Stuffed Animal Recreations: Upcycle Progress

Ayesha Rawal
Post 3 - 2025 : Upcycle Progress, Student Work
4 Comments

My upcycling project follows the aesthetic of nostalgia/childhood nostalgia. I will be making a small series of stuffed animals out of recycled and found materials that will be recreations of the actual childhood stuffed animals that my friends and I cherished growing up. I would like to make 3 ideally- 1 out of leather scraps, 1 out of fabric, and 1 out of thick cardstock/paper, however I know that just 1 will be very time intensive. I would rather make one really well done stuffed animal than three halfhearted ones. 

 

 

 

 

 

I have started gathering supplies for my upcycling project from my own crafting supplies as well as from Art Parts. From Art Parts, I sourced a bag of leather scraps, a bag of buttons, and various odds and ends to add onto the stuffed animals. From my own supplies I found a bunch of thick paper that when crumpled up many times will eventually act like “fabric.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am focusing on my personal stuffed animal, which I will be recreating from fabric. I started making a pattern by covering the bear with saran wrap, and then covering the saran wrap with packing tape. I cut off that “form,” hacked it up, and added darts to make everything lay flat. I then traced these shapes onto butcher paper to create an actual pattern. I sewed half of the face to test it, and I think it will work decently well.

These recreations are meant to look childish and whimsical, which means it’s okay if I don’t make them perfect! They’re meant to show the joy that these stuffed animals brought us when we were younger.

4 Comments. Leave new

  • Andrew Chamberlain
    February 9, 2025 8:01 pm

    This is such a cool idea! Recreating childhood stuffed animals with upcycled materials feels really personal and nostalgic, and I love that you’re experimenting with different materials like leather and paper. Do you already know which stuffed animal you’ll start with, or are you deciding as you go?

    It’s great that you’ve already gathered materials and planned out your approach. Since you’re working with such different textures, have you thought about the best way to join them together? Sewing leather and paper seems tricky, so I’m curious how you’ll tackle that. Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together, hope the picture issue gets sorted out soon because I’d love to see your process!

    • Ayesha Rawal
      February 11, 2025 3:41 pm

      Thanks for your feedback! I am going to start with my personal childhood stuffed animal, and go from there depending on time constraints. That’s a great question- I will mostly be sewing to join everything together. This approach should work well with the fabric and leather, and hopefully it works with the paper since the paper is pretty thick. Thanks again!

  • Reilly, Greg
    February 8, 2025 10:44 pm

    I have been getting some of the nostalgia posts coming up on social media so this sounds like something I should target in my next project. What will you be stuffing the stuffed animals with? Will the whole stuffed animals be made of leather? I would want to have them on my bed and a furry one would sound more cuddly to have.

    • Ayesha Rawal
      February 11, 2025 3:43 pm

      It’s a really fun topic, especially when you dive into the things you personally loved as a kid! I’ll be using recycled fabric scraps to stuff them. One will be leather, one will be paper, and one will be fabric (hopefully, if I have time to make all three!). I agree, I think the paper and leather ones will be more decorative 🙂 Thanks for your feedback!

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