DIY Number Pinata

 We did a bug birthday for my sons 3rd birthday and decided to do a number pinata to go with it. After posting this I printed out some bugs and scattered them around. but you could decorate them with anything or leave it plain jane. It takes a little work to make a DIY number pinata but is faster than one might think and pretty inexpensive.

Step 1: Gather Supplies: 

You will need 2 sheets of poster board (depending on the size of your project), tape, glue, newspaper, flour and water, tissue paper or crepe paper. (I used streamers)

Step 2: Draw it out.

Draw the shape of your number or letter or find a font that you love print it out and trace it onto a posterboard. cut out the two shapes of the number and the sides, I did 3 inch strips.

Step 3: Tape it all together. 

Start by taping the sides to the back then attach the string. Then tape the front on.

Step 4: Time to Paper mache your DIY number pinata. 

Mix equal parts flour and water. 1 cup water, 1 cup flour. Rip up newspaper into small strips. dip into flour mixture and place on number. Continue until covered. Let dry. (about a day) repeat 2-3 times.  When finished you can sand out your number if painting or continue to step 5.

Step 5: Decorate.

either paint your number (the quick way) or add the frills. Cut the tissue or crepe paper into thin strips. I folded mine and then cut long ways a couple creating a fringe. Using elmers glue I drew scallops onto the number and then placed the fringe on the scallops. You can do any pattern. (This is the part that takes the longest so put on a show or something and get gluing.

Step 6: FILL it.

Fill with candy...or bugs...or just display your awesome DIY Number pinata.

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Repurposed Bike Tube into Kids Hair Elastics: DIY

 

We had an old bike tube that had been punctured and gone flat so we decided to do something with it. It is from a road bike so the tube is pretty small. So I looked up some ideas of what I could do with an old bike tube. I love the ideas. I didn't realize that people upcycled old inner tubes and rubber so often. People make elastics, purses, wallets, camera cases...and so on. Anyway I decided to keep it simple for now...expecially since this was the perfect size for those little girl hair elastics that everyone has and always lose right. :)

So it's super simple

Just cut across

rinse out the inner tube with water

After it is dry take your scissors and cut across about as small as you can get it while still keeping the ring together. 

Do this as many times as you want elastics

And there you have it..elastics from an old bicycle tube.

These are super strong too. They don't break as easily as the normal ones.

DIY Toddler Bed

 

DIY Toddler bed.  This was a super fun project for me. I was super excited to get it all done. We are building a barn and so have lots of extra lumber. So I made it out of 2x4's. We wanted something thatwould be more space saving so we made it to fit a crib mattress.

Supplies you'll need:

4-5  2x4 pieces of wood.

1 inch pieces of wood

long half inch dowell

flat pieces

Tools

Skilsaw

Drill

Cut pieces:

 2x4's

• 4    14 1/2 inches (these are the inner boards for the head and foot board)
• 4   19 1/2 inches  (These are the four bed posts)
• 2    27 1/2 inches ( These are the lower horizontal boards on the head and foot boards)
• 2    32 1/2 inches (These are the upper horizontal boards on the head and foot boards)
• 2   54 inches  ( This is the supporting boards for the sides of the bed)
• 2    60 inches  (These are the side boards)

 1 1/2 x 1/2 (these are for the side rails)

•  2   30 inches (Railing top)
• 12  12 inches (post for railings)
• 5-10 27 1/2 inches (for bed supports)

Hole and peg

I wanted to make a bed that could be taken apart. So It's designed to have a headboard and foot board that attaches to two sideboards. Then brace boards that hole the mattress up in the middle. 

This is the whole and peg so we can take it apart. Cutting the wholes is the first step.

 

Step 1:  Cutting the notch in the 4 sideboards. Take your two 60 inch boards and cut 3 inches up and half and inch in on both ends of the board and on both sides of it.

Step 2: Cutting the hole. We traced the square from the sideboards that we just cut onto the each of the post boards. (19 1/2 inch boards)  Then we used the drill to drill a hole inside the square. Then we used the skilsaw to cut out the rest of the wood in the square. Cut one square in each leg of the head and foot boards.

The Bed Frame

Step 3: Nailing the Side boards together.We took the 54 inch board and screwed it to the bottom of the notched board lining it up flush with the ends of the notch on both sides.

After screwing those boards together set aside.

Step 4: The head and bottom board The head and bottom board are exactly the same. So you'll make two of these. for one you'll need 1 board measuring 32 1/2, 1 measuring 27 1/2,  two boards measuring 14 1/2, and the two boards you just cut the square in.

Step 5: The railing. I actually didn't do this in this order because I needed to transport this bed in a tiny car but you could screw these together now or wait until after it is stained. It's pretty simple you space 6 12 inch boards out evenly along the 30 inch board on top. Screw in the tops. Then after you get the bed put together screw it onto the side boards about 4 inches from the headboard and flush with the bottom of the side board.

 Step 6: Put the bed together. As a side thought we grabbed a 2x6 and made a little bookshelf on the headboard. When we had this basically put together we needed to mark where our pegs would go. I traced a line on the notch on all four corners, disassembled the bed and drilled 4 holes. I used a half inch drill bit. It fit tight with the 1/2 inch peg but worked well. We re-assembled the bed after we drilled the holes, cut the pegs 4 inches long and hammered them in.

 Add the mattress: This is a standard sized crib mattress. 27 1/2 by 54 inches.

Paint it or stain it or leave it how it is. And that's it. Let me know if you have any questions.

Enjoy

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