DIY Doll Closet/Vanity

My youngest loves her dolls! She loves playing with them, combing their hair and dressing them. Because of this, she also has a LOT of clothes. Clothes that I find everywhere, except for that shirt she just has to have and then I have to look everywhere for it! Hopefully, this DIY doll closet/vanity will help both from happening anymore. You notice I said hopefully!


This was a really quick and easy project. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures while doing it. So I will just tell you what I did.

I used this wood crate for the closet and spray painted it white. The rod is a half inch dowel that I cut to fit and spray painted. I attached it to the crate using gorilla wood glue and a brad nailer. I cut the bottom shelf to fit, painted and attached it as I did the rod. The green buckets I found at the dollar store (originally I had two yellow buckets that I spray painted to match but they started to flake off after a day of use. So that little diy experiment was a big fail).

The vanity was really simply as well. I used scrap wood for the desk. I spray painted it to match the rod and attached it just like everything else. The mirror is $1 wood frame I found at a local craft store and spray painted. I had some scrap mirror left over from another project that I cut to fit. I used gorilla glue to attach the mirror to the frame. The seat is a little wood crate I found at Target in the dollar bin section by chance. I glued a scrap piece of wood to the back, spray painted it and was done!

Even McKenna wears mismatched socks

I think McKenna approves!

 I almost forgot.....

My youngest picked out the color.
With my OCD I would of never selected a different color from the closet.

I made this rack because even the dolls in our house have a shoe problem!


If you want to make your own and have any questions, just let me know.

2016 is going to be a year of building

With only a few days left in 2015, my to-build list for 2016 is getting very long.


The first build is going to be not one but two of these DIY Kids Workbench by Fix This Build That. One is for my nephew who turns 3 in February. The second is for my youngest. My hope is that she will leave my workbench and tools alone. Not sure if it will work but any excuse to build is a good excuse!

I also have a book shelf, a couple table top easels, a washer/dryer pedestals, a raised dog storage/food tray and a few other things.


One of those other things being a new cat tower. If you remember from this post, I built a cat tower for our cat back at the end of 2013. With the addition of another cat the tower no longer looks like this....

I still can't believe I built this with no plans

But actually like this....

I am not complaining, mind you. Thanks to that tower, our furniture has been spared! I will share the progress of the new one, so stay tuned.


What do you have planned for 2016?

The project that started it all.......



 

Here's the story of how my adventure in building began.......

 

It was Thanksgiving of 2013, the family and I were studying all the black Friday sales (who doesn't).

 

When my then 4 year old daughter says " Mom...Greenie (our cat who's real name is Greenfella)needs this"

and points to a very small, flimsy cat tower for a whooping

$70

at on of the pet stores.

I say "Not for that price, I can make one cheaper than that."

 

At this point I have no idea how to use power tools or even the slightest idea how to build such a thing.  Like any good DIY'er, I went to my best friend Pinterest and starting looking for a tutorial. I found many inspirational pictures but no how-to's. At this point I am determined, so I get some paper, a pencil and draw a rough idea of what I want.

 

Once I came up with my "plans" I approached my husband. To ask what I might need for wood. He gave me his advice, never truly believing I would undertake such a project (he should of known better). The next day the girls and set out to Home Depot on our own.

 

Once we got home I made asked my husband to show me how to use his tools. After a quick how-to from him, followed by a very firm I was doing it on my own. I set out to build. Now remind you this was last year well before I even thought about blogging. I did however, take pictures of the various steps to share with family along the way.

 

Now I will share them with you......





 



 

 

 

I can't even tell you how proud of this I am. Not only was it my first building project, it was my very own design. Is it perfect, heck no but Greenie didn't mind. The best part I built it for less that $60. Now remember the one that started this whole adventure was $60. However, that one wasn't even half the size of this one.

 

A year later Greenie still uses it daily. I call that a DIY win!!!

 

 

What project started you out??

She did it!

For the last few weeks my sister and I have been having regular crafting dates. I look forward to these dates and we have a blast. I can't show you what we have been up to until after Christmas except the one from this week.

 

Remember this.....

 

if you don't check it out

Kathie wanted to make a few of her own. So off to Lowe's we went. We picked up all her supplies for less that $15 dollars. Not to shabby for making two 4' trees.

 

Once back at the house we cut down the branches.

 

 

Measured the base of the tree for the branches......

 

Attached the lights.......

 

Then Kathie took them home, plugged them in and sent a picture......

 

 

I think they came out great!! Kathie did most of the building herself and I couldn't be prouder!!!

 

Want to build a one or few for yourself?? Here's what you need....

 

1 - 1x4 @ 8 feet long (make sure you get furring strips)

2 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long (will make one tree)

1 string of outdoor 100 count lights (1 per each tree)

 

Cut list

cut the 1x4 into 4 feet pieces

cut the 1x2 into 6",12", 18", 24", 30", 36", 42" pieces.

 

Using 1 of the 1x4 pieces, starting 6" up and every 6" attach a branch (making sure you start with the longest and finish with the shortest).

 

Using a manual staple gun attach the lights in triangle formation.

 

If you build one please share a picture with me.