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Pinterest Challenge – TeePee (no, not toilet paper!)

OUR 2nd HOUSE

It’s time to stop pinning (well, just press pause momentarily because let’s be honest….my brain is pinning Jeremy’s hotness at all times)….and it’s time to start doing.  That’s what the Pinterest Challenge is all about 🙂 

In the past, I tackled a decor project (the herringbone shim mirror), an art project (jellyfish watercolor), and tackled a freebie redo with spraypaint (an old window turned bathtub hanging).  And when we started emailing back and forth with the other gals that are cohosting this season’s PC – well, I realized that there is just no way I could do anything that could even compare to their awesomeness.  Afterall – it’s Michelle, Sherry & Kate…..these lovely bloggers are professionals.  So I thought…well, since I am a juvenile compared to them, I might as well take on a kid project.  

It made perfect sense to make something for Will….and since he is obsessed with tents (yes, he screams to go sit in the tent at Lowe’s – and it’s just one of those tented deck pavillions)…I thought, a teepee would be the perfect gift to my favorite two-year-old.  I had quite a few already pinned and I’ll just show ya a couple…

 

This one is from Land of Nod and I think that it’s actually not an unbelievable price considering it’s made with dowel rods and heavy duty canvas. 

The other really inspirational one is from Baby Blackbird…and it’s simplicity really struck a chord with me.  Plus – how cute is that bird house mobile in the back….genius.

I liked the fact that both teepees were pretty simple….plain canvas that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.   I also liked the dowel rod look – but after pricing them, well, let’s just say that this girl isn’t up for paying more than $6 per leg.  Dude.  That’s $40 just for the sticks.  That’s a lot of bacon.  Instead we picked up six square 2×2 (which are really 1.5×1.5) for less than $2 a piece. 

 

I tied them up in the living room to get started on my teepee. 

Yes – I couldn’t find a piece of string so I used the nametag string from the Haven conference.  Use what you got people 🙂

Then I took an old drop cloth that I had stashed in my sewing box and just wrapped it around to see if I could use that.

It touched the floor in the back but the front was a little short.  So I simply laid the dropcloth on the floor, folded it in half hamburger-wise, and cut it like a semi-circle so that the hem would be even all the way around.

But with the trim, the teepee was looking a little more Steve Urkel than Jaleel White.   

So once again, I dipped into my stash of fabrics and found this navy canvas that would be heavy duty enough to finish off the highwaters. 

I wish I could say that I was very technical about how I did this step…but I wasn’t.  I just pinned it onto the drop cloth so that the navy part looked even and then sewed it in place. 

After a little additional pinning and sewing, I set it up in Will’s room for the big reveal.  I think it was a success…

So that was my little PC Project – and I am personally super excited to see what the other gals came up with and you can check them out too….

Also, I’d love to see your projects if you played along too (each host has the option to throw a linky party and I’d love if you linked up below so that I can see what you did and enjoy an afternoon of project surfing!)

Here are the instructions if you are a linky-party newbie…

  • click on the blue “Add Your Link” button at the bottom of this post – it has a blue frog head on it add a link to your PC project blog post in the url field (please do not link to your home page) for “name” write a short descriptive name for your project (e.g. “Antiqued Window”)
  • pretty pretty please with baconsauce on top to remember to link in the body of your post to the Pinterest item and the original source of the photo on Pinterest as well as back to me and this editions hosts above – it’s just a big ole fashioned linky love fest!
  • Oh and if nobody told you today…you look stunning today!
  • If you’d rather just link over to your project in the comment section, feel free to do that – or even add a link to a free photo sharing site like Flickr with your pics if you don’t have a blog (remember to set the gallery to public so we can all see it).

Now let’s get to the party!


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  5. I love the teepee! A friend of mine (who is obviously a Martha-wannabe) is making all of our kids teepees for their birthdays, that’s 10 teepees (2 kids per family, 5 families) in the span of a few months. Anyway, I love your take on it, my little boy’s room is also navy and I love how the color can be nautical or sporty or pretty much anything.

    And, thank you, I did try hard today, I even put on earrings! You look great too:)

    Jessica
    stayathomeista.com

  6. It felt like Christmas this morning. I got up raced down the stairs published my post and then have been waiting anxiously (the ants-in-my-pants-can’t-sit-still kind of waiting) for the unveiling to begin. This was so much fun.

    Thanks for hosting it; I’m already making plans for the next round.

  7. This came out so awesome! And seriously, you just used what you had and created a tee-pee, who can do that!!?!?

    On a side note, I am from Maine and growing up going to LLBean was always a highlight … we used to play hide and seek in the camping section in all of the tents! Sounds like it would be as fun for Will. 🙂

  10. Aww! Will looks so adorable there in his new little abode. It’s totally the sort of thing I would have loved as a kid and attempted to build myself with blankets and toppled couches. Well done, Mommy. 🙂 And thanks for hosting!

  11. That’s super cute, katie, and I know Will will LOVE it for years. Kids have a thing about little enclosed spaces. The fun part will be when, at 9 months pregnant, he wants you to crawl in there with him and read books. 🙂 I knew you’d come up with a great projects…thanks for encouraging us to ‘git making stuff’ I had a ball hosting last time with you, and more fun (less pressure!) being a participant this time. 🙂

  14. Kate I love the way your project turned out. Sooooo adorable!!! thanks for hosting this awesome link party. I failed at my mason jar project, but I blog about it anyway and even joined the link party. 😉 I’ll attempt the project again soon and get it done the right way. Have a great day. 🙂

  16. Totally adorable, what a cool thing for Will to have. We used to build forts with sheets and the ottoman, but this is about a million times more awesome.

    When did you hang the globes? I thought the last time I saw them they were sitting on top of the DIY shelving/toy chest. Did I miss a post, or just haven’t gotten around to sharing yet? Those look awesome as well, they really go well with the sort of old-timey look of the frames on the burlap.

    Between the globes, the girl with the broom/boy with the gun painting and the new teepee, Will’s room is looking fit for Lewis & Clark!

  17. What a fun project. My boys would love their own personal teepee! Thanks for hosting the Pinterest Challenge…I love all this inspiration.

  19. Oh my gosh, I love this! I keep looking at all of the tee pees on Pinterest and longing to do one for my little man too. I just don’t have anywhere to put it!

  20. I love this! I’ve been wanting to make one for my son when we turn his nursery into his “big boy” room. Where did you get the globes hanging from the ceiling? Love those too!

  23. I love this Katie! Have you fixed it together with anything else, or is it just tied at the top? It looks so simple, yet totally stylish – so much better than most ‘toddler tents’ out there!

  27. I can’t decide whether or not to feel completely awkward for doing a version of the same project that you took on here since you are a much more experienced DIYer than me, or to feel totally sweet that perhaps since “great minds think alike” I am awesome… I love the navy and white you used. It looks like Will is as in love with it as I am!

  28. Adorable!!

    I do have one question, though… (and please do not be offended) – but is that sturdy? It doesn’t seems like the boards would just stay up? Are you worried about it falling on Will when he is playing in it?

  29. I love this tent. My daughter has several versions. They make great hideouts for the little ones. I’m sure Will loves it.

  35. SO cute!!! I wish I had a smidgen of your sewing skills, haha! We weren’t able to do the Pinterest Challenge this time around (because I’ve been sick, boo!), but I’ve loved clicking through all the projects on each blog! So many great projects! 🙂 … Already looking forward to the Fall Pinterest Challenge!

  36. I love it, Will looks so cute sitting in there!

    I made my little guy a tee pee for my project too. Great (and pregnant) mind must think alike!!

  38. LOVE this project! I fall for these subtle and sweet teepees every time! And I DIE for those hanging globes! You are going to have to share how you got them up there (and off the stand)! Where do you pick up your globes? I love rustic and aged looking ones (instead of bright colors if that makes sense).

  40. seriously, how neat is that TP?!?!?!? Any kid would totally love to have it! I don’t have any kiddos yet, but when we do, I think I’m going to have to add this to my list of to-do’s! Thanks for hosting Katie!

  41. I have been pinning a bunch of teepee’s too. I plan to make one for my kids for Christmas and I’m also going to make them a play kitchen. Those will be the big items from santa…maybe? I loved reading your post because it looks so simple. So when I am scrambling around in December and wondering if I have the time, I will remember you did it and I can too!

  45. Love the teepee! So the only thing that was used to keep the 6 legs together, was to tie that string around them in the top? Or does it need anything additional?
    Thank you!

  46. Wait, wait, wait… the globes in Will’s room? Did I miss that post?!?

    The teepee is adorable!

  47. I LOVE the teepee! I’m diggin’ the blue around the bottom too, it makes it look so fun and personalized. Don’t you love when an ‘accident’ like not having enough of the canvas fabric turns out to actually make the final product look even better than originally planned?! Love it!

  48. I love it! I have a tee-pee pinned for when my little one gets older. If Will’s grin is any indication of success, I should definitely save that pin!

  51. #1 Teepee totally awesome!! I think the extra strip of color is perfect on the bottom…

    #2 When did you make a globe-mobile?!?!?!?!?!!??! I LOVE IT – and I’m a faithful follower, so I can’t believe that I missed it’s introduction in a previous post. I LOVE IT – please give us some details!!

  52. Great job on the teepee!!

    I can’t be the only one wondering… have you found out the gender yet? I am really excited to know since I won’t get the chance to find out the gender of my baby til late august.

  53. How adorable is that tent! I just love the magic of a special little hiding place in a kids room. I remember draping blankets over every possible piece of furniture to make forts. So much fun. I’m definitely saving this idea for later! Thanks for hosting the challenge. I painted a huge 4’x4′ canvas for our new bright, colorful dining room. Keep the challenges coming!

  54. Katie Bower… I LOVE this TeePee!!! I actually just got directions to make one for my little babe’s first birthday, and I was planning to use a drop cloth too 🙂 I never thought about adding extra fabric around the bottom for a two-tone look. So cute!!

  55. You know what’s funny? When I first read your title I did think it was about toilet paper hahahha. Yep, way to read the whole thing first huh?

  57. Love it! My mother in law made one using PVC pipes and had drilled holes in them to run some ribbon/string. She then sewed each panel, alternating between two fabrics. It’s great. But if you use it outside, it can get hot in there! Especially with a little one. My daughter got it for her 2nd birthday, so I understand how Will is obsessed!

  58. Love it! When my little guy gets a little bigger, I’d like to do something similar. PS – I recognize the blanket in the final reveal. Didn’t you use it in Henry’s newborn shoot?

  59. I did! It’s one of the only shoots I’ve used it in but love that color and that is what this tent needed – a little pop 🙂
    xo – kb

  61. It’s not really a mobile…I just decided to hang the mobiles last minute to balance out the space!
    xo – kb

  62. I did! The string and the angle of the legs kept them upright. The carpet helped too I guess because they otherwise would have wanted to slip. Later I put some rope around the top for a decorative touch…but it’s not really doing anything that isn’t already done.
    xo – kb

  64. It was really simple…I just unscrewed them from the stand and hung them with twine and a little hook in the ceiling. And I get them usually at yard sales or thrift stores. I hate paying more than a couple dollars for each one.
    xo – kb

  65. Well, these photos were just taken this morning (yes, I have a procrastination problem)…so today we’ve spent a solid half hour in there playing cars 🙂 which is technically a lot since today was playgroup/music class day!
    xo – kb

  66. Just did it this morning…once I saw the teepee up, I realized the space wouldn’t be complete with out a globe hanging…or three 🙂
    xo – kb

  69. I think that even fails are successes…I mean, we really tried to get off our duffs, right?! 🙂
    xo – kb

  71. Oh I’m not offended. I would definitely worry if he tried to hang on the poles or they were easily shifted…but they hardly move with the carpet. Let’s just put it out there that more rambuctious kids would need this to be tied or fixed in another way…
    xo – kb

  73. Love it! When my cousins and I were little and stayed at our grandmas during the summer she made us teepees with bamboo sticks and vinyl tablecloths. She was such a trend starter, that woman. 😉

    Anywho, love it. Will looks cute as always and his room photos make my ovaries scream “let’s make a boy” My husband will thank you for that.

    xo

  76. Very cute, Katie!! I have a few of these teepees pinned too and I think they are so adorable. I know my boys would love one, and you made it look pretty easy, so maybe I’ll actually tackle this project at some point!

  77. I love building forts (can’t say used to because I still do!) How awesome that Will has his own fort forever! So cute.

  78. The teepee looks great Katie!! And, I think it’s really funny that I showed my husband “the teepee that Katie made” and he said “Katie?”. My answer… “yeah, she’s one of my friends” 😉 Great job friend!!

  79. Katie, I love this! My son is a year younger than Will (almost to the day – he was born on 4/12!), and I will definitely be saving this post for future reference. I had seen so many online, and thought that we could maybe try to do it ourselves. Thanks for the inspiration and the tutorial! I may have to hire you out for the sewing, though 😉

    And PS – we have the same knit zebra in my son’s room! I love him (and my son!).

  81. This is AMAZING! One of my favorite posts of yours! This came out so, so good. Between your awesome new table and this teepee, I’d say this pregnancy is inspiring some super great work over there! Way to go, Mama!

  84. That looks dead good!! 🙂 Ive always wanted one ….it seems so straight forward and wanna give it a go! But a small doubt- can it handle a toddlers wear and tear??
    Cheers.

  88. Thanks for having all these people link up to your website. I found so many new sites to check out, as well as new ideas to try. Thanks again!

  90. What an adorable “play tent” and what a perfect fit in Will’s room. I’m a little jealous because I want one for me forget the kids. 🙂
    Also, I love the hanging globes over his crib. Unique idea and what better way to get him started on world geography. 🙂

  93. Hi Katie,

    I have been reading your blog for quite a while now. I don’t comment very often (if at all) but you are very inspiring! So inspiring that I decided to start a blog to showcase things I make inspired by items I pin on pinterest and things I come up with on my own.

    The blog will be home to food, crafts, jewelry, art, and home décor type things. I am commenting now to let you know that I have mentioned you in my blog’s first post and linked back to this post. If you would rather I remove your name please let me know and I will do so! You can see the post here: http://2paine.blogspot.com/

    Thanks for being such an inspiration,

    Deese

  94. Hey Katie,
    Do you think you could explain a bit on how you attached the fabric to the frame? I think this is such a cute idea and want to set-up in my little boy’s room. Thanks!

  95. I wrapped the fabric around the posts and then decided where I wanted the door. I pinned the two overlapping pieces together at the top and tightened till it was closed at the top and tight around the frame…thne pinned from the top of the door till I had a tight circle around the tied-together-part of the posts (don’t allow too much space in that hole because it’ll be what holds it together).
    xo – kb

  98. I adore this!! I’ve been on the hunt for a cozy little nook DIY because the ones they sell in the stores are not only very expensive for a piece of fabric and some wood, but also very large. Not everyone has showroom worthy dimensions to work with, ha! This is perfect, thank you!

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