I am honored to be part of the “celebrate the boy” series hosted by Dana and Rae. Since I have three girls, I am clueless when it comes to boy clothes and things. Thus, every time a little boy birthday party or Christmas comes around, I hardly know what to get as gifts for the little lads!
After much frustration of what to give little boys, I asked my husband what his favorite toys were as a kid. His answer… G.I Joe. After a little brainstorming and an approval from my husband, the main boy in my life, I asked if boys would like little toy soldiers to play with? To my relief, he said yes.
Then, one search led to another and I had the perfect little toy soldier gift pack to give to all the little boys we know.
Every little boy soldier must have:
1. His very own army helmet.
2. His very own troop of toy soldiers.
3. His own drawstring bag to hold all the soldiers to make sure no one gets lost in battle.
Quick instructions on how to make the bag:
1. Use 8” x 12” drawstring bags, I purchased a pack of cloth bags here, but you could easily make your own.
2. Find an image you want to put on the bag, then print that image onto iron-on transfers that could easily be bought at your local craft store.
3. Print out your iron-on transfers, next cut out and designate an area on the bag you would like the image to be placed.
4. Follow package instructions for ironing-on, then let cool and tear off paper and voila! You should have your perfect little toy soldier bag.
5. Stuff with little toy soldiers!
As I was making these gift packs, my dad happened to come over and immediately grabbed a handful of soldiers and started playing with them and knocking them down like he was a little kid again. Ben came over to my side and said, “See, what did I tell you?! Little dudes will love them!” If Ben and my Dad liked playing with them, other little boys might too.
If you are here visiting for the first time through “celebrate the boy“, well… hello and nice to meet you! Thank you Dana and Rae for letting me part of your fun series!!!
p.s. i don’t have any boys, so if i did, i am not sure how i would approach “battle” playing quite yet, so if this isn’t something you would give your child (i understand every parent has their own preference) still please be nice or don’t say anything at all.
p.p.s. don’t mind the blog looking a bit out of sorts here and there as there will be some blog design tweaking going on!
Enzo loves army guys! it's only other toy he plays with other than Disney Cars
Enzo loves army guys! it's only other toy he plays with other than Disney Cars
ate joyce- you have to get him the helmet then! it is so cute on!!! i wanna see him wearing it!
Thanks Ruby for sharing with us! I'm so happy to have a mom of girls mixed in the celebration 🙂
love the new banner. 🙂 That had nothing to do with your post, but I just wanted to let you know 🙂
dana- thanks for having me! it is interesting the views people have on this particular toy! hope i didn't scare any of your readers!
being the mom of 2 girls… i am in the same boat as you ruby! i do have lots and lots of nephews and i am always on the look out for great gift ideas for them.. this is a great!
thanks 🙂
JUST played army guys with my little boy
then read this
🙂
you nailed it
Such a cute gift idea for a little boy! I don't know a little boy who doesn't love lining up soldiers and pretending to be the captain : )
What a great idea! My husband and i have two girls too, and i wouldnt really kno what to do either. Here in France there's a tradition of playing with boats in public parcs, so maybe that!
About boyn we entered a contest to bake a very boyish cake.
I love the new style of your blog!!
Eloïse from France!
Perhaps I have been out of the U.S. for too long, but I am a mom of 3 boys, and we don't promote guns.
It's cute idea, we love costumes. I would have maybe gone with the binocular soldier or maybe even make bubbles coming from the gun. ha ha
i am a mom of three boys. whether or not you want toy guns in the house, there WILL be guns. my middle son will chew his toast into the shape of a gun for goodness' sake!
and we dont play video games or watch any violent tv either,
it's innate!
love your drawstring bag- my 3 yr old just got a whack of army guys for his birthday and this would be perfect for keeping them together!
I am a little surprised that in today's society war is made into a game for children! Perhaps it is a cultural thing in the US.
I love your blog BTW.
ricebabies & where my heart is- maybe it is a u.s. cultural thing. i could see that being the case.
Thanks for the bag instructions,my little lads leave their soldiers all over the place,this would be a great solution.Especially helpful now we are on a simplifying journey:0)
be well,
Natasha x
Just wanted to let you know that I think you did a great job with your post. You definately didn't “scare” me away from Dana's blog 🙂
bethanndodd- thank you so much!!! that encouragement really does mean a lot! i knew not everyone would agree, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. kids are kids and sometimes toys are toys. and i guess boys are boys! but thank you!!
SWEET BLOG BRO. 😉
this is a fun idea. my seven year old picks out army guys every time we go to the dollar store. they also sell police guys and firemen. i love that this can be easily made for any of those little toys. great job ruby.
cute, cute project RubyEllen! These might be fun to sell in your Etsy shop? Anyway, your blog is looking gorgeous. I could use a few pointers…
xo
i love your blog. wouldn't it be wild if you had a boy?
Just thought I'd share that as I was reading your post my boys happened to get a look at the bag. They want it so badly. I better get crackin'. P.S. I'm glad you didn't let the negativity get you down. You can't please everyone. 🙂
I don't know what I'd do with a boy. The whole circumcision thing freaks me out to begin with, so I haven't thought past that! This is a cute idea. Army guys are a nice alternative to video games that all of my students are stuck on.
Love the idea! My son has TONS of army men as well as police men, firemen, pirates, and cowboys and indians. I guess we're just not a very politically correct family! But I can't wait to make one of these bags for each of his sets; a great way to keep them organized. Thank you!
You are so full of inspiration! I LOVE every bit of your blog and i am so thankful that i`ve found you on the web. You give me so much joy and hapiness, and i am always looking farward to an new post from you. I am an interiour/retro/artsy blogger from Oslo, Norway, saying hi and congratulations with the new little-little one. I wish you all the best.
Kind regards from With a playfull mind / med et lekent sinn
Love this post 🙂 I'm a mom to 4 boys (22,17,6 & 4)and boys will be boys. No stopping them. I'd rather they play with these little men then with the video games any day. Plus the day does come around when you stop hearing the sounds of cars, laser beams, and guns. Trust me, you miss it.
I love how classic this is! I've found with my son that he is interested in this type of thing regardless of how I view it… boys just like to play fight. Though I have to say he does it with manners (at least I taught him that!). I love the bag and I'm loving your blog design… it's harder to do than it looks!
my husband absolutely LOVED these as a child! I'm a teacher- and our kids love re-enacting military battles. It's life- it excites boys to learn about our history.
As a mom of 3 young boys (ages 7, 5 & 2), I consider myself a boy expert. They are curious, rowdy, yet sweet little creatures! I love the army stuff you made-my boys would love it. And although I've never promoted the whole gun thing either, it's how they play and what they like so whadya gonna do!
I can't imagine having GIRLS!
Sarah
veggie-kids.blogspot.com
Hi ruby! I'm a long time follower, but first time commentor! I actually saw you at Costco today! I wanted to totally fawn over you, your family, and your awesome blog, but I was so nervous! I was walking with my dad down an aisle when i see this familiar looking fellow look at something in the same aisle. I turn around and i see you! SUPER totally nervous to say hi. You are even more beautiful in person! haha
marissa, you should have said hi! what aisle was it on? that is too funny! such a small world! 1. i never go to costco (ben does all the grocery shopping) 2. we don't usually go to that costco. So it was really funny to run into a reader without knowing. if it ever happens again, say hi!!!!
thank you to all for your very nice comments and also for sharing your opinions. i know we don't all agree with everything all the time, but it is still nice to respect each other's own preferences and decisions. variety makes this world a bit more interesting, doesn't it?!!