Duct Tape Treasure Chest Toy Box

I was wandering Pinterest and found a pin about someone using decorative duct tape to spruce up a diaper box to use for storage. I've been wanting to get the boys a toy box for a long time but all the ones that are cheap enough for cheap me to even consider were tiny.  So I decided to make them one using that same method. 

 

My supply list: 

2 boxes of similar size

scissors

2 colors of duct tape

poster board

packing tape

I started with the box that would be the toy box. My first step was to cut one of the larger flaps off and tape it to the other one so that there was a piece of box going all the way across the top. 

My next step was  to tape the poster board over the top so that it arched.

Then I took the flaps off the other box and cut a few 2 inch strips to attach to the top to make it more like a lid. It took a lot of packing tape to get to lay right, but it fits perfectly!

Next I laid the treasure chest on it's side on the other box and cut out shapes for the sides to help the lid hold it's shape better. Be careful when you tape it on! Make sure it opens and shuts easily still.

Then I began taping with duct tape. I started with the sides of the lid and then the lid itself so that the ends could be hidden under tape going the other direction. Make sure the lid is closed while you tape it so that it has enough slack to open and shut! After the lid, I did the bottom and then I went around the sides. I started the strips in the back so you wouldn't see where the tape started and ended .

All finished! Phew!

I also taped the other flaps inside of the box down so they wouldn't get in the way of toys.

Then I added some gold accents on to make it look more like a treasure chest.

Last thing was to make a little lock out of the tape and tape it on the lid. Voila! finished product!

And that's it! Easy but a bit time consuming. I love how it turned out though :)

Cup Monster

We made some cute cup monsters tonight! The boys had a blast! Here's our supply list:

 

Foam cup

Paint

paint brush

cup of water

tinfoil or some other... thing... to protect your painting area

pipe cleaner

googly eyes

6 triangles cut out of cardstock (teeth)

 Glue gun

First we painted  the cups. Hands down the boys' favorite part! They love painting though and would paint every day of the week if I let them. Please excuse the crazy colors in the pics. The tinfoil was reflecting my crazy orange kitchen light into their faces and it made it impossible to get good coloring.

Check out Jamesen's face, haha!

After painting, we let the cups dry for about an hour. After it was all dry, we came back to assemble the monster! We started with the pipe cleaner arms and legs. I punctured holes with some scissors first so I didn't break the cup and the boys shoved the pipe cleaners through. Great fine motor practice! 

 

 

Then we glued on the eyes and teeth. Make sure you use a low temp glue gun or you risk melting the cup! 

Finished product, yay! They look so cute sitting on my mantle. 

Don't you think? :)

Pinterest Crafts

 I had a brief hiatus from crafting for a few months while we settled in after adding Gemma to the family. We did a small handprint heart craft soon after she was born because I wanted to keep her tiny hand print forever.  We sent some to my parents for Grandparent's Day as well.

 

Then we stopped crafting. I was overwhelmed with life for awhile. Until Halloween hit that is! I don't know what it is about the holidays, but it makes me want to craft! I pinned a whole bunch of crafts for kids and came across a foot print ghost. It was too cute not to copy! I had originally planned for me and Sabe to also be on this canvas, but they didn't have one big enough that was long so we just kept it with the kids. I had also originally planned for it to be just ghosts, but then I got the idea for the headstones and decided to paint a very small scene around the foot prints. I topped it with ribbon to hang it up and I love it!

 

I love hand/foot prints if you can't tell :) I couldn't pass up the hand print spiders when I saw them on pinterest either, so we made some of those and I love how they turned out as well!!  

 

I've got a whole bunch more to craft with my kids in the next few weeks, so check back and follow along with our craftiness!