Let's get cooking!

Kitchen Playset after© creativebleed

Wow, this week went by super fast! Even though we started this set a few weeks ago and most of it was done, it was all the little touches that ended up coming down to the wire. The sink got the biggest make over, we decided to paint the whole thing white to give it that apron sink feel. We removed the cabinet door and made a curtain instead. The original faucet was missing so my husband used a plastic "J" pipe for the faucet and bathroom replacement knobs. He even drilled a hole in the bottom of the sink. How cute is that?

Sink After © creativebleed

While installing the faucet, the top accidently got cracked, so we thought it best to tile it to cover our bad. It was suprisingly easy. We got a sample sheet of small white tile from a local tile store and grouted that sucker in. It came out surprisingly well.

© creativebleedThe stove didn't need much just some new paint. The tea towel was screen printed by our friend Jennifer J, who also made some little menu cards to go with. We added a Green Toy pot and frying pan and stocked the fridge with some empty food packages.

© creativebleed

For the used set and materials we probably spent around $140, which is a little over budget, mainly because of that darn magnetic paint. Sure we probably could have purchased a new set for the price, but what fun is that? Plus, we kept the money within our community and gave our daughter something custom for Christmas. And I am happy to say it's been a big hit we have been cooking all morning! K

Materials:

Used play kitchen from Valley Care Thrift, Tile from Western Tile Design Center, Fabric from In Between Stitches, Cherry Blossom Montana Gold Paint from Richards, Hardware and paint from OSH and Lowes.

 See before pics here.

Pimp my fridge

Play fridge before © creativebleed

Santa's elves have been slaving away during nap time the last week to get one special girl's kitchen play set tricked out in time for Christmas! We have removed handles and doors and begun painting. But before I get into the remodeling process, I must back up to the day we found the set. As we were configuring how to fit the two piece set into my car (along with the jogging stroller already taking up most of the trunk), the clerk came out and said, "the guy just dropped off the fridge, do you want it?"

"Of course!" So now our two piece set is a three piece set. One elf drives the sleigh with a fridge and a stove while the other runs through town with a jogging stroller and a sink, Merry Christmas!

Prep to paint © creativebleed

So lets get to work! We started by cleaning the set up and removing all the handles, small parts and doors. We chose to leave the set white and repaint the doors magenta with silver hardware. 

Painting fridge door with magnetic paint © creativebleed

Starting with the fridge, we thought it would be cool to have it actually be magnetic. I had some left over magnetic paint from a project last year so I started painting the front of the door. Of course after the second coat, I came to the conclusion that the paint was no longer good, there was not the slightest pull. My mind already set on a magnetic fridge we broke down and bought more paint (the stuff is not cheap). In the end the fridge got 6 coats of magnetic paint, then a thin layer of white paint before the magenta went on. Does it work? Of course! Although the darn thing chips easily and the surface is a little rough from the foam roller, it does work and is cohesive with the rest of the set.

Close-Up of dispenser on door. Note the texture and where the paint seeped through the mask. ©creativebleedFor the ice dispenser in the fridge door I painted the inside white and then masked around the levers and painted the levers silver to match the handles. One problem I encountered was the silver paint which caused the white paint beneath to bubble. I am afraid to know the answer to why that happened, but I ended up having to completely remove all the white paint from the levers before painting it silver. I still have some touch ups, but I think it came out ok, and the best part is you can stick magnets to it, just like a real fridge. K

Fridge after ©creativebleed

Too be continued.

Fun With Owls Part 1: Owl Ball Felt Toy

Two weeks ago we celebrated our little’s birthday. We did an autumn owl theme which turned out to be really fun. Having a cold the week before and a few rainy days the week of, I had some indoor time that left me making all of the party decorations. These decorations are super easy and fun for a themed birthday party, fall decor or just a fun arts and crafts project. Enjoy! K

Owl Ball Felt Toy

These were made as a take home party favor for the little ones. Not only are they cute, but they are easy to make and could become another animal easily with different shapes and pieces cut from felt.

Supplies:

Felt
1 - full 9 x 12 sheet any color for the body
2 - 2” circles white or cream for eyes
2 - 1/2” brown circles for pupils
2 - 2.5 x 3.5” brown ovals for wings
1 - orange, brown, or yellow diamond for beak

Tacky Glue
Scissors
Piece of Ric Rac or sturdy ribbon
Small Ball - Pinky Hi Bouce Balls work perfectly
Template

Process:

1.) Cut pieces according template which you can download here or create your own.

2.) Take your ball and colored sheet of felt and wrap the ball.

Place the ball in the center and fold in the short sides, gather up the long sides, allowing one side to be slightly longer.

3.) Tie the ric rac at the top of the ball.

4.) Tuck the top of the felt to form the shape of the owl's head. Use glue to hold.

5.)  Tuck the oval shaped wings beneath the ric rac and secure with a little glue, on each side.

6.) Glue both big circles side by side to the center of owls head, okay to overlap a little.

7.) Glue each small circle in the center of the big circle to complete the eyes.

8.) Glue the widest part of the diamond beneath the eyes in the center to make the beak.

9.) Let the glue dry and now you have an owl. Enjoy!