Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Earth Day: Upcycling - Making A Play Kitchen From Boxes



A few months ago, my daughter recived some hand me down kitchen playset full of dighes, pots, and pans.  She loved playing with them and sometimes we'd set up a box in the kitchen so she can "cook" with me. I started thinking about making her a little kitchen out of the cardboard boxes we had.  So with a free weekend, and a plan, and some imagination, we created one for her.  Here's how we did it.

We colllected boxes and moved them around to see which would be the best stove, sink, and refrigerator. 

 We got some supplies...  contact paper, duct tape, foam sheets, mixing bowl, and hooks.  Not seen are the glue gun, packing tape, pump from a liquid soap dispenser, foil.  I think for this project we spent approx $13 for everything.  

Before covering your boxes with the contact paper, try to figure out which side will be the front and back, where you door opening will be.  Draw them on with a black marker so that when you cover them box with contact paper, you can see lines.  For the hinges of the door openings, score  the inside of the box, where these will be, then cover your boxes with contact paper.  We used the clear packing tape to keep things in place.  Once covered, start cutting you door openings.  If you scored the hinge side of the door from the inside, your door should open easily. 

We then measured and cut holes for the mixing bowl and the "faucet".  To secure the faucet, my husband drilled a hole in the bottom of the pump dispenser and then put a screw in horizontally so it would stay put once installed.  I used the hot glue gun to secure the rim of the bowl to the box.  Remember to put the glue on the rim and then press down onto the box.  If you use the gun on the box, the heat from the gun could possible burn a hole in your contact paper.  


I added the colored duct tape to the sides of our appliances so it would help reinforce the contact paper.  I cut the foam sheets for the burners (mine are the size of a CD).  I also used foam sheets for the handles and hot glued them on.  For the oven, I made brackets out of bent cardboard and hot glued them to the sides of the oven walls.  I then covered a sheet of cardboard with foil and then hot glued the piece to the brackets.
I also secured 2 hooks on the side to hold her grocery bag, dish towel, or purse.

The box we used for the refrigerator still had the Styrofoam packing pieces still in them, so I used them to create the shelves in the fridge.  I did the same thing here as the oven...made brackets out of extra cardboard, then glued the Styrofoam shelves on the brackets.  I had an extra box that fit perfectly as a crisper drawer, so I covered it in contact paper and loaded it up with her Ikea play veggies and fruit.  I also glued a velcro circle to the door and shelf so that the door can remain close.  


 My daughter had a ton of kitchen stuff passed down to her so we just stocked up the kitchen cupboard with her extra dishes and cooking equipment.


Voila!


Here is Cora enjoying her new kitchen with her Daddy!

Monday, January 17, 2011

The Elephant In The Room


Last summer I watched Bethany Getting Married on Bravo. She was putting her nursery together and came across the adorable stuffed elephant. I totally fell in love with the elephant and decided that I needed one for my baby's room. After a little research on the elephant, my dreams were shattered when I found out that they cost $130 for one stuffed elephant! They also had a mini for $50. Seriously??? I mean they are cute and all, but $130?!?! I decided I needed a backup plan. I'll make my own if I have to! I did more research and found the perfect pattern from Retro Mama for a fab price of $8. I really love how my elephants turned out. So that's what inspired the elephant baby room. I know it's not the pink dolled up room some people expected me to have, but I love the earth tone I chose for her room.

I framed the sign-in sheet and a few of the cute elephant decorations created by my friends for my baby shower.

I found this great wall decal from Byrdie Graphics on Etsy. I love how this looks on the wall!
The crib sheet and crib skirt are Sprout from Serena & Lily and the Breathable Bumper is from Target.
My insomnia has gotten worse, so I sew in the middle of the night... Here are pics of the cute burp cloths I sewed for our little one.

Thanks for stopping by the blog! Time for me to catch some make-up zzzzz's. I hope everyone has a fab week!

~Hillary

Friday, February 6, 2009

My Blog Spots

I have been tagged! The Ultra Fab Kimberly tagged me to show off my blog spot(s). Before we start, I will say that my place usually tidy because my husband is a neat freak. I am more of the sloppy one, but we work together in peace and harmony :-) Okay, let's begin...
First up, the dining room table. I do the majority of my blogging here. I have a clear view of the TV from my spot. Here's what you see...
  • Vintage Roman Holiday movie poster framed by fab friends of mine.
  • Dining room table and chairs - bought from the office want ads
  • My laptop - after Thanksgiving purchase
  • Crate & Barrel serving plate and bowl - wedding gift from my aunt and uncle
  • Bodybugg USB wire
  • Memory card reader
  • pink cell phone
  • the paper is a recipe for my mom (she doesn't use the computer)
  • my brown belt draped on the chair - I took it off while cooking and forgot to put it up
  • my pen fell on the floor

Next up is my bed. Will goes to bed early and I am a night owl. So here's what you see...
  • Vintage Funny Face banner framed by my fab friends
  • Full size bed - yes, Will and I fit somehow
  • Blue bedding and decorative blue pillow - West Elm
  • White decorative furry pillow - gifted from Tammy
  • Red travel pillow - gifted from Will's mom. I use it a lot when sitting up in bed.
  • Clock radio - Target
  • Pink mini massager - gifted from parents
  • Nightstands - made by Will's dad

Last but not least... my living room. I blog here when Will and I are watching random TV together or a movie I've seen a million times. Here's what you see..

  • Side tables - Ikea
  • Couch - Ikea
  • Rug - Lowes
  • Vintage Tammy & The Bachelor poster framed by my fab friends
  • Blue water bottle - Target (I'm a water drinker and I take this bottle everywhere)
  • The moving box in the back has an old broken VCR that is headed to a recycling center

So here are the official rules: Show Us Your Blog Spot!

  1. Once you are tagged, post a picture of where you blog. This might mean a picture of your cozy bed, or your office at work (you naughty employee, you!) Feel free to be creative, but be honest--if your desk is usually covered in Ritz crackers and love letters to Brad Pitt, then show us!
  2. Feel free to tell us a little about your space, or explain certain items in more detail. Or not.
  3. Link back to this post. (I want to see how far this goes!)
  4. Tag five other bloggers to show their blog spots.
  5. If you are tagged and do not participate, you will become allergic to cabbage.

I tag: