Today at Lilly's Kitty Lounge it is craft day and we are creating a heart catnip toy in honor of Valentine's Day!

It is very simple to do and requires just a few supplies.

You will need:

Fabric in any color you like. You can use any spare cloth laying around your house.

Scissors for cutting the thread and fabric

Stuffing If you don't have stuffing you can use other spare fabric lying around the house. If you would like to add some crinkle to it, feel free to use some old newspaper!

Catnip This is optional. You can pick this up at any pet store. Or if you are really crafty you can even grow your own! If you don't have any, no need to worry, you can do without!

Needle and thread I like to match it to my toy, but really any color will work. If you see it, it will just peek out a bit and the contrast might be cool!

Permanent marker This is to mark where you are going to cut.

Once you have assembled all your materials make sure to arrange them in such a way that you can keep track of them at all times. You do not want to let your kitty get at the needles and thread because these can be dangerous to their health. Might I suggest trying to do this when they are... otherwise distracted?

Just a note... most kitties have a sixth sense about these things and will be there to bug you no matter when you try and do it...

Alright, but lets get down to business. First you are going to take your fabric and fold it in half. That way when you cut out your pattern out you will have two sides to work with.

At this point you are going to take your permanent marker and draw a heart (or whatever shape it is that you want to make) onto the fabric. This will help you know where to cut.

After you have drawn your heart take your scissors and cut out your heart, making sure that you are cutting both sides of the fabric evenly.

Once you have cut out the fabric you will have two pieces that resemble a heart. Leave them on top of eachother. You are going to sew around the outside. Don't worry about the marker showing. You are going to end up turning the heart inside out once you have it sewn and then you will no longer be able to see it.

Assemble your sewing supplies and thread the needle!

Try and avoid kitty eyes...

We know it's hard...

Now you are going to begin sewing. You can use any stitch that you know but I go with the top-loop stitch, which is basically just over the top and through.

You are going to do this until you have sewn the heart about 3/4 of the way shut.

Beware kitty intervention...

Tie off the string once you are 3/4 done. Now you are going to flip the heart inside out, making sure to push all the shape out.

Now it is time to stuff the toy! Take your stuffing and stuff it about half way.

Once that is done, go ahead and put any crinkle in it or catnip that you would like.

Go ahead and finish stuffing the heart. You can use your discretion as to how much you would like it stuffed but I like to make my cat toys pretty firm.

At this point you may want to pin your heart so that it is easier when you are sewing it shut.

Go ahead and close the heart up and cut off any little ends of string.

And last but not least... give it to kitty. Some will be more gracious then others...