a repurposed play kitchen

remember this?



well, it's finished:



Sutton's third birthday was June 9th. This play kitchen was what I made for her. She calls it her "chicken", meaning kitchen.

This is how I turned an entertainment center into a play kitchen-

1. Took the doors and the back off and removed center wall/support.
2. Re-enforced the unit with some 1x2's and 2X2's and plywood for the back.

3. Cut the hole for the sink.
4. Cut the hole for the window in the oven door.

6. Added filler pieces under sink and beside oven.
7. Drilled holes for stove and oven knobs.

8. Replaced decorative piece on bottom because it was ug-ly!
9. Used wood filler in grooves on dishwasher door for same reason as #8.

10. Cut and painted trim for window
11. Primed entire kitchen
12. Painted the blue sections of kitchen

13. Painted stove and oven and doors for oven and dishwasher with "Aluminum" spray paint.
14. Painted counter and back splash area a glossy white.

15. Spray painted yogurt and formula lids for stove burners black.
16. Put it all together- glued on window picture (thanks mom and dad for the print!), installed window trim, installed sink, attached knobs and burners, attached hardware to doors and installed doors (hinges added to the bottom and magnetic closures on top so doors open the same way ovens and dishwashers do), attached pot rack.

17. Sewed and installed curtains.

I still need to caulk and touch-up paint the window.

This was such a fun project for me. It was a big one! It was the first time I have used power tools (like the table saw) on my own. The first day I worked on it (taking it apart and reinforcing the structure) I was lucky enough to have my mom visiting. She has been building/creating all my life. If she wants to make something and doesn't know how, then she teaches herself or makes it up as she goes. She is a great inspiration to me! Surprisingly, this was the first time we have worked on a project together. It was a great experience!

The total cost was approximately $65. The entertainment center was $20- craigslist. The sink and faucet $15, knobs $4 and blue paint $4- all from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I tried to use things we already owned- handles, fabric, pot rack, window trim. About another $25 for plywood, magnetic closures, spray paint, nuts, bolts, washers, plexiglass etc.



It's been a huge hit! The girl loves her new kitchen. My six year old boy thinks it's great fun too.

a different kind of family portrait

These have sat on my sewing/craft table half-finished since before Easter. I am so glad to have them done!




All along I planned on having the boys face to the right and the girls to the left but now that it is done I am wondering if I should have gone the traditional route and had all the silhouettes facing the same direction. Thoughts?

i want this

homemade laundry detergent

When my friend Becca told me she had made her own laundry detergent I knew I had to try it. I love to make things myself, it gives me a great sense of accomplishment. More than that I love to save money. And best of all, making your own detergent is better for the environment- less chemicals and packaging.

This is the recipe I used:


1 bar Fels Naptha bar soap (about 4 cups grated)
2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
2 cups washing soda

Grate the soap. This can obviously be done my hand but my parents gave me a fancy KitchenAid grating/slicing attachment for Christmas (thanks Mom and Dad!) and it made quick work of the grating.



Mix the grated soap with the borax and washing soda. Store in an air tight container. Use 2 tablespoons per load.

(I love how the grated soap looks like lemon zest. Makes me want to make lemon bars.)

I also used 1/4 cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle in place of fabric softener (I usually use dryer sheets). The clothes didn't smell like vinegar but I think I might try adding lavender essential oils to the vinegar.

My next way to save money is to stop using shampoo. Sounds gross, I know. Read this and you'll want to try it too!

***update: see this post for a new laundry detergent making tip!

my weakness

i love brownies. i love cheesecake. i REALLY love these bars.



i made the cheesecake squares wednesday afternoon. after two days of resisting the urge to EAT the whole PAN i made Michael take the leftovers to work this morning (i'm really trying to drop the lingering baby weight). though his co-workers might end up hating me because i also sent (and by sent i mean i made the 55 minute round trip drive to his office because he forgot to put it in his car) a box of cupcakes for a co-workers birthday.

sadly, there were two cupcakes that didn't fit into the box.



this cupcake is calling me from across the house. someone please stop me!

tulip fields

i have seen these around on a few blogs but i wanted to post them here anyway because i just can't get enough of them!




via apartment therapy

thrifted

i love purchasing old items and making them new again. and it goes along with my goals to "reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle". i am am so happy that we now have more thrifted furniture than ikea furniture. don't get me wrong, i love ikea but it's a little generic. here are a few of my recent finds:

i got this couch and a matching chair for $100. the upholstery is in perfect condition. i don't love the color though and one of the goals i set for 2009 is to learn how to reupholster furniture. so far there has been no time for that. i am hoping that i can find some time and money for this project before the end of the year!



this dresser fits perfectly in the entry way and provides much needed storage for this little house of ours. i put the matching long and low dresser in the kids room. $15 each!



this was a craigslist find. $20 and the guy delivered it to my house. now, you are probably wondering why i would want this entertainment center in my house. not really my style, i know. but i have grand plans for this bad boy. BUT, you'll just have to wait and see. don't hold your breath though. it won't be done until early June.