This innocent looking stuffed monster toy is actually a secret treasure chest. This project is fairly simple if you know how to sew, and does not require a lot of material. Wall safes behind pictures, hollow books, steel filing cabinets; why not a stuffed animal?

Step 1: You Will Need...

To begin you need some fabric. Any type you have will work. I just used some scrap fabric left over from another project. You will also need a small amount of a contrasting color (for the heart, this is very important because the heart is the lid of the hidden box.)

There are many possibilities for the face. I chose to use some embroidery floss and buttons, but fabric paint, or just a permanent marker will also work fine.

And finally, the box. A can that formerly held tuna fish is a good size, but once again there are endless possibilities. You will also need a small amount of Velcro to close the secret compartment.

Step 2: Patterns and Pieces

First, a pattern! Drawing your design on a piece of paper can be helpful.

Next, cut out the fabric pieces. Two body pieces, the heart, (and horns, if you want them).

Step 3: The Face

The face is a lot easier if you decorate it before sewing everything together.

Step 4: Putting It Together

If you sew like like an expert you already know how to put this together, but if you need some help, this is how it is done: put the two body pieces together, patterned sides in, and sew around the edges, leaving yourself a hole to turn the doll right side out.

The hole to turn the animal outside right needs to be large enough for your box to fit through .

Now, stuff the animal. Center the box under the heart space.

Step 5: The Heart

This is the hard part. You need to cut a hole to access the box.
Also, it is a good idea to hem around the hole for the heart (this hole should definitely be smaller than the box itself.)

Next, sew on the heart half way, and use Velcro to finish sealing the heart down.

Ahhhhhh! It's alive.