Monday, March 24, 2008

diy kids table and chair instructions


My entry for this year's Design*Sponge DIY Contest was a child's table and chair set made from a contractor-grade cardboard tube. I'm happy and proud to say that I made it to the top 20. I was among some wonderfully talented folks. Thought others might want to try it themselves...

MATERIALS:
-6 foot cardboard tube (12"diameter)...these heavy-duty tubes are used for concrete molds and are found at any building supply store.
-2 foam cylinders 12"Hx12"D
-1 to 2 yards fabric
-4 16 in. cardboard cake discs

-1 16 in. pizza pan
-bias tape
-white duct tape


DIRECTIONS:
1) Cut tube to size -Using a craft blade or sharp knife(my bread knife made the cleanest cut), cut a 16 inch height table base. -Next, design chairs. I made the front a 10 inch height that curved gently around to 18 inches.

2) Assemble table top with cake discs.
-Glue four discs to one another. -Weight them with a heavy book until dry.

3) Paint all cardboard pieces with two coats of your color choice in a semi-gloss acrylic paint.

4) Make cushions while the paint dries. -I used a great cotton jersey knit that I had gotten used from our fabulous local sewing resale shop Sew Green. -I created a simple pattern by tracing the 12 inch foam tube onto the fabric with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I made two circles and attached them two a tube made from a rectangle that was 37x12 inches. -Create a hemmed 54 inch by 2 1/2 inch strip in coordinating fabric to finish the table top.

5) Assemble the set.
-Stuff cushions into the chair -Attach cake discs to table base with duct tape.
White tape on white paint virtually disappears!
-Use a hot glue gun to attach fabric strip to your table top side. Add bias tape if desired. -Set pizza pan directly on top...it's removable for clean-up!

6) Have a little friend over for
tea!

When it's outgrown, the cardboard can be recycled, the cushions reused, and the pizza pan...make a pie!
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4 comments:

  1. Love the fabric! Maybe I'll make my own "adult version!"

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amazing design!! Check out the wide range of Kids Table Chair Sets from Spacify.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is so clever!! What a unique and creative idea!

    ReplyDelete