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.
I remembered a tutorial that my friend Jennifer did last winter. I dug through the 'clothing to be recycled' pile and pulled out two sweaters. The hats were very simple to make.
I grabbed some felt and made some flowers. For the white flower I used this tutorial. I made up the purple and pink one myself. I much prefer the white flower (I love it's texture and volume) but Sutton insisted on having at least one hat with a pink and purple flower so of course she prefers that one!
This year we dressed up as: A sumo wrestler, a mime, a lion, Strawberry Shortcake, and Nacho Libre.
Michael's Nacho Libre costume was made from ladies pants and jacket from Goodwill, a flesh colored t-shirt from Walmart, an old (but never even worn) swimsuit, a wig and a moustache. The knee pads and the boots were made from parts of the jacket.
Liam chose to be a mime and he took it seriously. He watched 'how to mime' instructional videos on youtube so he could play the part right. The hat, gloves and t-shirt were purchased at wal-mart, pants at Goodwill. I made the suspenders and the scarf.
Sutton loves Strawberry Shortcake and decided weeks ago to be her for Halloween. I was glad because I knew it would be a really easy costume to make. I bought the tights and made the skirt and hat. I appliqued the strawberry and diamonds onto a white-shirt she already had. Sutton's costume was the most expensive because of the tights and the fabric. I justified it though because it looked perfect and now that Halloween is over the skirt can be part of her regular wardrobe.
Ezra was a little lion. Liam and Sutton both wore this costume when they were little. I love it!
I decided to take advantage of my rotund figure and be a sumo wrestler. The shirt and the old lady stretchy pants came from walmart ($3/each on clearance!). I made the mawashi (diaper-y thing) from felt.
the first thing i ever spray painted was the locks on my windows. this was back in 2005, when we had just moved in.
3- i got this pewter footed bowl at a local consignment store for $3. i actually liked the pewter but i am trying to add more color to my home so i decided to go ahead and paint it. i am really happy with how it turned out. i think it might be my favorite so far. it makes a perfect place to store our keys.
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