18" Doll: Picnic Table - Ana White

Ana White has an ADORABLE set

of FREE PLANS for building

a picnic table and benches for your doll!!!

http://ana-white.com/2011/11/plans/doll-x-picnic-table-and-bench-set?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ana-white+%28Ana+White%29

THANKS, ANA!!

ENJOY!!

18" Doll: Ana White - Bunk Bed

Need a CUTE wooden Bunk Bed for your 18" doll???

Head over to Ana White to see her version of 

a wooden bunk bed:

http://ana-white.com/2011/08/doll-bunk-beds-american-girl-doll-and-18-doll

This tutorial is VERY SIMPLE, and the end product is GORGEOUS!

She also includes a plan to make some simple bedding for the same bunk bed:

http://ana-white.com/2011/08/18-doll-mattress-sewing-tutorial

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

THANKS ANA!!!

18" Doll: Ana White - Ayla Cabinet

Ana White has posted FREE PLANS to build
 a GORGEOUS little storage cabinet

for 18" dolls.

Head over and check it out:

http://ana-white.com/2011/06/ayla-cabinet

While this is not large enough to store "doll furniture" inside, it would do nicely for hanging doll clothes and a doll or two inside the cabinet.  The drawer is perfect for shoes, folded clothes, and small doll accessories!  There's even room on top for displaying some larger pieces (furniture) and "nice" dolls on display stands.  Overall, this is a great piece for a small area (think bedroom, entry way, or even an apartment) or for a little girl just starting out with her "doll world"!

Looks like fun! :)

Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

18" Doll: Modified Farmhouse Bed with Trundle

I'm still on my vacation, but for those of you who haven't seen this yet I just had to SHARE:

http://ana-white.com/2011/03/doll-bed-and-trundle

This is a reader submitted build to http://ana-white.com/ 

and the builder mamma_joy was nice enough to tell us how she did it so we can have one, too!!

Head on over and check it out!

Barbie: Ana White New Dollhouse (Modified)

 http://ana-white.com/2010/09/the-new-dollhouse.html

I used Ana's plans for her "New Dollhouse", and then modified the measurements so that Barbie could fit inside!  This makes the perfect "condo" for Barbie!  LOVE IT!!

The 4 - 1x2 corner posts are cut at 27.5" and then the top angles are cut.  The center wall is cut at 16".  My daughter picked out different CRAZY scrapbook papers, and we decoupaged them onto the walls and floors for wallpaper, tile and rugs!!  

Head over to Ana's and check out what other people have done with the dollhouse plans!!

Baby Doll: High Chair

Ana White has posted her baby doll high chair tutorial on her blog! Yippee!  Just in time for Christmas...

You can find the tutorial here:

http://ana-white.com/2010/12/how-to-build-a-doll-high-chair-tutorial.html

This looks simple.....I bet someone out there "needs" this and can have it built by Christmas.....

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

18" Doll: Fiona's Doll Adirondack Chair

Ana has posted a DOLL ADIRONDACK CHAIR, made by one of her followers Fiona, and the plan is available for free here:

http://ana-white.com/2010/12/fionas-doll-adirondack-chair.html

Please be sure to visit Ana and thank her and Fiona for such an awesome plan!!!

Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Pretend Play: Wooden Mail Box

I finally finished my daughter's wooden mailbox a couple months ago.  The plan can be found here: http://ana-white.com/2009/12/plan-cutest-mail-box-ever.html

I put some stamps onto index cards, filled in some addresses to make them look like mail, and then had them laminated (local teacher supply store).  Some "mail" were just blank "return envelopes" from junk mail and bills we had received.....great way to recycle! 

The USPS logo on the side of the mailbox is from GOOGLE images.  I just printed out one for each side and decoupaged them on the wood.  

I added a small "locking hasp" to the door....kids love locks and keys!  The top "mail slot" is fixed, not hinged, like a traditional mail box.  (I didn't want possible pinched fingers!)

Head over to Ana's website and pick out something FUN and EASY to build this Christmas!  You won't be disappointed!!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Pretend Play: Wooden Post Office/Bank

Our next project was a wooden POST OFFICE / BANK. We actually finished this back in June, but I didn't have time to post it before we went on our month long vacation!

I wanted a piece that could be "multi-purpose", since we are quickly running out of room! I decided to modify Ana's Library from Grace's Town into this piece.

http://ana-white.com/2009/11/plan-library-base-for-graces-town.html

Here is the wood cut, ready to be assembled:

This is the basic "shelf unit" built, waiting for the "window" and "vertical dividers":

I built a basic "frame" for the plexiglas window, and then reinforced the inside with pieces of 1x2:

I found 18x24 plexiglas at Lowes, and attached it to the inside of the frame (after painting) with screws through the plexiglas:

With help from my husband (this window is BIG!), I attached the the frame to the base with metal "L" shape brackets and some "blocks" screwed together for stability:

I added vertical dividers to the shelves which makes it into a POST OFFICE. I also trimed out the front of each box with 1x2's to finish it off. At this point I painted the front white, and then stained the inside and countertop. I also added a flat wooden MDF panel to the front (not pictured, held on by mirror clips) so that the unit could be "converted" to a "BANK" by sliding the panel down the front and covering the "post office boxes":

The front has a "drop" door. This can be used as a place to drop "mail" or "bank money"!:

I accessorized with business signs (from Lowes), my daughters' cash register, a "money box" from Target, and some junk "mail". I even had an old "post office box" (converted into a bank) from my childhood that she confiscated for play. She loves it!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Pretend Play: Wooden Pie Hutch

Once again, we depart on a journey of loving creation!!

I saw the newest kid's design on Ana's blog and knew that I HAD TO BUILD THIS!! We need more storage and "counter space" for my budding chef.

http://ana-white.com/2010/06/furniture-plans-play-pie-hutch.html

Simply gather your wood:

Overall this was a VERY easy build, but it was time consuming with the curved cuts that needed to be made and then sanded before finishing.

Once the curves were cut out and sanded, I had the piece nailed together within 10 minutes:

I made sure to fill all holes and knots with putty and sanded well before I painted it white.

(I use Behr Polar Bear in Semi Gloss.)

I then carefully painted the "back" pink. Looking back, this would have been A LOT EASIER if I would have painted the back FIRST, and THEN nailed it on! HELLO, DUH! I was having a moment of "I just need to get this done before we go on vacation..."! (I used Lowes Valspar Polka Pink in Satin.)

At this point, there was NO HOLDING HER BACK....my daughter wanted to play with this NOW! I turned the fan on and let it blow FULL BLAST on the piece during my daughter's nap. It dried surprisingly FAST. She helped me load it up and arrange all of her canned goods! (Yes, she LOVES these cans and we make more every "can" chance we get!)

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Pretend Play: Wooden Grocery Store

My next project was a Grocery Store directly from Ana:

http://ana-white.com/2009/12/plans-grocery-store-base-for-graces.html

Remember that pile of wood? This was one of the 5 projects that I had planned for! I wanted a place to store several play food items, so why not make a place for my daughter to play as well?

Getting the frame together was a TRUE BEAST! It wasn't that the project was hard, it was just that the unit is VERY HEAVY and hard to turn back and forth. (I don't worry about this unit falling on my daughter - WAY TOO HEAVY!! :) )

I primed and painted the unit, although I only managed 1 coat of paint before my daughter was jumping UP AND DOWN to play with her grocery store!

Here is the grocery store next to the other pieces we have built so far:

We use the grocery store base as a place to play store (cash register and food), as well as a place to store all of her play food (bins) and dishes (shelves). My toddler LOVES it!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Pretend Play: Wooden Washing Machine

Once again, this project is from Ana (at http://ana-white.com/2009/12/plans-toy-washing-machine.html). I asked her for a plan for a kids' wooden washing machine.

Wooden washing machine toys can be found online at places like Amazon for around $200-$300! I couldn't pay THAT, so I wanted to BUILD it myself. It cost me about $20 to make, and my daughter LOVES IT!!!

First, I managed to get all of the main frame together according to Ana's plans. This plan was SO EASY!!

Then, my husband cut out the round hole in the center of the "door frame" with his Dremel router. (He did this for me because we have a toddler that likes to "help"!) I also nailed that door frame and top into place.

I chose Rustoleum Metallic Spray paint in Titanium Silver. Make sure to PRIME ALL PIECES first before you spray paint.....the wood just EATS up the paint!! Allow to dry outside overnight because the fumes will be STRONG!

My husband also used his Dremel router to make the door. He helped me to attach it with hinges after the unit was painted. We also attached a scrap piece of acrylic to the back of the washer door with screws. I then added two vitamin bottle caps to the front for control knobs, and a cabinet pull to the washer door for a handle.

My daughter then stuffed it full of her clothes.... :)

Here's the finished piece with the kitchen and fridge!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Pretend Play: Wooden Refrigerator

We arrived back home after Christmas, and I had a MAJOR addiction to building....

Ana (at http://ana-white.com/2009/10/grace-playhouse-kitchen-improved-fridge_7836.html) had the plans for a wooden play refrigerator, so I knew that was the next thing I HAD to build for my daughter!

I followed Ana's plans exactly, with no trouble. I did enlist my husband's help one evening to hold the sides still while I nailed them into place (it's hard to do this ALONE and with a toddler). I sanded and painted the piece as you see it here. I painted the doors separately and my husband helped me add them to the front (once again, hard to do without help). I used cabinet pulls from Ikea as the door handles. (Sorry, I forgot to take a picture.)

I also printed out some color pictures from the internet and decoupaged them to the inside of the fridge. I wanted to give it a little "extra help".

Here is the finished fridge next to the play kitchen that my daughter got at Christmas.

I thought that the fridge was the EASIEST project to build! Ana's plans were VERY simple and easy to understand. :)

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Pretend Play: Wood Play Kitchen

This wood play kitchen was a "much needed toy".

Last fall, I LITERALLY stumbled upon Ana White at
http://ana-white.com/2009/11/plan-the-cutest-play-stove-ever.html

She has plans on her site to build, from scratch, every type of furniture you could think of...and the plans are FREE!! I immediately set out to build my first project, a wood play kitchen, to gift to my 3 nieces at Christmas.

I started out with Ana's plan (which is originally for a stove), but I knew that I wanted to modify it and add a "sink". We were off to Home Depot, toddler in tow, to find the list of items Ana suggests.

A pile of wood, and 2 hours later, we were ready to start building. I first marked all of the boards to Ana's specs...remember toddler in tow. I then had my mom keep an eye on the toddler while I cut all of the pieces and laid them out for building.

I also pre-painted the boards so that I wouldn't struggle getting it perfect. I also cut out the hole for the "sink" (an 8x8 brownie pan), and nailed the countertop to the backsplash. Then I painted those two pieces with 2 coats of brown "stone-look" paint (looks like granite), and let dry overnight. I also spray painted a wooden "L" silver (faucet), and two wooden "people" from the craft store (faucet handles).

The next day, my mother held the pieces while I used an air nailer to secure them together. (toddler napping...)

The following day, I was able to start working on the oven door. We couldn't find the size acrylic that Ana calls for in her plan, so I used what I COULD find and modified the size of the door. This led to some hair pulling at first, but I eventually figured it out. I also placed a scrap piece of wood vertically on the top shelf, visually dividing the space so that it "looked" more like an "oven". I then nailed a scrap piece of 1x2 to the front face so that the oven door would have a place to "close". I used metal "L" brackets to hold the oven door securely at each corner, and plastic mirror clips to hold the acrylic onto the inside of the oven door.

I then added hinges to the inside of the door and attached the door to the frame. Next came "hardware". I had some leftover stainless steel handles from a kitchen remodel, so I used one as the oven door handle and one on the side of the kitchen to hold "towels"! (not pictured) I then added the faucet, faucet handles, and sink. The "burners" are Folgers coffee lids. The last piece of hardware added was a red plastic cap (coke bottle) onto the oven door as the temperature knob. I also nailed on the MDF backing to the entire unit (not pictured...forgot!).

Overall, this project was VERY fun and quite satisfying to build. The 3 nieces and my daughter had quite a "time" playing with it at our gift exchange! This project just gave me a MAJOR desire to build MORE, MORE, MORE!!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.