Learn to DIY an I spy bag. This toy is way more engaging that you might think and it’s a super simple do it yourself toy.
Attention all parents, teachers, and craft enthusiasts! Are you looking for a fun and interactive activity that will keep your little ones entertained for hours on end? Look no further than the DIY I Spy bag.
How many times have you heard – “Are we there yet?” “I’m bored!” “He’s touching me.” “How much longer?” I Spy Bags are the perfect busy bag toy for your purse, diaper bag or car to keep little hands busy and entertained. Great for doctor’s offices, church, road trips or grocery shopping. These I Spy Bags will keep the kids occupied for hours.
This simple yet engaging toy is sure to capture the attention of children while also promoting learning and creativity. In this article, we will delve into the world of DIY I spy bags – what they are and how to make them. So grab your materials and get ready to create a one-of-a-kind toy that will be loved by all ages.
How to DIY an I SPY bag
What is an I SPY bag
An I SPY bag is a toy that contains small items hidden inside a bag with a clear window. It’s intended for children to find the items by shaking and manipulating the bag. I Spy bags can be a good activity for children while traveling or during quiet time, and can help improve fine motor skills.
Supplies need to make an I SPY bag
- Pencil pouch (98 cents at Walmart)
- Bead mix (perler beads, pony beads, wood beads, etc!)
- Little “treasures” (more on that down below!)
- Glue (hot glue or E6000)
What to put in an I Spy bag
My kids are collectors of all sorts of treasures! There is always pockets and drawers full of their finds! This is such a great option to put all the things they can’t part with in one place instead of all over their rooms!
- Buttons
- Old Keys
- Fast Food Toys
- Broken Jewelry
- Jibbets
- Beads
- Seashells
- Rocks
- Paperclips
- Toys (Lego or Barbie supplies)
- Charms
- bouncy balls
- Coins
- army guys
- Nerf bullet
- puzzle pieces
- Googly eyes
- Alphabet magnets
Fun tip: You can add more than one item. That way you can have on the list, “find two fish” or find “3 different flowers”. You can also have fun with the alphabet like “find something that starts with a B.”
How to create an I Spy bag
If your kids are old enough, they could help write up the list of everything inside. If not, you can just type it up. This helps the kids know what is in the bag and will look for everything big and small!
We laminated ours so it would hold up over time- but if you don’t have a laminator, you could use packing tape to cover it!
You can also take a picture of all the items in one photo and then just print them out so smaller kids who can’t read can do this without help.
Once you have everything written down, you can start making the I SPY bag.
The assembly of the I SPY bag couldn’t be easier! Just unzip the pencil pouch and dump in all the treasures you have found. Fill the remaining space with your bead mix. You don’t want to overfill it because you want to make it so you can move things around to find all your items. You also don’t want to undermix or the I SPY bag might be too easy! (Which might be a great option for little kids!
Sealing the pencil pouch
You don’t want your kid to accidentally be shaking the beads and have them start spilling out everywhere! We added a little hot glue to the zipper to keep it in place. We just put it right above and below the zipper pull. The hot glue can be picked off if you decide to add any fun things.
If your kids are little and you are worried about them picking off the glue without permission- I would opt for E6000 adhesive on the zipper. It’s a permanent fix.
Here is one I made about 14 years ago.
and here is one I made to update it!
Since it is a binder pouch- we decided to make a whole fun activity/ quiet bookbinder!
Quiet time activity binder
What’s so great about this binder is that you can always add and take away things to keep it fresh and excited of your kids! You can also add in what things your kid likes and gear it to their age groups!
I’ll just share some of the ideas we used in ours!
I have a bunch of these folders (the book I got them from is FINCH family file folder games!)
So I popped a few holes and added them to our binder.
You can add a folder with lots of stickers that I have lying around. Slip in some blank pieces of paper as well.
I wanted to have some coloring items that stayed in the binder so I created a little pouch and just added it to the clear pocket at the front of the binder.
You can also slip in a color book or an kind of puzzle book! The dollar store has lots of great options.
My doodle book printables would be a perfect addition to this quiet book!
We created some quiet books with felt and hot glue that would be another really cute thing to add.
My friend Girl loves glam has a darling princess themed quiet book as well!
DIY lacing cards would fit perfectly in a binder!
and I have a whole roundup of fun road trip games! Most have some free printables you could incorporate!
The BEST kid crafts and activities
and when I say kids, I mean kids of all ages!
- black glue art
- salt art
- hot rocks
- Yarn bracelets
- DIY window clings with puff paint
- Play dough activity mats
- Melted crayon art
- magic wallet
- Learn to make black scratch paper
- Melted Crayon Suncatcher
- Pressed Flowers Jar
- Bleeding Tissue craft
If you are looking for more fun kids’ crafts- my craft camp has two weeks full of fun projects that you will love to do as well!
Krista @ says
I'm organizing a Super Saturday and had already decided on the I Spy Pencil Pouches as one of our projects. But I really, really LOVE the bead idea! That will cut our costs in half! Thank you so much. I love your blog, I always leave inspired!
~Krista
Michelle says
These are so cute that I feature them in my Friday Fave 5 Post over at my blog, you should check it out!
Pati @ A Crafty Escape says
SO cool!
Melissa says
I love the I Spy envelope.
Camille says
The I spy is adorable! Some of the ones you buy at boutiques are so tiny, that is the perfect size. Lovin' your cleverness:)
Alea says
I love the I Spy idea!!! Brilliant.
Tere says
I love it! I need to make one of these for my 4 year old while we wait for my 6 year old in the pick up line at school! Join my link Party!
terelauritsen.blogspot.com
Celeste B. says
Absolutely amazing, so creative!!! Love it!!! 🙂
Bea says
cute…
Summer says
This is fantastic! I'll be featuring this on my blog on the 16th! Thanks for sharing!
K-Sue says
Cute ideas – I what a fun binder! I love the spy bag idea, too. Wouldn't it be great to make one of these up so it would be new just before a long car trip with a little one (as long as the little one is not prone to motion sickness:)
angelia says
Great Idea! Visiting from New Friend Fridays!
Tasha says
You are brilliant. I Spy Bags in Pencil holders? BRILLIANT. Seriously. The whole binder I love. I am so loving this. I really need some new church activities. Cheapest and easiest bags. Love all of it. Thank you, thank you for linking this up. It is going on my list (at the top end) of things to do.
jbr says
I will be doing this one. My kids are out of control during church–this will help a lot.
Practically Spent says
They I Spy is spectacular. It's one of those "why didn't I think of that" things. Thanks!
Crystal says
This is so awesome! My kids would love this and its such an easy alternative to a quiet book.
p.s. I'll be featuring this next Friday.
crystalscraftspot.blogspot.com
mustangkayla says
This is SSOOO Much fun! I love it! TFS!
elizabeth @ twelvecrafts says
Hopping over from Somewhat Simple. This is so clever! I've been wanting to do an activity book, but not a felt one so this is fabulous . . . love it!
Joy says
Thanks for sharing at Make it Fantabulous! This is really a great idea. I love that you used colored beads!
Katie Riddle says
GENIUS!!! I MUST make four of these ASAP; before Sunday, even.
The Activity Mom says
This is so cool! Love it!
Kara and Glen says
Great idea. I wonder if I can get stuff together and make one before Sunday. 🙂
I say…
Keeping the kid quiet through church…priceless.
Corrina says
I love this idea. It's totally something to take to the doctor's office, in the car, anywhere you need portable fun. Thanks 🙂
Amy @MoMomma says
Super great Idea! I had to keep reading to see how you sealed the bag. I know my boys would figure out a way to open it! LOL Thanks for posting each step. This will be a life saver at church.
Kristen says
This is awesome. Seriously. I love the "I spy". I love the "school stuff." And I love love love the colored pencil case. Thanks for the inspiration
Photina says
I have seen this floating around pinterest and I am glad I finally clicked on it. It will be perfect for our trip to ID next week! And it's a great way to give each of the girls some of the file folders I've made already.
Linds says
SERIOUSLY! Everything in ONE binder for church! AND for each KID! Thank you!
Carita De Angel says
Whattt a great idea..thanks soon much for sharriing!..btw..I'm adding a small puzzle..and a matching card game ..(I'm not sure if that is how u call it) lol..
I have a new born ..so my 2 n 4 y/o/ need to get busy in the sacramental metting!
Beth says
I love your I Spy bag…what an easy way to do it. We did one in RS when my 10 yr old was little and it involved sewing, etc. not that I'm against sewing, but this will take so much less time 🙂 And pony beads are cheaper than the stuff we used then. I have a question regarding your file folder games. You said you put tape on the pieces so they stick…do you just roll up a piece of tape and stick them on the back and do it that way…how to you store them then – just stick them to the side of the folder? I've made several of these for my 2 & 5 year olds and I've used velcro which can be so loud during Sac. Mtg. I've seen ideas about using magnets, but my 2 yr old would yank, peel or whatever to get them off and put them in her mouth so they aren't exactly the safest way to go. Velcro works great but is noisy so I'm trying to find an alternative. Anyway, LOVE your idea for the pencil holder too. So glad I saw this on pinterest.
Beth
bethlorr@hotmail.com
shanae says
i did this for my daughter a few years ago for a road trip and even today she still loves to use it and she is 9yrs old i think this would be a great easter gift to.
Andie Pandie says
I am so glad that I found this! I bought a whole bunch of these at a local Wal-Mart for only a NICKEL apiece!!! I'm going to use them to make gifts, like 72 hour kit pouches and this is perfect for my nieces and nephews who have to travel 3-4 hours to come visit me! Thank you for posting this, now I have a fun thing I can make for them that won't take very long! I also love the idea of having a whole binder full of activities for kids. I don't have any children yet, so I spoil my nieces and my nephews instead 🙂
Share says
I see this is an older post, but I just saw it (from Pinterest). Just HAD to tell you that this is GENIUS!!!
St. Anne's Helper says
I'm so glad I found this on Pinterest! What a great idea! You are one bright and industrious Mom.
You're braver than I with all those little pieces, though. They'd be all over my floor or the car.
An idea: Make a binder cover that has the zipper closure and a handle or strap like a courier bag. Why? 'Cuz I know who gets to carry these treasures!
Have a great day!
Shahidul Islam says
INCREDIBLE THINKING!! You did really making sense. My little baby girl like different things to do and I think this will be enjoyable for me also.
Елена says
Отличные идеи,спасибо!!!