Ellen Deakin - Sloth Crafts: 18 Fun & Creative Step-by-Step Projects (Creature Crafts)

Copyright 2019 by Ellen Deakin All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Racehorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Racehorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Racehorse Publishing is a pending trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Cover and interior design by Antonia Orrego Requena
Cover photography by Diego Astorga Carneyro Print ISBN: 978-1-63158-525-8
eBook ISBN: 978-1-63158-526-5 Printed in China CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Welcome to Sloth Crafts ! Im really excited to share 18 fun projects about slothsone of the coolest, cutest animals around. Dont be surprised if you fall for these lovable animals in a big way! Theres so much to be inspired by in sloths. They seem to enjoy the good things in life, hanging out, watching the world go by, always with a big smile on their faces! With help from some talented friends, Ive had so much fun putting together a wonderful variety of Sloth inspired projectswith something for everyone and for every occasion.

So lets get crafting! Take it easy and get in touch with your inner sloth. Dont hurry, be happy! The projects in this book are rated from easy to advanced and there is also an indication of how long each project will take. You can tell which project has a template too. SO WHAT IS A SLOTH? A sloth is a mammal that lives in trees, often hanging upside down. It sleeps 15 to 20 hours a day. A sloth has poor eyesight.

It moves slowly, to conserve energy and to avoid detection by predators. Where does the sloth live? Sloths live in trees in the tropical rain forests of South and Central America. They usually eat their diet of leaves, sleep, and even give birth hanging from branches. Their long arms and legs have curved claws to help them to hang upside down. Their slow movement on land helps them avoid attack by hawks and cats who hunt by movement. Do people keep sloths as pets? Some people do, but it is not a good idea.

Sloths make poor pets as they need to eat only the leaves of particular trees that are not found everywhere. Why do we love sloths? Could it be their friendly faces with mouths that seem to have a permanent smile? Or their relaxed, laid-back manner and chilled attitude? They can twist their heads 270 degrees, which looks cute and helps them to see danger approaching. What is the difference between a three-toed and a two-toed sloth? Two-toed sloths, with a varied diet of insects, small animals, fruit, leaves, and small lizards, move over an area of up to 300 acres. They are nocturnal creatures, whereas three-toed sloths, which are smaller and slower than the two-toed, are active in daylight. They have a diet of leaves from only a few trees, and no mammal digests as slowly. Sloths are helpless on the ground but they are surprisingly strong swimmers.

They can slow their heart rate so that they can hold their breath underwater for up to 40 minutes. CRAFT MATERIALS SLOTH YARN AND FABRIC CRAFTS Fabric in various colors Ribbon Colorful felt Wool yarn Embroidery thread Embroidery needles Small hammer and nails A sharp pair of scissors Colorful fabric paint Cushion stuffing SLOTH PAPER CRAFTS Tissue paper Glue stick White liquid glue Cardboard Colored card stock Contact film Colored pens and pencils Acrylic paint Paint brushes Clear tape, masking tape Foam sheets Glitter PROJECT 1: SLOTH
HOOP This hanging Sloth Hoop is bursting with gorgeous flora and fauna and features an adorably cute and happy Sloth! This project combines sewing and gluing techniques and is a perfect craft for older crafters or family groups. Hang this happy sloth in a bedroom or living room, or craft and give as a very special gift! YOU WILL NEED: An embroidery hoop Felt in various colors Embroidery thread Scissors Craft wire Fabric glue Yarn Ribbon HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOOP: Take some green yarn and start wrapping it around the inner ring of an embroidery hoop. Add a length of ribbon to hang your hoop. Continue wrapping the yarn around the hoop, covering the ends of the ribbon to create the hanger loop. Next, cut out the three panels of brown felt needed for your sloth, using the templates in the back of this book. Take 3 balls of embroidery yarn and add colored stitches onto panel 1. Cut out the face of the sloth from colored felt and glue the pieces in place onto panel 1.