"C" loves her "Tangled" book (we still haven't seen the movie)
and recently received a Rapunzel Barbie doll as a gift.
Then, we saw a VERY fancy plastic Rapunzel Tower Barbie doll house at the toy store...
but it was $100(!) Yikes!
I told her we could make our own. So, we did!
First, we raided some cardboard boxes from our recycling.
"C" thought we should add popsicle sticks, I agreed!
Wrapping paper tubes became the columns on either side of the front door.
After the cardboard castle was "built" and assembled with the glue gun,
I took it in the backyard and gave it a coat of purple spray paint leftover from "E"s desk makeover.
We painted a Xerox paper box lid green as the "grassy hill" for the castle tower.
"C" was a very helpful painting assistant.
Cardboard front door with a peep hole and a fancy button door knocker.
(I used craft wire to attach the door to the castle)
We glued silk flowers and leaves to the castle tower to make it extra fancy.
The braid was made out of velour yarn.
The tower is the same size as "C"!
Rapunzel can hang out on the rooftop balcony, the front balcony, or by the windows.
The yarn braid we made is glued to the inside of the window.
Snow White is climbing Rapunzel's braid!
We thought Rapunzel needed a comfy bed so I sewed her a couple of little pillow mattresses
(re-cycling one of the girl's old crib sheets) and a mini pillow.
We can always play Princess in the Pea with them!
Rapunzel, all tucked into her new room.
We still might add some murals and a popsicle stick easel since Rapunzel's an artist!
All in all, it's a huge hit with the girls and it was a lot more fun making our own
than buying the plastic one we saw at the store!
Bonus -- We can recycle this one when the girls are over their princess phase!
Wishing you and yours
your own crafty happily ever after!
Fondly,
pink and green mama, MaryLea
UPDATE: Two years later and the girls are still playing with the tower in our playroom!
UPDATE: Two years later and the girls are still playing with the tower in our playroom!
32 comments:
wow such a pretty and cute castle! My daughter will love it! Adding to my to-do list
AMAZING!!!!
lovely!!! my daughter loved it!!!
kisses
Rosana
Hi Marylea!!
It's just beautiful!!! My princess love it!! and me too!!! Beautiful job!!
I love it. My girls are also into houses for their dolls and barbies, and I find that they love and play with the items we make ourselves more than the store bought ones. I guess it's the pride of the accomplishment that makes it grow fonder in their minds. thanks for sharing.
lovely!! amazing idea :) so much better than spending 100$. first of all you are saving money, 2nd you are creating amazing memories :) and 3rd as you said, it is totally recyclable :)
SOOOO cute, my daughters and I might have to make one of these... thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh! This is just the coolest thing! Of course "C" loves it even more than she could love the fancy $100 one because she helped create it. Excellent!
That is an amazing Rapunzel tower! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely gorgeous and a million times better than any plastic junk from the shop!
I love it.
*Wow!* What a wonderful childhood you are creating for your girls.
Oh I just love love love this!!!
You are creative beyond reality. This is so cute!
Amazing! Maddie would be in love! You are just too darn crafty!
This is a true master piece! I am jealous. I am going to show this post to my husband, his brain works better than mine for figuring out how to put things like this together. I am good at decorating! :)
We are moving soon, and I know that we will have a bunch of boxes left over so that will be a perfect opportunity to make something like this!
My almost three year old is in love with Rapunzel. She really wanted the tower, but like you the price is crazy, especially when you can make one yourself. Love it! Thank you so much for the idea!
I've fallen in love with you... in a non-creepy kind of way. :) I too am a mother of two little girls, teacher in my previous life, living in Va, and I honestly wish you were my neighbor. My oldest has been begging me for a pink princess castle for months now. I looked at your blog yesterday, and she immediately went into the garage looking at our ever-growing mound 'o boxes. We worked all day on it (and I into the night), and it looks awesome. Thank you so much for the inspiration!
@ Rachel --
I'd love to see your pink castle creation! If you get a chance, please email me a picture ; )
Fondly,
MaryLea
what fun ideas you have!! I <3 your blog! This weekend will hopefully be spent making my girls a castle!! :)
Seriously? HOLY COW. You've outdone yourself. This is too awesome for words (altho I'm trying!)
Really, really fabulous. Thanks for sharing.
This is beyond impressive! Just wonderful!
Wow! What a fun mama you are! I love what you have created for and with your child. Love, Beth
This is amazingly awesome. Your kids are so lucky to have you creating with them!
I'm speechless! This is exquisite. I will be adding your post to my list of blog links tomorrow!!
megret :D
@ Megret -- Thank you so much! Can't wait to see it
: )
pink and green mama,
MaryLea
you are so sweet! what a good mom! that castle rocks! waaaaayyyy better than the one at the disney store!
I am absolutely in love with your Tangled Tower! SO darling. In fact my little girls and I went out and bought spray paint, small silk flowers, and gathered up boxes to make your tower. They wanted to do it Polly Pocket size, and I can't wait to see how it turns out. Thanks for all of your inspiration & sharing ideas that we can do with our own children at home. I just featured you and this post on my blog -March 25th post. If you get a chance, come on over & you can grab one of my featured buttons. You are amazing.
Shauna
http://myshaenoel.blogspot.com/
My mom helped me make a doll house out of cardboard boxes when I was little (in the 70's!) and still today it is one of my best childhood memories and favorite toy. Creating memories is what motherhood is all about!
What a fun blog, MaryLea! Looks like there are plenty of good times at your home! You have so many great ideas, I had to follow you. Can't wait to show my daughters, ages 2 and 8, your site so they can pick out what they want to do first.
I'm a big Tangled fan and I had previously bought the Disney Store Rapunzel Doll, and I wanted to have the Rapunzel Tower. Of course I couldn't afford the plastic one, and then I came to found this AWESOME blog! Right now I'm working on my handmade tower grabbing inspiration from you. Hope you read this so I can show you my final creation. :)
So great!!!! Thanks for the tutorial, such a great idea!
Wow! You are so creative, I just love the details that were painted on (those little faux rocks are too cute), I'll bet she just loves playing with it.
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