I made a little pretend cooktop from recyclables, and it’s been a big hit around here! It was super quick & easy to put together, and isn’t it adorable??? Added bonus — practically free!
I love that it is small and lightweight enough that the girls can easily carry it from one room of the house to another. It’s made from two popsicle boxes that were taped together with packaging tape to form one long box. (A big thank you to Stonyfield for providing us with the popsicles — they didn’t last long in this house!)
I wrapped the whole thing in some leftover wrapping paper, and some scraps of bulletin board trim from the thrift store. The burners are lids from 32 oz yogurt containers, and I drew on them with a permanent black marker. The knobs are milk caps attached with post screws so they can turn.
Time to PLAY!!!! Clara cooked up lots of eggs and sausage for her stuffed animal friends!!
There was lots of stirring going on!!
I think she enjoyed making Minnie Mouse’s eggs extra spicy!
Have fun “cooking”!!
May 5th, 2011 on 1:10 pm
Dear Valerie,
Wait. We had frozen yogurt pops in this house? Why didn’t you tell me??
Love,
Mark
May 6th, 2011 on 10:32 am
idont’knowwhatyou’retalkingabout!! O:-)
May 5th, 2011 on 1:38 pm
A really great recyclable idea. Thanks.
May 6th, 2011 on 10:33 am
Thanks, Scott! We <3 crafting w/recyclables!!
May 5th, 2011 on 1:43 pm
I like that the knobs can turn for an extra “true to life” twist. Everything you do look so very pretty!
May 6th, 2011 on 10:34 am
That is Clara’s absolute favorite part! She even makes her own sound effects when she turns the stove off and on.
Have fun!!
May 5th, 2011 on 2:27 pm
Oh, I like the idea of adding the knobs. I didn’t do that on my pretend stove, and that would totally make a stove!
May 6th, 2011 on 10:35 am
Yes!!! They’re easy to attach and the kiddos would love it.
Have fun!!
May 5th, 2011 on 6:02 pm
What a fantastic idea! We’d love for you to share this over at It’s Playtime. I love DIY play things!
Rachele @Messy Kids
May 6th, 2011 on 10:35 am
Will do, Rachele! Thanks for the heads-up!!
May 5th, 2011 on 6:19 pm
Love it!
May 6th, 2011 on 10:35 am
Thanks, Lindsey!! xoxo
May 5th, 2011 on 9:48 pm
I saw something similar to this on “Adventures in Mommydom”- you have both inspired me- MORE THAN EVER- to scale down and get rid of our big plastic kitchen set…
May 6th, 2011 on 10:36 am
I think Ticia and I were on the same wavelength!! I love how something so simple can make the kiddos SO happy. Have fun!!
May 5th, 2011 on 10:23 pm
Since I’ve discovered this fabulous blog, no recyclables are safe in my home. So, what should I do with those store-bought pizza boxes with little cut-out windows in the lid … make a puppet show background?
May 6th, 2011 on 10:37 am
Valerie!!!! What a great name you have!! LOL I always tell Mark that NO recyclable is safe from the crafty afterlife in this house!! A puppet theater is a fantastic idea!
May 6th, 2011 on 7:39 am
Great recycling idea! We made a big play kitchen from cardboard boxes around Christmas one year, and when we got a new fridge, we made a castle. There are so many great things to do with recycled boxes!
May 6th, 2011 on 10:38 am
Yes!!! That is totally awesome, Kathy! Cardboard so fantastic, isn’t it?? Possibilities are truly endless! Have fun!!
May 6th, 2011 on 1:56 pm
This is SO creative! I would have never thought of something like this. My son LOVES to “cook” so this will be a great project for us to do together. Thanks so much for providing a step-by-step How-TO! Love it!
May 6th, 2011 on 8:01 pm
Very nice! I really like the turning knobs. Now I just have Google “post screw” so I can figure out what that is
May 6th, 2011 on 8:44 pm
I’ve been trying to find a cheap kitchen set for my boys to play with but basically FREE? that’s fantastic. I love that it has turning knobs. Can’t wait to make it for them.
May 11th, 2011 on 7:18 am
I remember Ticia doing something similar. I’ll have to try this since it was a hit for both of you. Why haven’t I seen those Stonyfield pops around here? Oh my, I’m feeling a craving!
May 16th, 2011 on 11:59 am
Very creative! You could also make a refridgerator out of a bigger box
May 16th, 2011 on 2:25 pm
… and this! so cute!!!
January 16th, 2012 on 9:19 am
Dear Valerie,
Thank you for the inspiration!
Here comes my little kitchen based on you idea:
http://panitanguera.blogspot.com/2012/01/kartonowa-kuchenka-una-cocinita-de.html
Have a nice day!
Monika