Friday, June 17, 2011

18" Doll: RECYCLE - Roll Top Desk

One day....
while I was shopping at Goodwill....
I looked over and saw a desk top organizer
I realized that this would make a PERFECT "desk" for the dolls....
with a bit of "tweaking" first!
The best part....it was only $7.99!!!
 It was missing a chunk out of the side, one of the drawers was DESTROYED, and it was DUSTY, but it had lots of potential!

I LOVE the desk that American Girl sells, 
but I can't afford that kind of money for a toy.
If you are interested, though, you can find that desk here:

Here's how it did it:

1.  I took out the broken drawer, and trashed everything except for the drawer bottom, which I glued back into the empty "drawer space" to act as a shelf.  I filled the missing "chunk" on the side with wood putty, and then let dry.  (Later this was sanded smooth and colored with the same stain used on the legs.)

2.  I then turned the desk onto its back.  I wanted to remove the vertical "files" on the bottom left corner to create room for a chair to sit.  I carefully sawed down the left side of the drawer bank towards the back of the desk (desk front is pointing "up" in photo).

 3.  I then used a hammer to gently "tap" out the bottom piece that I had cut away (I could tell that the bottom piece was only "glued" on the left and at the back).

 4.  Here is what it looks like with the bottom piece cut and then "tapped" off:

5.  I removed the vertical dividers, and sanded the raw edges where the bottom came off.  I also sanded all of the exposed edges of the desk to give it a more "antique" and worn look.

6.  I'd love to show you pictures of the "legs" being added....
but either it was operator error OR my camera "ate" those pics!!
I used 1" square dowels (4 total) for the legs on the right side under the drawers (5" tall),
and I used .5" square dowels (2 total) for the legs to the left where the chair sits (these measure 10.75" tall).  I spent about 2 weeks on the legs just sanding, gluing, and clamping each one in turn (I only have one set of jumbo clamps)!
7.  I then stained the legs to match the desk.  Once the stain is dry (give it a good week!), you can accessorize!  Enjoy!

The desk measures: 13.5" wide x 10" deep x 20" high
 
Here's the desk with a My Twinn doll featured next to it:

 American Girl doll (sitting, left) and My Twinn doll (standing, right):

Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

18" Doll: Ana White - Ayla Cabinet

Ana White has posted FREE PLANS to build
 a GORGEOUS little storage cabinet
for 18" dolls.

Head over and check it out:

While this is not large enough to store "doll furniture" inside, it would do nicely for hanging doll clothes and a doll or two inside the cabinet.  The drawer is perfect for shoes, folded clothes, and small doll accessories!  There's even room on top for displaying some larger pieces (furniture) and "nice" dolls on display stands.  Overall, this is a great piece for a small area (think bedroom, entry way, or even an apartment) or for a little girl just starting out with her "doll world"!

Looks like fun! :)

Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

18" Doll: Spilled Milk

Everyone needs

a glass of 

SPILLED MILK!
This is a cute tutorial on how to make
your own "glass of spilled milk"....
just use a smaller "glass" sized for 18" dolls!

Having a hard time finding a glass???
Try looking for glass votive candle holders or
clear plastic caps from plastic bottles (like hairspray).

FUN!


Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!



***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

18" Doll: Mini Picture Frames

Need some mini picture frames
for your "doll world"???

Head over to Dollar Store Crafts for a simple and fun tutorial
by Care at Obsessively Stitching.


ENJOY!


Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!



***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Where Have Ya Been, Reese???

I wanted to take a minute to tell everyone that I'm still here...
but I've had another death in the family....
my husband's dear grandmother.

We have been spending time with family,
moving belongings,
and generally just living in mourning.

My blog work has been on hold while we handle all of the details.

Please know that I will get back to building once my heart "is in the work",
but in the mean time I am spending some moments
just 
to
BREATHE.

See y'all soon....

Kristi