We made this cardboard castle set, and it kept the girls happy and busy for a large part of this afternoon. For something as frugal as cardboard, it was a big hit!
Not only did they spend a lot of time immersed in pretend play, but they also really enjoyed getting to decorate the castle exactly the way they wanted. We did a sort of assembly-line style production. I cut the cardboard, Clara did some scribbling…..
…. then Emily took over to put on the finishing touches of flower drawings and glue on bits of colorful tissue paper!
With the help of a bit of wire, I was able to make a working drawbridge! The girls LOVED that!!
I enjoyed watching them come up with all sorts of different configurations for their castle.
The peg dolls seemed right at home here…. Hello, peg doll!
It was starting to get dark outside, and they were still having so much fun!
Finally, it was time to get dinner started, but I have a feeling we’ll be enjoying a lot more play time with this castle for the next couple of days…. (or weeks)!
I have some exciting things planned for our little bloggy-blog: Mark and I have been hard at work on a new layout that will make finding activities by theme, age, holiday, etc. SO much easier! There’s even a section for “quick and easy” activities, and you can upload photos of your versions of our projects to share!!
I listed this post on:
Made by You Mondays @ Skip to My Lou
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tattertots and Jello
Market Yourself Mondays @ Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Get Your Craft On @ Today’s Creative Blog
The Play Academy @ NurtureStore
Dear Valerie,
I was saving that cardboard for something incredibly awesome, and you knew it.
Pack it up, folks, the party is over.
Love,
Mark
How fun – but can you describe for inept crafters like myself – how did you make the castle reconfigurable? Did you cut the slits in the cardboard, so the pieces can slide into each other?
I really like the tissue paper accents – they give it a magical, stone kind of look. Very nice!
great project. My kids will love it! Cardboard boxes are the ultimate favorite toy of all kids— they can transform into anything!
@ Mark — HA!!!
@ Raising a Happy Child — We kept it really simple and the girls made grooves in the dirt to keep the walls propped up. I think having them slide into each other as you described would be a great way to do this too — especially for indoor play!
@ An Almost Unschooling Mom — I thought they looked a bit like stone too! 🙂
@ Childhood Magic — I totally agree!!!
I am excited for the new changes sounds great! We have the same peg people.
I am very excited about your new additions to the blog! Very cool!
Making a castle is on our summer bucket list, so we might make this one!
i knew i was saving that cardboard from earlier today for something! thanks! looking forward to seeing the 'new look'!
@ V.Kerr — I can't wait to show off the new look!! 🙂
@ Christy — OMG!! You're going to love it… Mark is going to contribute "Daddy Craft" posts on a regular basis. Who knows what crazy things will go on in this house! LOL
@ danita — I was thinking the other day that I NEVER buy cardboard. We almost always have some that can be recycled. The corrugated cardboard can be used for SO many different projects! Have fun!!
Oh yes, Peg People deserve castles too…
We’re live! 😀
Hooray!!! (insert happy dance here) 😀
I want one!How did you cut the card board?
I just used kitchen scissors to cut it, and it worked okay, though I’m sure there is a better way to get the cuts to be more even. Maybe with an exact-o knife.
Love the new look!!
xoxo THANK YOU!!! 🙂
Another great idea. THANKS!!!
You’re welcome, Brooke! So glad you stopped by!! xoxo 🙂
what a great castle! I love how it is decorated 🙂
Thanks, Philippa! I’m not sure which part they enjoyed more — the decorating, or all the pretend play!
You new site layout sounds awesome – and I love the castle! It’s amazing how much fun something as simple as a few sheets of cardboard can be!
I still can’t get over how much fun kids have with cardboard — amazing!
That would be wildly popular here too! What a wonderful idea.
That’s fantastic! Have fun!!! 🙂
Great castle – enjoy!
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you stopped by too, thanks!
Very cute… I love how the castle looks. The girls are dressed so cute today (well, they’re cute all the time). Is Emily telling time? I meant to ask you that when I first noticed her wearing a watch.
I love the chances going on around here. Fancy, fancy. LOL… You’re in the big leagues. ;-D
Thanks, Petula!! We are so excited about all the exciting changes — especially since Mark and I did the updates all by ourselves. I’m so proud of how it turned out!! *glee*
Emily is starting to tell time, and it definitely helps that she has her own little wrist watch to practice with that. It was a Christmas gift, and she adores it!
I LOVED this!! I save every scrap of cardboard hoping that i willl find brilliant ideas for projects and finally! i have found one!! Thank you so much! My daughter is excited to do this tonight!! (My 2 boys are gonna help in that assembly line fashion you suggested!) 🙂
How fantastic!! That makes me very happy!!! 😀
AWESOME and DARLING!! The perfect castle for any princess!!!!!