Reading Teepee

My sweet boy is moving into a new room and I wanted to find or create a corner where he could read and play. I thought about a rocking chair or beanbag chair, but that just seemed so boring. Then I ran across some awesome reading tents on Pinterest. They were so cute, but either super complicated or you had to pay $150 (or more) on Etsy. Yeah - not happening.

So I made one! 

For the tent: 

- 3 wooden dowels (I used three unfinished from the outdoor lumber section at HomeDepot)

- quart of  stain in the color of your choice 

- 2 or more yards of rope (can also find a HomeDepot)

- 4 yards of fabric (I used a heavy cotton/linen blend from Joann Fabrics - I wanted a natural look)

- a staple gun

- a glue gun

- one large clear zip tie 

For the decorations: 

- permanent magic marker 

- 2 different pieces of scrap fabric (banner) 

- slice of wood (Joann's had them normally)

- drill 

To make the tent:

- stain the wooden dowels the night before

- tie the dowels with a zip tie (the bottoms should be spaced out evenly about 29 inches apart- I recommend putting tape on the ground because they will move throughout the project) 

Next, take your rope and wrap it around the three dowels until you can no longer see the zip tie. This looks great and also helps the three dowels to remain steady.

Now it is time to use the fabric. Iron it first and then drape it across the back two dowels. Using your staple gun, staple the fabric to the dowels. Pull it tight while stapling (it helps to have an extra pair of hands). 

You will need to cut the fabric across at the bottom (let it be jagged - it is more natural). Then cut on the one draping side (only leave an inch past the staples on the dowels. 

Drape fabric from the back dowel to one on the front (so you will have overlap on both sides of the back poles). I left the staples showing - you could hot glue ribbon over them but no one sees them anyway. 

When you cut the fabric from he back dowel to the front dowel - leave enough to drape (you will cut at an angle - so more fabric is hanging toward the bottom

- it's okay if the edge is jagged). Repeat these steps for the other side of the teepee. 

You will then hot glue front drapes to the dowels (this also covers the staples in the front). It allows the drapes to stay in place and for there to still be privacy in the tent, but without the possibility of tripping mom fabric. 

That's what the drapes look like after hot gluing. 

I then made a fabric banner and fabric pillows to go with it. Great tutorials for those can be found here: 

Banner - http://projectnursery.com/2012/12/diy-chic-pennant-banner/

Envelope Pillows: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4LJnPEvjdDo

I took the wooden slice and drilled two holes in the top. I used the same rope from the banner and the tip of the teepee and ran it through the holes. Then I took a dark colored Sharpie and made me little sign. 

My little man loves his tent! I can't wait to finish painting his room. It will all go so well together! 

PS - I probably spent about $70 to make everything (pillows, tent, banner, etc). 

Toddler Easter Playgroup

I love our playgroup! It keeps me sane!

I hosted our Easter playgroup and we had a blast! 

I served brunch, which included, feta scrambled eggs, pancake muffins, and fruit! 

The pancake muffins are so easy to make! Here is the recipe: http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2014/06/easy-baked-pancake-muffins.html

The toddlers played of course, but we LOs had wind-up tous to race and bring home (thanks to the Dollar Store). 

We also did an egg hunt- which was more of a grab and go situation. Ha! 

They had a great time and it was so simple! I filled he eggs with yogurt covered raisins, goldfish, Cheerios, mini cars, and sidewalk chalk.