s June 2015 - The Kim Six Fix
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Easy DIY Picket Fence Doll Bed from Survey Stakes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InsideOutEmotions #CollectiveBias
Easy DIY Picket Fence Doll Bed
Last weekend I took the kids to see the new Pixar movie, Inside Out and it was WONDERFUL.  I had seen it advertised for a long time and I was really looking forward to going, and I was not disappointed.  I loved the message behind the film; there are no ‘bad’ emotions and sometimes we just need to feel the way we feel, that isn’t wrong.  Seeing inside out movie
It was a great jumping off point when talking to my own daughters about all the feelings they have, about school and friends and family.  And I knew that having the plush characters from the movie, could make the discussion a little more light hearted and fun.   Luckily our Walmart carried all the plush characters from the movie: Sadness, Joy, Anger, Fear and Disgust.      
Inside out plush toys
I picked up the “big three” in our household.. Sadness, Joy and Anger.  One for each child. Inside out dollsAnd as a little DIY project we worked together to build a little bed for them, and of course, for all the other dolls in the house!
Joy doll sleeping in bedI wanted this to be a project the kids could work on too, so I needed it to be easy and quick (they lose interest fast) so when I found this pack of survey stakes at the hardware store for $1.50 I immediately knew what we could use them for.
Survey Stakes
In fact, here is the entire supply list:

  • 1 pack Survey Stakes (the short ones)
  • 1 8ft 1x2 furring strip
  • 4 lf (linear feet) Screen Molding (or any small molding)
  • small sheet hardboard (or pegboard)
  • batting 
  • white fabric
  • 1 inch pocket hole screws
  • 1 1/4 inch pocket hole screws
  • nailgun (or hammer and small finishing nails)  
  • Pocket hole Jig
  • Palm or Oribital sander (or sandpaper) 
  • Staple Gun
  • Jig Saw

Doll bed from survey stakes
Cut List: 
(6) Full Size Survey Stakes (12 inch)
(2) Survey Stakes (bottom 5 inches)
(2) 21 inch 1x2 
(2)12 inch 1x2
(3) 13 inch moulding 
hardboard cut to size (I find it was easier to mark the board and cut it to fit in case your bed doesn’t wind up exactly square.. which it may not if your kids are helping you!)

Assembly:
The first thing you will need to do is sand all the survey stakes.  Because they do not have a finished surface (since you are supposed to be driving them into the soil) they are really rough.  Nothing a few passes with the sander can’t fix:
Sanding survey stakes
For the headboard I used the stakes at the full size I bought them at (12 inches).  I started with the two outside stakes, that would also become my bed’s legs and I attached the 21 inch 1x2s to them using pocket holes.
Drilling pocket holes in shims
I attached both 1x2s 2 inches up on the headboard using 5/8 inch pocket holes and 1 inch screws. Attaching headboard to doll bed
Next I added the 12 inch cross pieces using 5/8 inch pocket holes, only this time I used 1.25 in screws because the 1x2s are thicker than the stakes.  I then used the nail gun to attach the rest of the stakes to the cross brace and added the trim on both sides (for both decorative and support reasons) How to build a doll bed attaching siderails
I repeated the process for the legs, adding the 5 inch cut down shims on both sides and then adding the cross piece. Picket fence bed frame
For the ‘mattress’ itself I used a piece of pegboard I had left over from my painted cross stitch project.  I just marked the edges and cut it down with a jig saw to get a tight fit.
Picket fence bed
I added three sheets of poly batting and wrapped the entire thing with a piece of white muslin. Batting for doll bed mattress
I secured it using a staple gun.
Doll bed mattress
I popped the mattress back in and I was ready to go (I didn’t attach the mattress with nails since I wanted to paint the rest of the bed.  I had a tight enough fit that it didn’t fall out, even without nails. Adding mattress to doll bed
The last step was priming and painting.  I used spray paint since it was easier to get into all the nooks and crannies.  Then I 'made the bed’ with a mini quilt I had lying around.
Easy doll bed DIY project
According to my kids, the dolls love it!
Doll bed for Joy emotion inside outIt was great little project to work on with the kids and a great way to talk to your kids about emotions.
Inside Out Doll Bed

Thanks Dad! I Love You! (In Case I Don't Say It Enough)

Today's post is tribute to my dad (and ALL the fabulous dads and grandpas who touch our lives!) 
I've always been close to my dad, and as I get older, I see him in myself more and more. He is the one who gave me the courage to be a DIY'r and he also showed me what it means to be a good parent.

This is my dad and me (the ONLY time you will see me in a bikini on the internet) feeding the ducks circa 1977. 

Apothecary Style Coffee Table with Hidden LEGO and Train Play Areas

I am SO EXCITED to share today's project with you.  I have spent the last few weeks working on it, and have been giving sneak previews on Facebook and Instagram, but today is FINALLY the big reveal... SQUEEEEE!!!!! 

For visitors and guests to our home, it would look like nothing more than an apothecary style coffee table. 

And even if it was just that, it would be beautiful.  But the exciting part is when you remove the top and reveal..

... a train table and tons of extra storage.   (Even if you didn't have kids, it would be a great place to hide a blanket or your laptop or magazines or whatever else tends to clutter up the living room.)

And if that weren't enough, I took advantage of the fact that the removable inset had a large flat finished surface on both sides, and I also threw in a LEGO table in order to guild the lily. 


To see it in action I created this quick movie of how it works: 



Don't you just LOVE THAT?!??!!?

DIY Rhinestone Flag Pillow

Before I get started I wanted to send out a note to my regular readers:  I wanted to let you know that I will be shifting my posting schedule for the summer.   I am going to be working on a few LARGER projects which will require more time, and so instead of pushing out posts just to stay on schedule, I'm only going to be sending out posts when I actually have something finished.

Right now I'm hoping for a Tuesday/Thursday schedule (which means you will get posts on You're Gonna Love It Party Day) but it may be even more sporadic.  

If you haven't subscribed by email yet, this is the best way to not miss new posts (and not have to check back regularly).   You can sign up here and opt in to receive either a weekly summary of all new posts at once or each post delivered immediately when it is published.

You also can opt in or out of the weekly linky party (regular subscribers don't get a party email unless they specifically request it.)  

I have big plans for some great posts this summer... so stick around.

Ironically, I actually don't have a full post for you today.. Instead I'm sharing my tutorial for this sparkly DIY Denim and Rhinestone Patriotic Pillow over on The Pinning Mama.
Create this sparkly patriotic pillow.  A perfect kids' craft using rhinestones and glue.  Make your own denim pillow cover or buy one.
If you need your red white and blue fix, since you haven't had enough yet.. you can head over there!  

And if that isn't enough, here are some other projects I'd love to share with you, in case you missed them the first time:

Thanks so much for hangin' with me!


Personalized Stationery Set Teacher Gift

Another school year is coming to a close and that means time for another set of Thank You Teacher Gifts!  I have done a lot of "Summer Is Here" gifts before.  Here are a few other ideas I've used in the past:


For this year's gift I asked the teachers what they actually could use (since I know not every teacher wants another coffee mug or hand lotion.)  They told me they could always use STATIONERY.  Because they send so many notes home with students, including lots of thank you notes, they go through stationery rather quickly. 







 
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