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Critters That Keep Out the Cold

Total Time Needed:: 2-3 Hours

Stationed in a window or up against a door this winter, these charming homemade draft blockers will help keep indoor temperatures up and fuel bills down -- provided they don't get coaxed off the job for a playdate, that is. Both are simply fashioned from a pair of tights and filled with rice, which makes them posable enough to tuck tightly into nooks and corners.

Materials

HEAT-SAVING SNAKE
1 pair striped women's tights
Uncooked rice (ours took a full 5-pound bag)
Needle and thread
Fabric glue
Felt
Googly eyes
Scissors
DOGGY IN THE WINDOW
1 pair women's tights

Uncooked rice
Needle and thread
Fabric glue
Felt
Googly eyes
Scissors
Paper clips
Button
Old belt or bracelet

Instructions

HEAT-SAVING SNAKE: Cut off one leg from a pair of striped women's tights and fill it with rice (ours took a full 5-pound bag). An easy, spillproof method is to use a plastic cup with the bottom cut out for a funnel (A).
Pinch the open end of the leg into itself to form a tapered snake tail and stitch it closed (B).
Glue on googly eyes. Lastly, sew on a felt tongue, using the same technique described for attaching the dog's ears (see step F for Doggy in the Window, below).
DOGGY IN THE WINDOW: Cut one leg from a pair of women's tights and fill it with rice. Leave enough room to tie the open end into a tight knot (C).
For a tail, apply fabric glue across the base of a felt triangle (ours was about 2 1/2 inches wide and 7 inches tall) and sandwich it around the knot (D).
Apply more glue to the sides and then fold the felt in half. Secure the tail with paper clips until the glue dries (E).
Glue on googly eyes. Attach felt ears by draping each one over the head, as shown, and then sewing the base in place (F). This way, when you flop the ear down, the stitching won't show.
For the finishing touches, sew on felt feet and a button nose (we used a triangular shank button). Then use your hands to shape the nose and body. Don't forget a collar: an old belt trimmed to fit, or even a bracelet.