Celebrate Three Kings Day , also known as Epiphany, with these easy-to-make beanbag monarchs.

Materials

• Needle and heavy thread
• Three 10-inch circles of velvet, velveteen, or other soft, plush fabric
• 1 1/2 cups of dried peas or beans
• Three 4 1/2- to 5 1/2-inch dowels with 1-inch diameters
• Hot-glue gun
• Three 4-inch pieces of decorative braided trim (for collars)

• Three 2 1/2-inch circles of felt (for hair)
• Three 4-inch pieces of lacy gold trim (for crowns)
• Small plastic jewels
• Three 12-inch pieces of 1-inch-wide decorative fabric trim or ribbon (for sashes)
• Fine-point permanent black marker

Instructions

1. For each royal, first thread a needle with a 3-foot length of heavy thread and tie a large knot at the end. Sew a simple running stitch around the edge of one of the 10-inch fabric circles, about 1/4 inch in from the edge.

2. Remove the needle from the thread and, with the fabric facedown, pull the thread to gather the material into a pouch, as shown below. Pour 1/2 cup of dried peas or beans into the pouch, then set a dowel in the center and hot-glue the gathered edge of the fabric to it. Trim away the excess thread and glue on a piece of braided trim for a collar, covering the rough edge of the material.

3. For hair, glue a felt circle atop the dowel, slightly off-center, then glue the edges down around the dowel. Glue a 4-inch piece of lacy gold trim in a ring around the felt for a crown. Glue on more trim, plastic jewels, and ribbon as you like, including a 12-inch piece of decorative trim or ribbon for a sash, then use the marker to draw a simple face on the dowel.

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Find more about:

• 1-2 Hours |
• All Ages |
• Christmas |
• Decorating Projects |
• Religious |
• Royalty |
• Sew & No Sew Crafts

Related Categories:

• Festive Displays |
• December/January 2006