesome

The only kind of Easter Eggs mew'll want this Sunday! MOL 

What Mew Will Need:

Cotton Fabric, we used a selection of fat quarters in different prints

lining fabric [optional]

needle, thread ~ optional sewing machine

scissors

stuffing/wadding

a great big pile of catnip

Optional Bunny ~ Blossom was today's Craft Room Snoopervisor

Let's Get Started

1.  We're making six eggs, and here are our fabric choices fur 4 of our eggs.

2. And here's our fabric choice for the last two.

3. Cut out your egg shapes - ours are approx 7" tall by 5" at the widest part prior to sewing.

4.  Check with an optional bunny to make sure they meet FULL BUNNY approval.

5. Cut out the lining fabric and place either side of your patterned fabric.

6. Pin eggs together ready for sewing [right sides together].

7. Sew, either by hand or machine, leaving a gap for the stuffing at the bottom.

8. Your egg/s should now look something like this.

9. Turn the fabric right sides out and get FULL BUNNY approval before continuing.

10. This is one side of our eggs.

11. This is the other side.

12. Now stuff with primo catnip - we used our homegrown, organic primo nip in our eggs.  And used a ratio of 1/4 stuffing/wadding to 3/4 catnip to fill them - that way the eggs are springy but are really stuffed to the brim with the primo stuff making sure they're extra fragrant and delicious, as nopurrdy wants a BAD EGG! MOL

13. Once your eggs are fully stuffed, hand sew the fabric opening together.

14. Now mew should have something that looks like this, with FULL BUNNY approval.

Now we're at the critical stage of testing, so what did Smooch think?

As mew can see there was no stopping him, the eggs were amazing and Smooch said, "Dudes these Easter Eggs are eggstraspecially nip'a'licious!" MOL

In fact, the P.A. had to remove him from the room as he went a little wild and refused to share with anypawdy else, I think that's because the P.A. used a special combo of Catnip and Catmint that we affectionately refer to as Psychedelic Puma Blend - OOPS - so maybe not for newbies like young Melvyn! 

So there mew have it, straight from Smooch; catnip eggs are the best, make some, get some, try some this Easter and don't miss out on the fun! MOL 

*    *    *

And that pawesome furiends furry sadly brings us to the end of today's Crafting with Cats rerun, we do hope mew liked it, and we look forward to sharing more crafting exploits from BBHQ in the future!

We'll be back with more fun Easter crafts on Tuesday and do hope mew can join us then. In the meantime, we're back tomorrow with our usual Sunday Selfies post.

Epic crafty purrs

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

Basil & The B Team @BionicBasil® on Instacat, Twitter and Facebook

Disclaimer:

We at BionicBasil HQ are not responsible or liable fur any injuries to person/s and/or cat/s, crafting addictions, glue on cats, paper cuts, misplaced pins and needles, cats stealing your supplies, broken scissors, cat fur stuck on your projects, or your project not turning out as planned.  By using this information you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless BionicBasil and staff from and against any and all claims for personal injuries or damages of any kind arising from use of any Crafting With Cats posts we may share.

Graphics created and used under paid licence www.canva.com

**NATIONAL CRAFTS FOR YOUR SHELTERS DAY** Crafting with Cats ~ How We Made A Mini Cardboard Scratcher Revisited

Happy Purrsday Fluffies

NATIONAL CRAFTS FOR YOUR SHELTERS DAY PART II

It's Crafting for Your Shelters Day II, and here's a quick recap in case mew missed yesterday's pawesome post. 

As we love to upcycle, recycle and re-purpose items here at BBHQ, today's project which is #4 in the photo below can be made without having to buy anything in.

 Melvyn as mew can see is really enjoying all the things we made.

To see the rest of the projects in the picture, visit our Crafting with Cats page.

SO LET'S CRAFT ON

This is a completely NO SEW project.

Our Mini Cardboard Scratcher is purrfect for our kitty comrades in shelters, as it will fit easily inside small pens and give the kitties a much-needed scratching outlet. 

 

What We Used

A small cardboard box*

Scissors or craft knife** or cutting wheel**

Extra cardboard boxes***

Ruler

Pen or pencil

Glue non-toxic

Optional catnip

Optional ribbon

>^.^<

*we used a small amazon prime box  6.5" x 9"  approx size

**purrlease be super careful if you're using these cutting tools, take your time and always cut away from yourself and we also recommend that you wear some special cut resistant gloves like this: Cut Resistant Gloves for Safety. These are just an example we found on Amazon and this is not an affiliate link. 

***save all those home delivery boxes to recycle 

*    *    *

Let's Begin

1. Get a small box - this is ours.

2.  Measure approx 1.5" up from the bottom.

3.  Draw a line all the way around.

4.  Cut surplus off and mew should be left with something like this.

5.  Use part of the surplus cardboard to cut a test strip, it should be a fraction less than 1.5" high.

6.  Try the test strip to make sure it fits snuggly, and it's not too long or too high.

7.  Once mew've got the correct size cut lots of strips.

8.  Before mew begin glueing the strips, stick the flaps down in the bottom of the box.

9.  Begin glueing the strips in place.

10.  Smooch was on paw to offer more boxes when we needed to cut some extra strips.

11. & 12. A short while later, and it should now look something like this.

Here's our finished Mini Cardboard Scratcher

Mew can leave it as is, or if mew'd like to add a little more pizazz like us; we used a length of hessian ribbon and simply glued that around the outside. 

Also, mew can add a little sprinkle of catnip to add to the fun.

This is a really supurr project to recycle your old boxes and bring a bit of joy to a kitty or even kitties in shelters.

And ours has lasted two years at BBHQ, so way better than any shop ones we previously tried.

We do hope mew've enjoyed the last two crafting posts and feel inspired to make something for your local shelter. And if there's anything mew'd like us to make, leave a comment with your idea/s.  

We'll be back on the morrow with our usual Friday Fluffers, until then...

Keep calm and craft on

Epically crafty purrs

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

If mew missed any of our previous crafting posts, visit our dedicated crafting page: 

Crafting with Cats

Disclaimer:

We at BionicBasil HQ are not responsible or liable fur any injuries to person/s and/or cat/s, crafting addictions, glue on cats, paper cuts, misplaced pins and needles, cats stealing your supplies, broken scissors, cat fur stuck on your projects, or your project not turning out as planned. Be super careful if you're using cutting tools, take your time and always cut away from yourself and we do recommend that you wear some special cut resistant gloves like this: Cut Resistant Gloves for Safety. these are just an example we found on Amazon and this is not an affiliate link. This project is not suitable for younger readers without parental/adult help. By using this information you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless BionicBasil and staff from and against any and all claims for personal injuries or damages of any kind arising from use of any Crafting With Cats posts we may share.  

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com and www.pizap.com

Crafting With Cats ~ Easter Special Re-Run ~ Easy Catnip Easter Eggs ~ The Only Kind of Easter Eggs Mew'll Want! #CalorieFree MOL

Welcome to

Supurr Greetings Pawesome Pals

Thanks fur joining us fur our Easter Crafting with Cats post. Mew know we have so much fun making all this stuff for feline fun and enrichment, and we hope mew enjoy seeing it and/or making it too! 

If mew missed any of our previous CWC posts, stop by the Crafting with Cats Page and see all our past projects, and mew don't have to be an expert in anything to make any of them.  Plus we offer workarounds and no-sew projects for those who don't like to sew.

*    *    *

**Purrlease Note**

All Crafting with Cats ideas and creations are of our own design and we share them fur purrsonal/home use only.

  So purrlease do not copy fur commercial/resale purrposes.

Copyright ©BionicBasil®

*     *     *

This time we're making some pawesome

The only kind of Easter Eggs mew'll want this Sunday!  #CalorieFree MOL

What Mew Will Need:

cotton fabric, we used a selection of fat quarters in different prints

lining fabric [optional]

needle, thread ~ optional sewing machine

scissors

stuffing/wadding

a great big pile of catnip

Optional Bunny ~ Blossom was today's Craft Room Snoopervisor

Let's Get Started

1. &  2. We're making six eggs - one each of course, and here's our fabric choices fur our eggs

3. Cut out your egg shapes - ours are approx 7" tall by 5" at the widest part prior to sewing

4.  Check with optional bunny to make sure they meet FULL BUNNY approval

5. Cut out lining fabric and place either side of your patterned fabric

6. Pin eggs together ready fur sewing [right sides together]

7. Sew, either by hand or machine, leaving a gap fur the stuffing at the bottom

8. Your egg/s should now look something like this

9. Turn fabric right sides out and get FULL BUNNY approval before continuing

10. This is one side of our eggs

11. This is the other side

12. Now stuff with catnip - we used our homegrown, organic primo nip in our eggs.  And used a ratio of 1/4 stuffing/wadding to 3/4 catnip to fill them - that way the eggs are springy but are really stuffed to the brim with the primo stuff making sure they're extra fragrant and delicious, as nopurrdy wants a BAD EGG! MOL

13. Once your eggs are fully stuffed, hand sew the final part of the seam together

14. Mew should have something that now looks like this, with FULL BUNNY approval if mew had a bunny on-site snoopervising

Now we're at the critical stage of testing, so what did Smooch think?

As mew can see there was no stopping him, the eggs were amazing and Smooch said, "Dudes these Easter Eggs are eggstraspecially nip'a'licious!" 

In fact, the P.A. had to remove him from the room as he went a little wild and refused to share with anypurrdy else, I think that's because the P.A. used a special combo of Catnip and Catmint that we affectionately refer to as the Psychedelic Puma Blend - OOPS - so maybe not fur newbies like young Melvyn! 

So there mew have it, straight from Smooch; catnip eggs are the best, make some, get some, try some this Easter and don't miss out on the fun!  

Happy Easter! 

*    *    *

And that pawesome furiends furry sadly brings us to the end of our Easter Crafting with Cats re-run post, we do hope mew liked it, and we look forward to sharing more crafting exploits from BBHQ in the future!

And if there's anything mew'd like us to make, leave a comment and we'll do our best next time we're here.  

We'll be back on the morrow with our fab Easter Selfies and do hope mew can join us then.

Bestest crafty purrs

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team xox

And don't furget while we're all on lockdown, we The B Team have got your six and can entertain mew fur weeks; there are oodles of colouring pages to download and not furgetting the colouring books too.  There's a page full of crafting projects to keep your mittens making stuff, and if books are your thing, check out Amber's Book Reviews fur your next pawesome read! 

There are some epically exciting adventure stories too, so read our thrilling tales episode by epic episode.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Capt'n Basil & His Motley Crew 

Fast, Furry and Dangerous

The Clockwurk Labyrinth 

We've also added some new Brain Training posts, just to keep your little grey cells in tip-top condition. And we’ll be adding extra jigsaw puzzles to the puzzle page.

If mew want to see more of what's been happening at BBHQ since the lockdown began, check out our Instagram feed where mew can see our daily diary and exclusive videos that we don't put here on the blog.

Basil & The B Team @BionicBasil® on Instacat, Twitter and Facebook

Disclaimer:

We at BionicBasil HQ are not responsible or liable fur any injuries to person/s and/or cat/s, crafting addictions, glue on cats, paper cuts, misplaced pins and needles, cats stealing your supplies, broken scissors, cat fur stuck on your projects, or your project not turning out as planned.  By using this information you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless BionicBasil and staff from and against any and all claims for personal injuries or damages of any kind arising from use of any Crafting With Cats posts we may share.

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com and www.pizap.com