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Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its way, with a happy Hug Me Bunny or two.

Hug Me Bunny stuffed animal bunny rabbits in an Easter basket with a big ribbon, plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingHappy spring and happy Easter! To celebrate, I have a whole colony, or fluffle, of Hug Me Bunny stuffed animal bunny rabbits! I have Hug Me Bunny and Wonder Bunny plush toys in lots of colors. You can hop on over to adopt one or two in our Ruffing’s shop.

Hug Me Bunny Easter basket ideas are further down in this post.

I love bunnies. They are sweet, intelligent, lovely animals. Please don’t give real bunnies as gifts for Easter! Having a rabbit as a pet is a big commitment and a lot of work. They are definitely not “starter pets.” They need lots of love and attention, like Oliver Bunny does.

The House Rabbit Society is a great resource for information about their needs and care.

Hug Me Bunny stuffed toy bunnies, however, are very easy to take care of, in addition to being cuddly.

Hug Me Bunnies in spring colors, plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingI brought some Hug Me Bunny plush toys to Rabbit Day this year, and two of them were adopted by Louise and Arthur, two real bunnies.

Hug Me Bunnies with their bunny friends Louise and Arthur, plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingHug Me Bunnies stuffed animal bunny rabbits come in all colors, even apple green. They have hand-stitched fleece hearts in pretty colors. I love combining colors. I like to use my custom-printed colored eyes on them to make them even more colorful.

Apple Green Hug Me Bunny, plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingI started an Instagram page, for our stuffed animal art toys and original art dolls, if you would like to follow me there. I’m on Pinterest too. I started a Ruffing’s mailing list as well, so I can send out updates when we have something new.

Hug Me Bunnies in spring colors, plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingHug Me Bunny Easter basket ideas.

If you would like to make an Easter or a spring basket, like the one I made, shown at the top of this post, here are some instructions.

I got package of floral foam, which you can find in a craft store, or craft department, or online. I happened to get “wet foam”, because it was the best size for my basket, but that wasn’t necessary because I used pretend flowers. It’s called wet foam, because it is used for fresh flower arrangements, to keep them hydrated, but I didn’t wet it!

I set my basket on top of the foam, for size, and carved away the excess with a knife. It was very easy to cut. Then I put the block into a leftover plastic shopping bag, so the bits wouldn’t get everywhere, and I sealed the bag.

Wet foam, floral foam, for flower arrangingI cut my flowers away from their central stem. Silk flowers are wired, and so you will need a tool that cuts wire, like a pair of side-cutting pliers or wire cutters. I tried to cut them at an angle, to make it easier to insert them into the foam.

Pretend flowers, snipped away from their central stemI put my bag of floral foam into my basket, and poked my flowers right into the foam through the bag. If you need to pull them out to reposition them, just poke a new hole.

Flowers stuck into floral foam which is inside a plastic bagI left some space in front of the flowers for my stuffed animal bunnies. The bow is made from wired ribbon that was made into big even-sized loops, and then pinched together in the center with a big pipe cleaner. The ribbon could be wrapped around a big tube or jar to get the loops even, with the tails hanging free. The loops are pulled into shape and arranged as desired.

I added a bunny ribbon around the rim of the basket. I set two Hug Me Bunny plush rabbits in the basket, and I was all ready for Easter.

Aqua Hug Me Bunny, plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingPlease join our Ruffing’s mailing list for updates when we have something new to share.

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Busy days and a green bunny

Yellow and gray Hug Me Slugs, apple green Hug Me Bunny plush toys by Elizabeth RuffingI’ve mostly been finishing toys people have asked for, when I’ve had a chance to finish any toys, but I did make these gray and lemon yellow Hug Me Slugs. The apple green Hug Me Bunny was a custom order and is already adopted. They each have my new colored eyes.

Apple green Hug Me Bunny plush toy by Elizabeth RuffingWe’ve had a lot going on lately, and I haven’t been able to sew as much as I would like. I’ve been doing my dad’s physical therapy with him. He’s been very good about doing his exercises and walking, but his balance is sometimes off. He wakes up a lot at night, and I think he may have taken up sleep walking. I hear him wandering the hall at night. He makes coffee and feeds the cats, and doesn’t remember doing it. I’ve had to strike a balance between checking on him and sleeping because I can’t get up every hour and hope to function.

Lemon yellow Hug Me Slug plush toy by Elizabeth RuffingDad’s scan results were not what any of us hoped they would be, but we still need to have more tests to confirm what is going on. I am hoping he can resume physical therapy with a trained physical therapist to help him with his balance, but first we need to get more appointments out of the way. I’ll keep doing his exercises with him either way.

Heather gray Hug Me Slug plush toy by Elizabeth RuffingHurricane Junonimo had her spay surgery done. She went into heat early, which was a surprise. She didn’t agree with the idea that she needed to rest afterward, and kept racing around. There was no where to confine her where she would not jump on things. The area got irritated and she pulled out one of her stitches.

Juno, orange kitten lounging on pillow, by Elizabeth RuffingThe vet tech fit her with a cone, but she had it off by the time we got home. I tried two different cones and made her an embarrassing dress to wear. She would have none of it.

Juno wearing a badly designed dress, by Elizabeth RuffingMy badly-designed Project Runway reject of a dress stayed on a little longer than the cones, but she got another stitch out. So, we took her to the vet, every other day, to make sure she was okay, until she had the remaining two stitches removed. She is fine now and has moved on to other mischief, like trying to march out the door whenever she gets a chance, and giving me back talk when I tell her to get off the kitchen counter.

Juno wearing a badly designed dress, while attacking her cone, by Elizabeth RuffingI took some friends’ suggestions to try Small Pet Select timothy hay for Oliver Bunny, since he is especially picky about hay. He chose it over his salad the first time I gave it to him.

Oliver Bunny eating his timothy hay, by Elizabeth RuffingI see him munching on it, which is good. He has disagreed that bunnies are supposed to have timothy hay as the bulk of their diet. My pets all seem to have rebellious ideas.

Oliver Bunny eating his timothy hay, by Elizabeth RuffingTrouble from next door also has rebellious ideas. He likes to see how close he can get to Santana without Santana noticing.

Trouble hiding in the garden, by Elizabeth RuffingSantana likes to sleep in the garden, and Trouble tucks himself in as inconspicuously as he can, a couple of feet away. The other day, he managed to hide, unnoticed for hours off the edge of the deck, before Santana spotted him. One time I found them lying next to each other under my car.

Santana sleeping in the garden, by Elizabeth RuffingOne night, Trouble was locked out of his house, and slept in Mr Bear’s house on the porch. Eventually, there was an argument. He likes to see how much he can get away with before Santana yells. He even sneaks food out of Santana’s bowl. I suspect he wants to be friends with Santana, but it doesn’t always work out well.

Trouble hiding next to the cat house, by Elizabeth RuffingHis brother Scooter doesn’t bother being stealthy. He lounges in plain view.

Scooter napping in sun rays, by Elizabeth RuffingHe and Trouble were coming over together for a while, when Dad’s physical therapist was making home visits, to watch Dad do his exercises. They both took a seat at the back door.

Scooter looking in our back door, by Elizabeth RuffingThey found it entertaining, most of the time.

Scooter looking in our back door, yawning, by Elizabeth RuffingI have to get those capes on my Wonder Bunnies. I made more Wonder Bunnies, and now I need to make more capes.

Wonder Bunny, Hug Me Bunny plush toy in progress by Elizabeth Ruffing

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Super Slug!

Super Slug plush art toy, yellow and purple-blue, by Elizabeth RuffingI finished a Super Slug!

Bias-cut, chevron striped lining of Super Slug's cape, by Elizabeth RuffingI got caught up bias cutting and piecing the lining for his turquoise and purple striped cape, making the stripes chevron in the center, that I made his cape twice the size I meant to make it. I didn’t realize that until I went to bed last night.

Super Slug plush art toy, yellow and purple-blue, by Elizabeth RuffingI thought it looked surprisingly voluminous! It has a purple and turquoise star print cotton fabric on the outside.

Super Slug plush art toy, yellow and purple-blue, by Elizabeth RuffingHe has my new custom-printed colored eyes. His are turquoise and green. I wish my camera would capture turquoise more accurately because the colors all set each other off so beautifully. He looks very dramatic.

Super Slug plush art toy, yellow and purple-blue, by Elizabeth RuffingI also made and pen-and-ink drawing of him for his hang tag. The tag can be personalized and comes tied to the Super Slug with a ribbon. This guy is already adopted, and was spoken for before I posted him. I just heard the “ping” of my mail from his adopter as I typed the last sentence. I plan to make more. I have a long list of toys that I am finishing for people who called dibs on the partially done ones already. I’ll make a second post to cover some of the busy-ness of the past weeks.

Super Slug hang tag by Elizabeth Ruffing

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Hug Me Bunny stuffed animals and a helpful orange kitten

Juno orange kitten playing with superhero Wonder Bunnies fleece stuffed animals

Juno the orange kitten, in my box of Wonder Bunny stuffed animals by Elizabeth RuffingAt least one of my Wonder Bunny superhero bunny stuffed animals, which I am working on finishing next, grew an unusual tail, as you can see here.

I needed more assistance sewing stuffed animals than I realized!

Juno the orange kitten, in my box of Wonder Bunny stuffed animals, chewing cording by Elizabeth RuffingJuno, orange kitten helper extraordinaire, has been using her super powers to help me in any way she sees fit. Here she is helping cut a piece of cording with her sharp little teeth.

I use that to cord center my details on my toys. I didn’t really need it to be trimmed, or at least I didn’t know I needed it to be trimmed. Juno is insightful and has many creative recommendations for me.

Juno the orange kitten, napping with her elephant rattle, by Elizabeth RuffingI traded Juno’s elephant rattle for the toys I was sewing. It is a good thing she takes naps.

Juno the orange kitten waking up from her nap, by Elizabeth RuffingShe is growing up, and was 4 pounds at her vet visit today. She was only 14 ounces when Cheryl first found her. She is doing very well, and has started to have more frequent bursts of sweetness. She purrs, and gives head bumps and kisses. She still ends up biting us, but thank goodness she is calming down and learning to be nice.

Juno the orange kitten curling up for her nap in my toy box, by Elizabeth RuffingNow, if she can learn to behave around the bunny, I will be even happier. She doesn’t yet understand why throwing up her paws and pouncing on everyone isn’t always taken in the spirit of fun in which it was intended.

Hug Me Bunnies plush art toys, mauve, pink, and soft orange, by Elizabeth RuffingI have been finishing up fleece bunny stuffed animal art toys. I will post these in our Ruffing’s shop.

Hug Me Bunny plush art toy, pink fleece plushie, by Elizabeth RuffingThis pink Hug Me Bunny found a home already, but her mauve and soft light orange bunny friends are, at the moment, still available.

Hug Me Bunny plush art toy, mauve-pink fleece plushie, by Elizabeth RuffingThey have my new custom-printed two-tone eyes. I attached their eyes and hearts with embroidery floss, using a blanket stitch.

Hug Me Bunny plush art toy, soft orange fleece plushie, by Elizabeth RuffingI hand embroidered their smiles and noses too.

Hug Me Bunny hang tag with pen-and-ink art by Elizabeth RuffingEach one comes with a hang tag that can be personalized with a name and a message.

Hug Me Slug plush art toy, pink fleece plushie, by Elizabeth RuffingI finished my first Hug Me Slug with the new eyes as well. She is a very soft light pink fleece.

Hug Me Slug hang tag with pen-and-ink art by Elizabeth RuffingJust like the bunnies, she comes with a tag that can be personalized.