Create Fun

Upcycled City

February 26, 2013

I always imagined tea parties and dolls. Who knew I’d find myself thinking of all sorts of ways to play matchbox cars? I wouldn’t have it any other way… at least for now (pink HAS to be in our future, right?).

Don’t blow this off as just a boy toy. It could easily be altered for girls as mini dollhouses for Polly Pockets, too.

In case any are wondering about the car play mat, it’s from IKEA.

  • INSTRUCTIONS:
    1 – save empty cartons and 1 shipping box. 2 – cut off one flap of a box to become the base of the city. with remaining cardboard, cut out building detailing (roof shingles, store awning, and/or doors). 3 – use hot glue to secure detailing to buildings. cut garage doors or open windows using an exacto knife. 4 – spray paint & let dry. 5 – draw additional building details with permanent marker or paint pen. 6 – fix buildings to base with hot glue.

 

 

17 Comments

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  • Lynn Hovis February 26, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    Too cute! 🙂

  • Leigh February 26, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    Oh! Love! This is so cute! What a clever idea!

  • Ash February 26, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Stop it! This is great!!!!

  • Alissa February 26, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    Oh my gosh this would be so perfect for my nieces and nephews!

  • heather February 26, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    love it!
    so so cute 🙂

    xo – heather
    This Life Is Yours Blog

  • Lindsay White February 26, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    Great idea!

  • Beth February 26, 2013 at 3:24 pm

    I’m dying ova here!!! Such a great idea. I discovered the wonders of cardboard since I had my daughter. She was a strawberry for Halloween last year and I made a strawberry cart wagon to wheel her in for trick or treating (is treating proper ha!). It came out really cute and we had people asking to take pictures with her. Inexpensive, easy and lots O’ fun. Love this Missy!

  • Laura M February 26, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    Genius! It’s always simple things kids pay with the most.

  • Nury February 26, 2013 at 4:15 pm

    Ah! this is adorable!! I am bookmarking so I can do this for my kids, they would love it! (and so would I) 🙂

    • Nury February 26, 2013 at 4:16 pm

      I pinned to my pinterest, it’s easier to find that way 😉

  • jaclyn @ www.lilmsadventures.blogspot.com February 26, 2013 at 4:17 pm

    OMG love this idea 🙂 thanks for sharing!!

  • Katie February 26, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! I wish my little nieces were still young, I would have made something similar for them. How cool for little ones imaginations.=)

  • Marie-Eve @aprettynest February 27, 2013 at 12:01 am

    So fun ! my boys would have a blast !
    My Blog – A Pretty Nest

  • Kristina February 27, 2013 at 12:48 am

    This is so adorable, and I love the working garage!!

    Kristina

    Kristina does the Internets

  • Brigette February 27, 2013 at 8:26 am

    That’s adorable! I tell myself the same thing “pink has to be in the future!”

  • Hailey February 27, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    I made one of these for a school project in 5th grade and absolutely LOVED making it and then playing with it. I can’t wait for my boy to get old enough to play with this and not tear it down. 🙂
    Hailey @ Love, Laughter and Lipstick

  • Anna @ Your Healthy Place February 28, 2013 at 2:38 am

    This is so cute! Now I want a little nephew to go along with my niece so I can play cars with them all day – or maybe I’ll just make my niece play with me 😉 – I don’t think she’d mind!