D.I.Y. Bookcase Dollhouse

Okay... So not the most fabulous transformation, but I was going for success and function. I really just Mod Podge-ed (is this a verb?) some 12x12" scrapbook paper on the shelves and back of the bookcase and then Mod Podge-ed (if it's not a verb it should be) over it again to seal it up. My only complaint is that I painted the paper seams white for definition, but didn't wait long enough for it to dry so when I Mod Podge-ed (seriously... it's a verb) over it, it streaked the paint. Oops.
By the way, I left the top space blank for stuffed animals. Incase you were wondering why I didn't cover the whole bookcase.



The Camsters instantly took to it with her little wood peg dolls. She didn't mind the paint streaks. Once we are done moving I hope to make a few "proper" dollhouse dolls. What that would look like.... I don't know. I'll figure it out and update you.



- Sarah

Dear D.I.Y. Gods,

Dear D.I.Y. Gods,
If there is such a thing as a governing higher-power for silly "do it yourself" projects, I formally request your aide. I know I have prayed many a time for help with such projects as: the play kitchen, the cadillac couch, the ceramic drum base, the ceramic elephant head, and more recently the feltidermy. I also want to point out that most (if not all) of these were absolute failures.

So could you maybe pretty please help me with this D.I.Y. dollhouse? Really, it should be easy for you D.I.Y. Gods to manage... I just want to turn a small bookcase into a super cute dollhouse for my daughter. If you don't do it for me, do it for my sweetpea Camsters.



image from Pinterest.com

Sincerely,
Your Ever Loving Worshiper
- Sarah

Inspiration Board

This is my inspiration board for our new house. I needed to find some ideas to brighten up the dark wood walls and my sweetpea's new room.
Sorry I don't have links for any of these. I got the images off of Pinterest.com.


Left: top- I love this idea for photos, but I think mine will be a large black and white photo on a white background instead of a chalkboard. Maybe it will help offset the darkness of the wood paneling the house has.
Middle- we are looking at white leather couches and I like this color combo.
Bottom- I'm a little in love with this pallet table... Maybe too much, but it looks really neat.
Right: top- I like this room arrangement.
Bottom- I love this tray as a little side table. I have a bunch of these from my bellydance days that I can convert... just need legs.


Left: pallet garden idea for the deck saves space.
Right: top- would be good for herbs.
Middle- this would be perfect for my chai addiction. Everything at arms reach.
Bottom- adorable! This would go on the front porch wall that you see as you walk up the stairs.


Camster's room inspirations:
Top Left: have you seen these bookshelves made from rain gutters? Camsters has trouble putting her books away on a normal bookshelf so this is hopefully easier for a toddler.
Top Right: I'm going to make one of these for her out of an old rabbit skin.
Bottom Left: art display idea
Bottom Right: I want to buy these for her room so bad! Love the colors!

- Sarah

DIY Teepee :: tutorial

I looked everywhere online for measurements for a 6ish foot tall teepee. Um... Nope. But it's okay because this was super simple and... Wait for it....
Only $18
That's right folks! $18 US buckaroonies. That's all I spent. That's all you want to spend on a summer teepee. It takes about 2 hours to put together... One to cut and one to sew.

Here's what you need:
:: 5 (1/2 inch) PVC pipes that are 4 feet long
:: 5 (1/2 inch) PVC pipes that are 4 feet long with a flare on one end so you can connect two together
:: 6 x 9 foot canvas drop cloth
:: some scrap fabric for a fancy door (use elephant fabric if you have it)
:: some scrap fabric in 12 inch lengths or ribbon


1. My measurements ended up being 3 inches at the top and 4 feet at the bottom. I used tape on the floor to make the top and bottom measurements and then used more tape to link the sides until it looked like a good length. (I suppose you could measure, but set up your poles first to see where you will tie them together at the top. Mark it, drill holes all the way through, and tie 'em together.)
2. Cut out 4 of these panel shapes with your canvas drop cloth. You will have to squeeze them it by flipping it for each panel, but it works.
Use this same shape to piece together one more panel with your scrap fabric. Then cut it in half. Sew everyone together: long sides together, all the short tops at the top, all the long bottoms at the bottom, and your two scrappy doors on either side.
3. Put your cover on you teepee bones and mark where you want your ties on the inside. I put 3 ties per pole and a few on the top to keep it from slipping down.
Ta da! If you questions, email me. I'd be happy to clarify my cryptic instructions.

Now you're teepeefied. It's a word.


- Sarah

DIY Teepee

UPDATE September 2011: Because of the mass interest in a DIY teepee I have recently created a tutorial on how I made my own 6 foot tall teepee. Just follow this link: http://sweetpeaandme.blogspot.com/2011/07/diy-teepee.html


I was perusing the internet this morning... as usual... and found this cute idea! I've seen kids teepees before, but this one has a modern look to it. I thought I would make a larger scale one this summer for Camster and all four of her cousins to play in. Five little girls would warrant a much more girly design.

Luckily this pattern is very adjustable and should give you a good idea of where to start. I think I'll make mine out of canvas (I can buy it by the yard at the local variety store) and pvc pipe (OSH Supply). I will be sure to upload pictures of my version once I make it next month sometime.

Happy teepee-ing!

DIYODS Play Kitchen: part III

DIYODS "Do It Your Own Damn Self" Play Kitchen: part III

Remember on the part II post where I said that hinges are evil? Well I further proved that point when I worked on the play kitchen yesterday. It turns out that trying to attach hinged doors to beveled corners is the cause of all my tears. I suppose that is a direct result of me trying to convert a desk into something with doors instead of drawers. ARG!

On to part III:

Yay! The silicone caulking worked! I was actually surprised since the plexi-glass piece was smaller than the hole by about 1/8 of an inch all the way around (oops). The silicone held it in remarkably well so we scraped the excess off the plexi-glass and attached some hinges.

It wasn't easy, but we managed to turn the beveled edge into 90-ish degree angle with the help of some paint sticks. The door doesn't open all the way so next time I will attach the chain I bought in order to stabilize the door against rough use.

The oven door is a bit more secure with a magnetic closure in place.

Now go take a walk...

DIYODS Play Kitchen: part II

Another round of DIYODS "Do It Your Own Damn Self" Play Kitchen. Mission: to repurpose a ratty desk into a fab play kitchen for my daughter. Skill level: Moderate to WTFudge

Part II begins with some lessons I've learned thus far.

1. silicone caulking is your god!

2. it's a bad idea to cut a hole in the "oven" door to later insert a small piece of plexi-glass... instead, find a way to just attach it to the back

3. hinges are not user friendly

4. don't try to use the faces of the drawers for the doors... it's just a bad idea that leads to tears

Almost the "before" picture... I forgot to take one when we started working on it last week. Here we had already cut the hole for the sink and used the original drawer sides for bottoms of the microwave and oven spaces. There also used to be a thin drawer below where the sink is now that we removed last week.

I drilled holes and installed the knobs for the faucet (hot/cold) and for the 4 stove top knobs. My husband cut a piece of particle board for the oven door and cut a hole in it to insert a piece of scrap plexi-glass with silicone caulking (keep your fingers crossed on that one!)

Do not do this... if you are trying to use the drawer face... STOP. I'm just trying to save you an hour of blood, tears, and verbal censorship. Just suck it up and use a piece of particle board.

My husband installing the -particle board- microwave door since the oven door is still drying. What a handsome man!

Camster asleep on the job... she could have at least helped her dad hold the board steady! Jeez...

So far for this project we have spent $11.00 on hinges, chain (for the oven door), magnetic latch for microwave and oven doors, and a plastic plumbing elbow to use as a faucet. Everything else was free.

DIYODS Play Kitchen Part III will be coming soon!

DIYODS Play Kitchen: part I

The "Do It Your Own Damn Self" Play Kitchen: part I

The past few months I have been on a felt food kick. My husband knows all too well that I work in creative phases... or as he calls them- "waves of destruction". I tend to leave a trail of scraps and pieces and patterns and thread bits in my wake when starting new projects-- and most projects I never finish.

However, my felt food phenomenon has escalated to scary new heights. I have even gone as far as to make a nearly life-sized felt turkey with velcro drumsticks and wings. I know... it's a sickness. So even though Camster won't be playing with any of this stuff until (about) the ripe ol' age of one, I have decided to take the last step to occupy my remaining time. I will make a play kitchen!

We looked online to research how much a play kitchen might cost premade... bad idea. I'm sorry, but what the hell happened to good ol' American craftsmanship?! All we could find was $200 hunks of Chinese plastic. Fail.

Who knows where I found this idea, but whilst surfing the web I stumbled upon a site where two parents had made one out of a "repurposed" t.v. stand. It had a sink, stove burners, microwave, oven, and even a space to store play food. AMAZINGLY GENIUS! (*insert mad scientist laugh here*)

So I scavenged around until my grammy was kind enough to give a small desk she wasn't using. Score! And my mom found a metal bowl to use for the sink for free. Score #2!

We got right to work cutting a hole in the top for the bowl/sink to fit it in. Gosh... I hope Grammy knows I'm planning on hacking this desk up. Too late now! It was easier than I thought it would be to cut. Then we broke apart the 2 drawers (since we are only planning to use the faces for the microwave and oven doors) and glued the wood from the sides down as the bottoms of the microwave and oven spaces. Even with a 3 month old in tow, this only took about 2 hours. I was impressed! I thought it would take 9 months to finish this project, but then again-- you haven't seen me paint.

I will upload -part I- pictures on Sunday... check back