Preschool Class Craft #4: Dollhouse Chair

Just like every year I try and find something innovative that I can build as the auction craft for my son's preschool class.  I wish I could take full credit for this idea, but I used this photo as a jumping off point to make my version of a dollhouse chair.

Thankfully while making this, it only took one time and I am happy with the results.  I even made a template, because my son wants me to make him one.

We didn't end up winning it in the auction, I conceded the bidding war, so I need to make another one for Colton.

To incorporate the kids into the build, I thumb printed each kid in the preschool class.

I turned their thumb prints into Christmas lights that went along the roof line.

I love how it turned out.  For the short period of time that we had it, Colton used it as a chair to watch TV, a secret hide out for his super heroes and shot pigs out of the windows with his angry birds.  I can't even imagine all the possibilities that a child could come up with to use this awesome chair for.

If you want to check out all the other auction crafts that I have done while my kids were in preschool, click on the links below. 

Preschool Class Craft #1: Garden Planter Bench
Preschool Class Craft #2: Read Me Bookcase
Preschool Class Craft #3: A Pirate's Chest

Only one year left of doing class auction crafts!

Preschool Class Craft #3: A Very Preschool Pirate's Chest

Yup, you guessed it, I did it again.  I willingly volunteered to build something awesome and hand print another batch of kids all for the sake of helping raise some money for preschool.  This year it was for Colton, where in year's past it was for Maben.

You can check out the previous finished crafts here and here.

I searched high and low for inspiration.  I probably spent as much time trolling for inspiration as I did building it.  I hate creative block.  But, when it struck me, that was it, I knew what I was doing.  I saw a hand print pirate.  A PIRATE!!!  How awesome.  BTW, saw it over here.  Colton's hand print pirate pictured below.

After that inspiration struck, I started to look for plans (or figure out my own) to build a pirate's treasure chest.  My awesome husband came to the rescue with a magazine called, "Quick-and-Easy Woodworking Projects," from Wood Magazine; issue from 2006.  I was sold!

The build wasn't hard, parts of it were rather tedious (cutting all those slats for the lid).  I mostly followed the directions and didn't screw up anything that I couldn't fix.  The directions were written well, I just am more of a picture person.  I follow directions much better when it's step by step pictures vs. written word.

Anyways, without further ado I present to you, A Very Preschool Pirate's Chest!!!

The teacher's and kid's names have been blurred out for their privacy.

The finished dimensions were approximately 35 inches wide by 22 inches tall and 22 inches deep. 

A big thanks goes out to the mom and teachers who helped me hand print a bunch of three-year-old children.

Another thanks to Amanda over at Handprint and Footprint Art for the inspiration.

Sharing this over at:
So You Think You're Crafty: I'm Crafty Party #35 
Sawdust Girl: Sawdust Throwdown 
Tatertots and Jello:  Weekend Wrap Up Party

READ ME: A short story about a bookcase.

I love being able to create.  I love to build.  I love doing things that people will also love.  It's the reason why I volunteered to do the Preschool Class Craft for Maben's preschool fundraiser...again!  I wanted to outdo what I did last year.  I set the bar pretty high and I delivered.  (I am so screwed for next year, Colton will start preschool at the same preschool Maben is currently at.  I need to start planning now.)

I was inspired after cruising Pinterest one night.  (I will be back pinning soon since the new terms of service are much better than the previous ones, just waiting for them to be active)  I saw a bookcase that was 16 blocks that stated READ YOUR BOOK CASE.  I thought it was genius and decided to take the idea and put my spin on it.

I drew out some measurements (no plans here).  Actually, it was all a bunch of chicken scratches on the top of one of the boards.  Here is a quick photo story of how it all came together.

Dry fit of the cubes.

Assembly started, after dry fit and cutting 20 dadoes.

This was my first time cutting dadoes with a router and I didn't screw it up!  YAY!  Actually, the only thing I screwed up was the measurement of the two side pieces, which had to be re-cut.

Assembly of all the connected shelves.

Backing and floating shelves installed.  Onto painting.

They insisted on helping.

Side note: If I ever build this again, painting will happen before assembly.  Trying to paint all those nooks and crannies almost caused me to go insane.

After a nice healthy layer of paint was applied, it was carted up to the school and I hand printed the teachers and children.  (All names have been removed for their privacy).

I added some lettering, ala the style of Eric Carle after all the hand printing was done.  I love the way it has turned out.  Very fun!

I clear coated the entire piece.  This way dirty little fingers will wipe off much easier.  Once the piece was complete I carted it off to the Woodworking Show in Katy to display it with my woodworking guild's booth.  You are looking at the Vice President of the Katy Woodworkers Guild (soon to be President).  I had to show something off and this was perfect!

So perfect and I love it so much, that I just might have to come home with it after the preschool fundraising auction!  Yes, that means I will probably be bidding on a piece that I know how to build.  I also know how crazy that sounds.  I wouldn't mind building it again, I just really don't want to paint it again!

The only thing missing from it is a copy of, The Very Hungry Caterpillar , to be autographed by the entire class and placed in the bookcase before auction.

Showing this awesomeness off at:
Gluesticks 
Tatertots and Jello
Skip To My Lou
Sugar Bee Crafts
So I Married A Craft Blogger 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I volunteered again to produce the class craft for Maben's preschool class.  Here is a sneak peek at what I did today.  The unveiling of the whole project will come next week.

The egg on the leaf.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

A beautiful butterfly.

I took an entire preschool class and told the story of, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," in three scenes using hands and paint.  I think my homage to Eric Carle would make him proud. 

If you are curious what I did last year, take a look here.

First Day of School

Maben had his first day of school today.  Afternoon Pre-K.  Maben has been so excited for starting school. 

He can't wait to play on the playground, even though we are now on our 33rd consecutive day of 100+ degree heat.

He wants to meet his new friends, none of which either of us know.  So, we strapped on his brand new back pack and were all ready to go.

It wasn't a far walk to school, but man is it hot out!  There was even an announcement at the school that the kids were allowed to have recess outside because the heat index put it only at 104!

Daddy joined us in our walk to school for the very first day.  Both boys were more than excited to have daddy home mid day. 

I'm so proud of my big boy.  He left us without any tears.  Now, he didn't look super eager, he was a little nervous, but I honestly wouldn't expect any less.  Here's to hoping he had a wonderful day!

Where did the time go?

Since blogger went down for a while and ate some posts (and I really don't feel like redoing them right now), I am going to post something that I have been thinking about lately.

My baby Maben started preschool in September and I can't believe that the last day of school is next week.  Seriously, where did the time go?  I can't believe my sweet little boy started with some serious apprehensions to thoroughly enjoying and wanting to go to school. 

The end of the first day of school.  He cried in the morning and had to be carried to his classroom, and here he is in the parking lot crying because he wanted to go back and not home.

The apprehensions weren't lifted the first day of school, it actually took quite a bit of time for Maben to warm up and really love school.  Here he is having a rough day during his Thanksgiving party.

Christmastime seemed to be the real turning point.  My baby started to really open up and shine.  Here Maben is enjoying silly hat day.

I enjoyed spending time helping out the preschool when I could, especially doing the bench seen here.  I enjoyed being able to see my son at his class parties and really enjoyed all of his teachers and seeing what a great place his preschool is.

A great photo of my little boy while he was waiting to dig into that shredded paper during his Easter party.

The staff is amazing at his preschool and we are going to miss seeing them every week.  Hopefully Maben won't miss school too much this summer, but it's going to be hard, especially when they helped end the year with water day!  (An entire morning dedicated to getting wet and having fun with friends)