Train Matching Game - Free Printable!

Andyroo loves his Toy Story Matching Game that he got for Christmas, but he's moved out of the Toy Story phase and is currently obsessed with all things Trains - especially Thomas & Friends. I thought it would be fun for him to have a new matching game, so I found some free clip art and put together my own version using images that I created for Andyroo's Thomas the Train Wall Hangings.

And, as an added bonus, I thought I would offer to all of our wonderful readers! I know my son can't be the only little boy out there obsessed with trains! C'mon, please tell me there are other mothers out there who know way too much about Thomas and the island of Sodor. Does anyone else find it really weird that the trains are the ones in charge? That the drivers and other people that work on the trains have no control over those "silly" trains? It's not just me, right?

Anyway, click here to download the PDF version. Print it on some card stock, cut them out, and let your little ones have fun. There are about 30 cards or 15 total matches. You could also make this into a file folder game. I think I'll be doing that for a new church quiet game. The printable is free, however we would love it if in return, you would become a follower of Life in the Motherhood! It's also for personal use only, please. You're welcome to share it with others, but please link them back to this post. Thanks!

Enjoy!

(The images I used were either created by me (the Thomas & Friends images) or were found through free clip art sources.)



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Quiet Book Page #6 - Notebook & Pencil Pocket

Remember the Quite Book Overview I did a while back? I'm going through the book page by page and explaining in more detail how I did everything and linking to any patterns that I used. Be sure to check out the other quiet book pages and the Quiet Book FAQ!

Quiet Book Page #1 - Train Tracks
Quiet Book Page #2 - Shapes and Colors
Quiet Book Page #3 - Barn & Finger Puppets
Quiet Book Page #4 - Letters
Quiet Book Page #5 - Counting

I don't remember where the idea for this page came from. I think it might have been from Homemade by Jill - but I honestly don't remember. I made this book way before I started this blog, so yeah.

I didn't use a template or pattern though. I just cut out a rectangle of felt that would fit on my page. I think it's I 6.5"x5"? I also cut out a smaller rectangle for the top flap. I think mine is about 6.5" wide (make it the same as the width on the other rectangle) x 1.5-2" tall. I sewed around the two sides and the bottom of the big rectangle. Make sure to leave the top open so that the notebook and pen/penciI l have a place to slide in. I also sewed all the way up the rectangle about 1.5" inches in from the left side (you can do right or left) to make separate pockets for the pencil and notebook.

Attach the smaller rectangle about an inch or so above the larger rectangle (make them overlap, but don't put the top of the flap directly above where the pencil/notebook are. See how I left a space? This just makes it easier to get in and out of the pockets

The original pencil and notebook have been lost, but I just used a small pocket notebook in here. It was small enough to not be bulky but still big enough for Andyroo to easily handle.

Quiet Book Page #5 - Counting

Remember the Quite Book Overview I did a while back? I'm going through the book page by page and explaining in more detail how I did everything and linking to any patterns that I used. Be sure to check out the other quiet book pages and the Quiet Book FAQ!

Quiet Book Page #1 - Train Tracks
Quiet Book Page #2 - Shapes and Colors
Quiet Book Page #3 - Barn & Finger Puppets
Quiet Book Page #4 - Letters

To help Andyroo's counting skills, I made this counting page for his quiet book.

You could do more or less than 10, but I stuck with 10. You'll need to cut 20 squares from felt - I think mine were around 2 or 2.5" squares.

You'll also need to decide on what you want to be under the flaps.

I had a bunch of buttons leftover from Andyroo's I-Spy Bag, so I used those for numbers 1-5. They were on the bigger side, so 5 was the max that I could fit onto these squares. For 6-10, I used some decorative brads. I just poked a small hole into the felt and stuck the brad through. It might be obvious, but I don't want anyone to be confused. So just to be sure, you need to have as many things under the flap as the number says on the top. So for the picture above, there are 5 moving things and the number on the flap says 5. For the picture below, there are 9 stars so the number 9 is on the top flap.

So once you've decided what you want to put under the flaps, You need to put them onto one of the squares. This square will become the botton flap that is sewn down to the page. After the items are attached to the squares, sew the bottom square to the page. After it's sewn down, then match up the top square and sew it to the bottom square and to the page. You only want to sew along the top this time so that the flap can lift up.

After the top flaps are sewn on, go ahead and put your number on. I used some glitter fabric paint leftover from putting the names on our stockings. However, if you were going to applique a number or do something fancier than fabric paint, you'll probably want to put that on before you attach the top flap to the book.

Andyroo's favorite flap is number 5 because it has a train (and other transportation-themed items).

Quiet Book Page #4 - Letters

Remember the Quite Book Overview I did a while back? I'm going through the book page by page and explaining in more detail how I did everything and linking to any patterns that I used. Be sure to check out the other quiet book pages and the Quiet Book FAQ!

Quiet Book Page #1 - Train Tracks
Quiet Book Page #2 - Shapes and Colors
Quiet Book Page #3 - Barn & Finger Puppets

I'm going to be posting the rest of Andyroo's quiet book pages next week, so be sure to check them out! 

This is the Alphabet Page in Andyroo's Quiet Book.

For this page, I drew then cut out 2 letters from some light blue felt. I (hand sewed) some small pieces of velcro onto the back of one of the sets of each letter. Then I put the matching letter on top and whip stitched them together.

After I had all my letters done, I laid them out on the two pages making sure they all had a spot. You'll want to do this before you sew your book pages together. Trace the outline of each letter with a pen or marker.

I left a small space below the letters on the second page so that Andyroo could practice spelling when he gets older. Next you need to add velcro to the pages so the letters have something to stick to. Try to match up with where you sewed the velcro onto the individual letters. In the picture above, you can see where the white velcro is on the page. I used 2 small pieces of velcro on each letter to give the page a little more hold. In the picture below, you can see a close-up of the space below the letters. I drew a line to show where he could spell words.

After your velcro is sewn onto the pages, you can sew your pages together, put the letters on, and then go to town.

Andyroo loves to take all the letters off and then match them back up. He's only 2 (3 in less than a month - yikes!) so we haven't really gotten into spelling.

Quiet Book Page #3 - Barn & Finger Puppets

Remember the Quite Book Overview I did a while back? I'm going through the book page by page and explaining in more detail how I did everything and linking to any patterns that I used. Be sure to check out the other quiet book pages and the Quiet Book FAQ!

Quiet Book Page #1 - Train Tracks
Quiet Book Page #2 - Shapes and Colors

Up today is the Barn & Finger Puppets page! I think this might be my favorite page. So happy and cute!

I'd love to say this was my idea, but it most definitely was not. The idea and the template come from Homemade by Jill. Isn't she awesome!?

I did change a few things. Instead of ribbon for the outlining on the doors and around the barn, I just used more felt. I also added a couple of animals to the mix. She has patterns for the the cow, pig, and chicken. I also made a horse (which routinely gets called a dog but Andyroo) and a duck.

The barn doors open to reveal the animals hiding inside!

Be sure to check out the other templates over at Homemade by Jill to see if there are any others you'd like to use. As fun as it is to create your own, why go to the all the trouble if someone already has a pattern for you to use. Anything to make this process easier.

Quiet Book Page #2 - Shapes & Colors

Remember the Quite Book Overview I did a while back? I'm going through the book page by page and explaining in more detail how I did everything and linking to any patterns that I used. Be sure to check out the other quiet book pages and the Quiet Book FAQ!

Quiet Book Page #1 - Train Tracks
Quiet Book Page #3 - Barn & Finger Puppets

Today's quiet book page is the Shapes and Colors page. It's good practice for matching colors, shapes, and fine motor skills (I used snaps to keep the matches together)

I drew my own shapes on paper, then cut them out and used them as patterns for the felt shapes. You can do whatever shapes you want in whatever colors you want.

You'll need to cut 2 of each shape - one to go on the page and one to go on the match. To add some stability and strength so the snaps aren't pulled out of the felt, I sewed the shapes onto the flannel page, then sewed the snaps on through both the felt and the flannel.

After the shapes and snaps were on the page, I sewed the other side of the snaps onto the matches. I was going to leave it like this, but I wanted the pieces to be a little stronger. I also didn't like the look of the stitches showing through the backside of the loose shapes. Instead of trying to cut out a 3rd set of shapes and getting them to match up, I simply pinned them to a bigger piece of the same color felt and sewed around the shape. Then I cut out the shape! Easy peasy.

You could also just start by cutting out 3 of each shape and stitching two of them together with a whip stitch or blanket stitch.

I also think I should have used a bigger snap. Andyroo still has a little trouble getting them to snap together. He can match them easily, but he doesn't always get the snap together. I think if it were a little bit bigger, he would have an easier time. Just something for him to grow into, I guess.

Any questions?

Quiet Book Page #1 - Train Tracks

Remember the Quite Book Overview I did a while back? I'm going through the book page by page and explaining in more detail how I did everything and linking to any patterns that I used. Be sure to check out the other quiet book pages that will follow through the next couple of weeks!

Quiet Book Page #2 - Shapes & Colors
Quiet Book Page #3 - Barn & Finger Puppets

Also, be sure to check out the Quiet Book FAQ to answer some general questions about putting a quiet book together.

I think the train tracks are Andyroo's favorite page to play with. I told him I was making some train tracks for his quiet book and he was so excited. He kept asking me when it would be done so he could play with it.

I designed the two pages in Silhouette Studio then got to work cutting everything out. The tracks were cut out of the Silhouette brown heat transfer material and the rest of the images were done with ink jet transfer paper from Joann's (also found at any craft/hobby store). To use the inkjet transfer paper, I simply sent the design to my inkjet printer, cut them out, and ironed them on. Soooo easy!

After the design was ironed on, I took 2 little train buttons and 1 little boat button and tied them to the middle ring with some embroidery floss. However, I've found that this isn't the best way to do it. Everything gets all tangled and is a pain to undo. But I have yet to think of a better way. Any ideas?

The trains and boat were leftover buttons from the I-Spy bag I made before our Iowa trip. There's enough length to move the trains all around the tracks, but not so much that they're a choking hazard.

Put in some grommets and stick the pages in your book. Using the same heat transfer idea, I'm also planning on doing a road page for some extra truck and car buttons I have leftover.

If you have any questions, let me know. I'd be happy to answer them!