by Emily
I have been in the market for bean bag chairs for my kids for a couple of months. We have hardwood floors downstairs, and yet, they love to lie on the floor to watch movies and TV. On special movie nights, we usually just drag a pile of blankets downstairs and lounge on them. Well, the kids do, at least. I cannot risk the health of my 33-year-old back. I thought they might LOVE having bean bag chairs instead.
Except WOW, did you guys know what some places CHARGE for bean bag chairs? I wanted one with a cover that I could take off and wash, and I wanted one that was big enough to use for several years and through many growth spurts, and it turns out finding one the right size and quality was going to cost me close to $130 EACH. Each! Yeah, no.
Then I stumbled across this pillow mattress on Pinterest and an idea was born. (Our very own A'Dell wrote about similar mats earlier this year, too.)
Now, the honest truth is that I have no idea how to sew. My grandmother happened to be in town and she whipped up TWO of these babies for me over the course of two hours. But I do find that the tutorial is easy to follow, if you know how to sew.
I will add my two cents, which is that you can make these super, duper cheap if you can find a twin-size bedsheet. It's the perfect amount of material, it is designed to hold up through many, many washings, and I found mine at Walmart for $5 each in a cute striped pattern. Throw in four pillows for each mattress ($2.50 each, also at Walmart) and each pillow mattress came out to $15 (Grandma's labor was free).
I am giving them as Christmas gifts - each child is also going to get a copy of a beloved DVD to go with it.
[photo credit: pinterest.com]










Does it fold up easily? How do you store it if you don't want it lying across your living room all the time?
Posted by: badger reader | December 01, 2011 at 02:07 PM
The pillows can be removed at any time. Of course, then you've got 8 pillows laying around. I'm planning on shoving them under the kids' beds or something, I think. (If they'll let me!)
Posted by: Emily | December 01, 2011 at 02:47 PM
I want to see a picture of yours! How are the pillows secured in? Velcro?
My kids would love these, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jess | December 01, 2011 at 04:46 PM
kids love these! i made mine using 4 pillow cases sewn together. no measuring involved!
Posted by: cynthia | December 01, 2011 at 10:01 PM
Those are awsome! I think I am going to make them for gifts for my friends kids! Thanks for sharing the idea!
Posted by: Kim | December 03, 2011 at 04:12 PM
Seriously?
http://www.stylelushblog.com/2011/08/nap-mats-for-kids-why-buy-when-you-can-diy-.html
It's even got the same photo, ftlog.
Posted by: Laura GF | December 03, 2011 at 05:53 PM
Just about six years earlier, Asbun and Law lined up against one another in a contest between De La Salle-Jesuit played in Concord, California. Law's Marauders triumphed 28-19, en route to the 2006 high school title, with both backrowers contributing a try and Gainline.us specially observing that Law was 'hard to tackle'.
Posted by: Nike High Heels 7 | December 12, 2011 at 02:20 AM