Remodelaholic Feature!

Happy Saturday everyone! 

I have exciting news to share today, one of my favorite DIY projects, is being featured on one of my favorite DIY blogs!! 

How fun is that?!?

My son's camping tent bed how-to, is being featured over at  Remodelaholic.com.

If you don't know Remodelaholic already, you need to! 

It is full of all sorts of project ideas, how-to's, and inspiration.....perfect for the remodelaholic, like myself. 

Check out the full feature on Remodelaholic, by  clicking here.

Also, be sure check out the rest of the camping room, and the campfire how to.

Campfire How-To

When making the camping room for my son, I new I had to have a campfire. I found a couple on Etsy that were cute, but all in felt. I looked at doing a felt version, but didn't really like the completed look of it. I wanted something more realistic. I finally got around to making this right before his 3rd birthday. I wanted to make a whole gift around it. 

I made the campfire set, and added a picnic basket full of camping necessities. 

I found a felt sandwich set, by Melissa & Doug. 

We also purchased some plastic camping toys, a canteen, a lantern that makes nature sounds, roasting sticks with marshmallows and hot dogs. All by Insect Lore, found on Amazon.

The campfire was very easy to make, and inexpensive. 

Here's How-To make it...

 I started by looking for fabrics that looked like the pieces I was making. A bark fabric for the logs, a orangey-yellow fabric for the flames, a tan or grey for the rocks, and a brown for the dirt at the base of the fire. 

For the base of the fire, I used a thick piece of plastic board, but cardboard could work as well. Cut it in an oval shape, wrapped the fabric over it, and hot glued it in the back. 

The rocks were next. I started with a randomly cut shape. You don't want them round, like balls, and each one should  be different. Use cotton stuffing for the insides. I just cinched the fabric around it, and stitched it closed, or you could hot glue it closed. Then I hot glued them to the base, sort-of overlapping some and making them look irregular, more like real rocks.

For the logs, I cut out rectangles in the length, that I wanted the logs. Again they all shouldn't be the same size, random is better. I made 4 of them. I used a muslin fabric for the ends, just cutting a circle shape. Before sewing anything together, I made the rings on the end pieces. I used the sewing machine, and brown thread. Staying away from the edges, I just rotated the pieces, and made two different circles. I folded the bark pieces right sides together, and sewed down the long side. Turn the bark piece right side out.  Place one of the circles along the seam of the log an sew them together. I left about 1/4" gap, and frayed the edged's. Stuff it with the cotton stuffing, doesn't need be super tight. I did the same for the other side. You can hand stitch it if its to tight on the machine.

The fire is a similar technique. Cut a shape out of the orangey fabric, you will need a front and a back. I made three sets of these. Keep the pieces backs to backs, and stitch around the edges (the dotted line), about 1/4" away. Leave part of the bottom open, and stuff the cotton batting into the flames. I used a pencil end, to get it in the tops. Then hand sewed the bottom to close it. You can fray the edges, gives it a firey look. 

I stitched the sides of two of these together, on each side, where it says "here". There will be an opening between the two. Fold the last piece of flames, and stuff it in the hole between the other two. You can add a dab of hot glue to keep it from moving. 

For the log seats. I used the same technique as the logs. I started with a thick piece of foam, from Hobby Lobby. I used a 2"x15"x17" piece for each seat. Cut it into sort of a circle shape. I used a serrated knife for this.

I set it on the bark fabric and marked how thick, and long, the sides needed to be. The top and bottom were done the same way as the end of the logs. I made rings using the sewing machine, and brown thread. Again, fraying the edges.

This has become a family spot for us. Every night we sit around the campfire to read a bedtime story. My son picks out food for us all, everything gets cooked over the fire, even the sandwiches :) 

See the whole room here, and check out how-to make the camping tent.

Hope this "sparks" an idea, for a place, for you and your family to spend time together. 

Check us out over at Uncommon Designs, Monday Funday Link Party too.

How To- Camping Tent Bed

I recently posted some pictures of my son's camping, and as promised I wanted to give you a tutorial on how to make the tent bed. You can find the full room tour here. 

Here's what you'll need to get started.

-3 Flag pole mounts, this one is from Lowe's and cost $10.98 each

-3 Wood dowels 1 1/8", "  $3.98 each (for poplar)

-Rope, thinner is better,  $8 Lowes

-Canvas drop cloth I used a 9'x12' from Sherwin Williams, 6oz. weight, this is the thinnest, and easiest to work with. $11

-Piece of cardboard, or something to use as wedge (poster board)

-12 Drywall mounts

-12 Screws

-Electric screwdriver

- 3/16" Drill bit

-Hot glue gun

-A miter box/miter saw/ or a Lowe's guy, you can sweet talk into making a cut on his machine.

To start this project you need to have your bed in place. Once this tent is up, it's up, you don't want to move it. I used a toddler bed placed longways against the wall, but you could use a twin bed coming straight out. When my son out grows this bed, I plan to use a twin coming straight out with a night stand next to it, since there will be a little bit of room inside.

Once you have the bed positioned, decide how much headroom they need, the closer they are, the more they will mess with it. I had my son stand on his bed, and marked it on the wall. If your child is bigger/older, you may want to make the tent less deep so when they stand up they wont be hitting their heads. Since this was a toddler bed, and I was trying to mask this, I put the side pole just about 4"  from the top, of the highest rail. The foot board was lower, and father away from the bracket.

 If it helps, put some blue tape on the wall where your measurements are to get a feel of the scale of the tent completed. Maybe have your child get in and out of bed. 

When completed, the tent structure will sit higher than where it is mounted to the wall, because of the angle of the dowel...if that doesn't make sense, keep reading it will. 

I would go ahead and mark the holes from the base of the bracket, onto the wall, and insert the drywall anchors. 

Next you will want to hold get your poles ready. 

These are the dowels I used. They are poplar, but whatever wood you can find in the right size will work. Again, these are from Lowe's and this one is color coded with a green label. 

This will fit a bit loosely in the holder. The next size up is 1 1/4", and while it does fit in the holder, it only goes in about 1/4", and it wont be secure enough.

It is best to cut the length of your dowels here, before you start drilling holes and mounting. Decide how far out from the wall you want the tent to go. On this one, I came out 1" further than the bed itself. Remember when your measuring to take into account the bracket depth, and the angle of the dowel after mounting, as well. I just held it up and eyeballed it, marked it an put the same measurement on the other two. 

Nothing fancy methods here.

 I cut the ends,  on a slight angle, not straight across. The canvas will sit more flush in the front this way, but isn't completely necessary.

A-Metal flag pole bracket, comes in other colors, but this was the closest to the canvas color. You will have to do this three times. You'll be a pro at the end. 

B- Unscrew the side mounting screw, this one adjusts the angle at which the pole will be mounted.

C- Move the dowel holder piece, to an angled position. I have mine in the 5th notch. This is important because, it will have a little bit of weight with the canvas, and with kids tugging at it bit, an you will have less resistance this way. It also props the tent up better, makes it more open inside.

D-Unscrew the rod holding screw. It blocks the dowel from going all the way in. Keep it you still need this.

E-Place the dowel inside the mount, notice it fits loosely, there is a gap. Push it all the way to the bottom of the holder.

F-Hold in place, and with a  pencil, mark the hole where the screw fits in. 

G- This is where you will need the drill bit, 3/16" seemed to be a good size, you don't want it as big, or bigger than the tightening screw pictured, or it will wiggle. You don't need to drill all the way through, just about as deep into the dowel, as the screw is long, not even half way into the dowel. Drill right into the mark you just made.

H-Place the dowel back in the pole holder, making sure when your doing this, the screw hole is lined up with you hole you drilled. Now you can use some card board or poster board pieces, to make the fit tight. This is just to keep it from wiggling around. I use a couple pieces of wood veneer I had laying around, I put it in a couple spots, until it fit tightly. Then screw the tightening screw into the hole.

Do this for all three brackets and poles

Now you will attach the whole thing to the wall. I don't have great pictures for this so bear with me.

Here his what the angle will look like when it is attached to the wall. It doesn't go straight out.

You are going to lay the canvas out flat, and find the middle. 

You will want at least 10"-13" hanging down in front of the tent (see below). Mark with a pencil from one side of the canvas that far in. This is where you dowel will start, where it says hold here. 

You may need two people here, since the canvas is big, it's a bit awkward. Hold the end of dowel in your mark position 10"-13", I put a dab of hot glue on the end,  so it would stay in place. In the picture above, this will be the tallest point where it says, hold here.  

Pull the canvas over the dowel and bracket so it is now behind the bracket. Best to get under it, to attach it, having someone help hold and line up the pole above. Should look like the picture below, from underneath where you are attaching it.  

Attach the bracket to the wall with the four screws, going into the dry wall anchors, sandwiching the canvas between the wall and bracket. Pull canvas taught before screwing in. 

Repeat the process for the left and right side, holding rod and bracket over pre-anchored positions on the wall, and draping the canvas over the dowel. Pull canvas taught so it doesn't drape between the top and side dowels. Again, I dabbed a bit of hot glue on the top of the dowel to keep the canvas in place. The excess will hang into the tent.

There will be extra canvas when you pull this tight. I used it to cover up the dowel on the insde of the tent. otherwise it will just hang there. 

Now you will screw the canvas into the outside part of the dowel ends. Before you do this wrap and tuck any extra canvas, until you get the look you want, and then screw it into place. You can cut and hot glue pieces together, if you don't want the extra showing. This is meant to be a outdoor tent look, so cleaner is probably not better here.

To gather the fabric, and really give it the tent look....I cut two holes in the fabric, on the top seam, and a piece that draped down. This will eventually cover up the end of the screws. Play with this before you cut the holes, you want the drape to look natural, and not all gathered up in front. It took several rearrangements to get it where i wanted it. Remember what you did, as you will be doing it again on the other side.

 I thread a piece of the rope through each hole, pulled and tied it twice. 

This is how the gather will look

Some of the fabric will drape to the floor, and depending on the bed you use, and the height, it may not. Mine hit the floor a bit longer on one side than the other, and I just cut it off so it was even. Obviously I didnt measure so well :)

For the top front of the tent, I used the same idea for attaching the pieces together. I wanted it straight across in the front, so I got it where I wanted it, and pinch the top and front canvas together, made holes, and put the rope through.

This is the view from inside the tent

This is how the sides of the tent look. Without sewing and really mapping it all out you will have excess fabric. If you want a cleaner look you could take the extra time to do that. I think it should look like a tent some kids and a camp counselor put together outside, so very imperfect. Or at least claim that's what you wanted it to look like.

Here is what you will end up with. To see the rest of the room, and how it all came together, click here.

See how-to make the campfire and log seats here

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I'd love to see pictures if you try this project or one like it, let me know

Let's go camping....

Lets be honest... With three kids, the youngest at 15 months, this does NOT sound like fun. I grew up camping and fishing, and being outdoors, but that was in Colorado where the weather was perfect  for camping half of the year. Here in Texas, there is about a 2 month period where this is even a realistic thought. Chasing around after Kiera on a campsite though, is just about enough to put me in an institution. That being said, I thought I would bring the outdoors...indoors.

In our last house, I made a modern version of a woodland room. This was really breaking out of the box for me for several reasons... We got the crib which was more modern, but unmistakably boy ( not my style). Then I found the cutest bedding set at Dwell, unfortunately it was WAY above my price range. So I had to settle for the stroller blanket...poo. I tried to coordinate the whole room around this, without getting matchy-matchy.  So I painted some tree trunks, an owl, and a fox. My style of painting is much more realistic...so this was a stretch... I think I messed with him for days, and finally just decided to be happy with it. I made the bedding, and art above the dresser.

When we moved I had all sorts of woodland stuff, and still really loved it, but needed a more grown up toddler room. First we found a toddler bed.... And I HATE toddler beds! They do nothing for decorating, they are so small you can't even  put art above it. We did fall in love with the  wood finish on this Ikea toddler bed, and dresser, very versatile. I'll be honest, at this point I had NO IDEA what I was doing in the room. I was still brewing on it. I finally decided on an outdoor camping room, brings in the woodland...I can paint a mural...and bring in lots of animals, my favorite thing to piant. So I decided what better way to disguise the tiny toddler bed, than to turn it in to a tent.
I'll give you the process on another post (find it here)...very simple.

Next was the mural...the idea started off with a moose.... I have always wanted  to paint a moose, and what better place than in my own house. But what's a moose on a wall? He needs friends, and something to eat! Insert the 360 room-OF-a-view! When I started this painting I had a simple idea, and i just kept going, and going....even though I had no idea where exactly I was headed. It's nice when you don't have to have a full plan plotted out for a client. I just did what I wanted.  An hour here, a couple minutes there.... And several weeks later (not my normal working pace), this is how it turned out .....I will admit, sadly, that I just finished the sunset sky a month ago....the Sistine chapel wasn't painted in a day :)

I staged the dresser, with everything you'd need on a camping trip. Foam mat, vintage suitcase, vintage minnow bucket, lantern from Pottery Barn (which I never found a small enough bulb for), a good book, and some findings from a walk in the woods.  

On the bed are sheet from Pottery Barn Kids, they are safari I think, but hey it has animals. The duvet is also from Pottery Barn Kids, both items were twin bedding, that I tucked under the mattress. The cute little fox, was a great find at Ikea. The super cute log was a DIY kit from "My Imaginary Boyfriend", on Etsy, but it appears she is no longer making these.

We have this cute little antique mall in town, Iron Side Market. Among the junk, there is a great little shop in the back called, "Mom's Hangup's" She always has the funnest, yummiest finds. I got this great antique bow and arrow set there, as well as the minnow bucket, suitcase, and antler. I was having a lucky day!

When I first started this room, I had this idea for a camp fire. I found a couple things on Etsy, but most were felt, and felt ain't my thing. So I went to hobby lobby to look for fabric that looked like, dirt, rocks, flames, and bark. To my surprise they had it all. I finally got around to making this almost a year after I painted the room...ran out of time. I needed something big for Braeden's 3rd birthday, so I whipped it out, in a couple hours really. This was soooo simple, though it may not look it. Just a litlle patience, and my old faithful, the hot glue gun! When I post info on the tent, I;ll fill you in on how to make this fire set. 

I also bought a picnic basket, and filled it with all the necessities for a cook out....

-Felt sandwich stuff, from Melissa & Doug (purchased at Micheal's)

-A coon-skin-hat 

-A toy  lantern from Amazon, that  plays sounds, and lights up.

-A canteen, with a compass on the lid

-A cook out set, which came with two plastic sticks, hot dogs, and marshmallows. 

The kids LOVE this. At night when we read a book, Braeden picks out his food, and puts it on the fire, yes even the sandwiches, and we have a cook out. 

A couple other animals around the room, there are raccoon, a snake, a chipmunk, birds flying, ducks swimming, and bears taking a bath,

Thanks for checking out this fun space...Hope it inspires you to create a wonderland for your kids. Stay tuned for the tent tutorial, and campfire tutorial.