DIY Upcycled Dog Toy

Does your dog go through toys like crazy? Have you ever wished you could make your own toys? Here's a simple and easy way to make an upcycled dog toy! It's incredibly simple, and you can make it with items you already have around the house!

Supplies You Will Need:

To get started with this DIY Upcycled toy, you will first need a few supplies:

• Three different older/ upcycled t-shirts in different colors/patterns. It doesn't matter if these have graphics or holes. Remember, this will be used in a chew toy 🙂 
• One Tennis Ball
• One pair of scissors
• One Screwdriver
• One Fabric marker. It doesn't matter what color!
• A cutting mat and ruler, measuring tape or ruler. You could also use your phone's measuring app if you can't find a ruler, although a ruler would be MOST accurate for this.
• One rubber band 

Instructions on How to Make the Upcycled Toy:

First, you'll want to cut the back off each t-shirt. Again, it's ok if these shirts have graphics on them. Mine had a graphic on the front. 🙂

Steps 2 and 3: You can use either a ruler, marker & scissors for this step, OR you can use a cutting mat, ruler & rotary cutter. You will want to cut 24 (8 of each color) one-inch-wide strips from your t-shirts. Separating by color helps make it easier, but don't stress if it's not exactly 8 from each! It's ok if you get 10 from one and 6 from another. The important part is to wind up with 24 total strips.

Steps 4 and 5: Divide your strips into two different groups of 12 each. Lay them out as evenly as you can so the ends line up. If yours aren't quite even, you can always trim the ends. Tie a knot in one end, leaving about three inches of fringe of the first set. Then, braid them, knotting the end and leaving 3 inches of the fringe. Repeat on the next set.

Step 6: Use a screwdriver (or any appropriate tool!) and make a hole in one end of the tennis ball and another in the opposite end. You'll want to make these holes as EVEN- because you'll need them for the next step!

Step 7: Use a rubber band to hold the two braided pieces together at one end. Push the braided pieces the holes in the tennis ball and pull it out the other end, placing the ball in the middle of the braids. Voila! Now you are ready to play some tug of war with your dog!

Have you ever made a dog toy before? Tell us about it! Leave a comment below!