You’ve seen the felt houses.
You’ve seen the ones you can buy at walmart for hundreds of dollars.
Introducing:
The cardboard playhouse.
Cost: maybe $10
STart with a BIG box:
lucky for me my sis in law just unpacked her new stove!!!!
cut out some windows and a door
start painting.
For the roof: I went to this awesome “teacher” store and found a huge roll of this corrugated trim (it’s for bulletin boards)
oh yes, this is my favorite part! 3.29. for a roof. It tears apart into a wavy line.
hot glued that around…then I didn’t tear it apart and just applied the strips all along the top.
Made some shutters
and a mailbox out of:
and some mail:
Made some leaves:
and flowers for the leaves:
put them in a flower box….
(Just a rectangle and on the sides some triangles)
Made a welcome mat
and what house is complete without that sign
needed a picket white fence
needed an address so the post man can deliver the mail…
oh…and some cardboard curtains…
put it all together and what do you get?
hours of cheap fun.
put in a doggy door
Thanks for all who voted for this playhouse on S.Y.T.Y.C!!!! I am so excited to be in the top TEN!!!
Kimberly says
Love love this! I would totally make one for myself… if I weren't 25. 🙂 Thankfully I've got a little four-year-old friend who will love something like this, even if it isn't as grand as this one. 🙂
Chris says
What a great idea, Kim. Great job and good luck with SYTYC. I'm excited to see what you come up with next.
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says
This is SO cute! I think I would add a little skylight so I could peep in at the little one. 🙂
M.O.T.B says
Too cute!!!!!! Love it! I want to play in there!
Alison says
WOW! I want to come play! This is absolutely amazing!! It brings back lots of happy memories of playing in refrigerator boxes when we were kids. Thanks for sharing!
L ~DIY Diva~ says
Congrats Kimbo! i follow SYTYC and can't wait to see what crafts you make.
~L~
Fashion DIY @ Avid Accents
CraftyBrit says
Adorable! You make it seem like you whipped it up in like 10 mins too 🙂 Lucky girls you have!
Michelle says
Fabulous!! That came out so cute! I will have more fun making things like that for Avery then she probably will playing in it lol!
Aubrey says
So adorable!
ARob says
This is so cute!! I can't wait til my boy gets older so I can make one!! (not pink, ofcourse. . . maybe a firehouse or something!!)
Susie and Cody says
Hey I loved this!!! Did you just use hot glue for everything that you had to glue on?
Sandra says
It is awesome!
Stephanie Cameron says
I voted for you!! Too cute! Where did you get the huge box?
Goings on at the Glenn's says
such a cute idea! Love it. I made a felt playhouse for my kids to turn the bottom bunk into a playhouse, but I love the cardboard idea! So fun!
Shel at Dreamy Nest says
WOW! Will you be my mommy?
That is adorable!
Rhiannon says
oh I just adore it!!! and i love the no soliciting sign on the front door, can you make one for my house? 😉
ebeepaperie says
Oh my gosh! That is so cute!
Colleen @ MuralMaker&More says
This is so darn cute I can't stand it! I'd make one for myself if no one would find me there!
But for Grandson? I think it'll probably be Thomas the train. But thanks for the idea. He'll love it! Now, just gotta find some big boxes!
Jen @ lil Mop Top says
Super cute! We just made a 'playhouse' out of a cardboard box for my son but it just had a door and window….and that is it! So when we bought him a real playhouse yesterday, he really stepped up in life. 🙂 Your house put John's crappy box to shame!!
C.R.A.F.T. says
this is AMAZING! come on over and link up to MMM
tonyastaab.com says
I absolutely LOVE this. I have so many packing boxes taking over the garage that I think I'll make one of these over the summer vacation. Awesome!
Kim @ Starshine Chic says
It's fabulous!!!! Just don't leave it out in the rain.
Jill says
Brilliant! You have such amazing attention to detail!
Jen B says
This is so adorable and looks like lots of fun to make :-). Great job!
Jilly Beanz Thingz says
OMG that is crazy! Super cute. What a lucky little girl you have 🙂
Dewi Citra Sari says
OMG !
It's you the super handy crafter on SYTYC !
I didn't know that was yours
Goodluck!!
Cara @ Whimsy Smitten says
Oh my goodness, I am IN LOVE. That is SO cute — I'm just in awe. I almost just burned a whole pile of huge boxes from moving, but now I can't wait to go leaf through them and see what I can create. Thanks for the inspiration — what an AWESOME little playhouse, and you sure can't beat the price! 🙂
Ginger says
LOVE IT! My dad is a packing designer and he once designed a cardboard gingerbread house for Christmas pics one year. Once we took a bunch of cute pics, all the kids got to decorate it with crayons and markers…tons of fun! Thanks for linking up to Mad Skills Monday!
Kim says
Genius!!!
Jami says
This is unbelievable, Kimbo! I love it!
Beat Until Fluffy says
I would like one of these now, even though I'm 35. Definitely going to make one of these for my little girl, she'll adore it. Found you at The Girl Creative late last night. Happy Monday, even though it's Tuesday now. =)
~Dawn
Selina says
TOTALLY voted for this!!!! congrats on the top 10! i DIE over this, like DIE! my girls would completely freak out if i did this, they would each want one… i gotta get to work!!!
sisters4saymoreismore.blogspot.com
Haupi says
This is an absolute winner! What a fabulous idea and all the little crafty things that really made it a wonderfully whimsical play house. Not to mention we who decide to make one of our own can make it our own with our own coloring and design,i.e., butterflies, birds, flowers, bushes, berries…I'm going nuts just thinking of all the possibilities. Fabulous share! Fabulous.
Haupi
http://hauplight.blogspot.com/
Tricia says
It turned out so cute. Thanks for sharing. I already bought my materials for the felt version…but this seems like it might be easier…I just don't know if I have the patience to paint it all. Great job!
Tricia Leafytreetopspot.blogspot.com
Life in Rehab says
You have GOT to be kidding me! This turned out too flippin' adorable! I found you through All Thingz Related, and this is just a heavy dollop of thrifty mom genius.
Jenni says
I LOVE this! Totally going to make one for my girls… once I find a big enough box! 🙂
brandi @ tales of a domestic goddess says
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! how cute is this?!?
Erin says
New follower from TTA – hope to see you at Dropped Stitches!
xo Erin
Sarah says
I'm a new follower from Tuesday Tag-Along.
I hope you'll come check me out at PS Mom Reviews and follow me too!
Lori S. says
I am popping over from Santa's Gift Shoppe. A new follower. Feel free to follow back 🙂
[email protected],laugh,love,create 🙂
(paisleyinspirations.blogspot)
Mandy says
Thanks for linking up at Take-A-Look Tuesday. Just wanted to give you a heads up that I featured you today! – Mandy, http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com
Beth says
I want a big cardboard box now!!
Alison says
I loved this idea so much, I featured it today with a roundup of fun summer ideas!
http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/2010/06/wednesdays-wowzers-summertime-goodness.html
Thanks so much for the inspiration!
~Alison
Michelle says
so cute! What little kids wouldn't love this and for $10.00 and a little elbow grease you can't go wrong!
Stacey says
Wow! This is amazing! You are so creative.
You can follow me back at http://www.pbandjoy.com/
EnJOY your day!
Jill says
Truly genius! What a great idea that will get hours of play time!
[email protected] says
This is too cute I love it
Londen @ Sixty-Fifth Avenue says
This is the coolest playhouse!! So fun!
Kaysi says
That is awesome! I did this for my son when we bought a freezer but it didn't look nearly as cute as yours!
Kim @ seven thirty three says
I saw this over at SYTYC and was so happy to find out you made it in! Can't wait to see what you come up with. 😉
Thanks for linking up with Sugar & Spice.
mommy2luke2008 says
I love this!!! I am featuring this on my friday favorites http://www.lilbitofus.blogspot.com Sorry I don't have a direct link, but I'm scheduling it today to post for tomorrow.
Katherine marie says
Soooooo incredibly dazzling!!!!! Love it! Love! Love it!
★All Thingz Related★ says
That is adorable! How Fun!
Thanks for sharing @ Anything Related!
Rose :: FineCraftGuild.com says
absolutely adorable!! thanks for linking it up at Fine Craft Guild DIY Linky party
Do join again with an equally great tutorial next party, will ya? It opens Wednesday and you can reach it from our homepage.
:0-)
Rose :: FineCraftGuild.com says
absolutely adorable!! thanks for linking it up at Fine Craft Guild DIY Linky party
Do join again with an equally great tutorial next party, will ya? It opens Wednesday and you can reach it from our homepage.
:0-)
Courtney says
Kimbo this is soooo cute!! I'm definitely making one for my little boy-he will love it!
Laura @ Just For Love says
Get. Out. Of. Here. No way!! That is insanely adorable!! My sis and I have a fridge/stove appliance store right across the street and we've often talked about getting a few boxes to do this. Oh my goodness, seeing your little house makes me want to make my son a "play house" sooo bad now!
I am so your new follower, girl. Awesome job and awesome post. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Lots of love,
Laura
P.S. Found you through Whatever Goes Wednesday!
AUDRA says
SOO cute!!
Love it! I think you should win this round of iron crafter 🙂
Awesome.
Cindy Adkins says
Gorgeous!! And simply precious!!!!
xox
[email protected] and Jellybeans says
Congrats!!! You made it in to the Iron Crafter TOP TEN!!
Come and check it out here:
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2008/09/iron-crafter-cardboard-boxes-top-ten.html
hbknud says
So cute! Your creative genes are really going on this one.
Pati @ A Crafty Escape says
Yup, just voted in the top 10. And now I'll be on the look out for a big box. I've heard you can go to big stores and ask them for a box, I might try it soon. Thist would be a great activity for a rainy day!
[email protected] says
This looks so much easier than the felt houses! Simply adorable!
Life in Rehab says
We completely concede! Your project is awesome, the tutorial is cool, and we'll get you next time!
elizabeth @ twelvecrafts says
Congrats Kimbo on The Iron Crafter win! Great project. Now if you could just find a way to mass produce those for the rest of us. 😉
"AAmores" Crafts, Sewing and other Stuff says
I love this house! I want to make one today lol. I will be making one for my daughter and I want to make one for my son also… I have to think about a boys theme house hehe.. thank you so much for this great idea.
Bec @ Bad Mummy says
So cute! I love the "no soliciting" sign on the door 😀
Brandi says
so cute! love this idea!
Charlene says
This is adorable. Every year in the summertime I get huge sofa boxes from a local furnature store for my boys to make into forts – I just love to see them being creative. It becomes very serious business. We are not allowed to throw them out! LOL! We will have to jazz them up next summer with some paint. Thanks for the inspiration! Such detail! LOVE IT!
Shanti says
It's very cute… I had one made from my mom when I was a kid and it was great!
Cara @ Twice Lovely Furniture says
Um, why didn't you win the CSI challenge with your playhouse?? I mean, what is UP? This is freakin AWESOME! You get my comment for the day.
~Lana says
Oh so cute! I love the fence, the flowers…oh heck…I LOVE it all! I am on a cardboard frenzy these days and just finished a project myself. I wish I had gone looking for others who had done the same thing first…but now that just gives me more inspiration to build more!
I would love to share mine with you, if you would like to see what we did it can be found at http://thecraftyrecycler.blogspot.com/
DameName says
No soliciting! You successfully made me laugh for a whole three minutes.