A Bird and a Bean

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diy build a fort kit

by 9 Comments

I made these DIY fort kits for the kids for Christmas.  
But, they would be a great gift for any reason!  
Valentine’s Day comes to mind – forget candy shaped like hearts – every kid loves making forts.  
(OK maybe candy and a fort kit!)  
Or a birthday. 
 Or a snow day.  
(although it doesn’t look like we’re getting any of those any time soon.)  
Gotta love diy thrifty gifts!
Anyway, 
they LOVED them.  🙂  
Mom the hero.  
I love being the hero.  
My kids think it’s super fun to make forts out of everything!  Everything.  Couch cushions, every pillow and blanket in the house, my grandmother’s afghan, coats, books, chairs.  Nothing is safe.  I was sick of putting 27 cushions and throw pillows back in their proper rooms every other day.  Enter the self contained fort kit.  Now we only have to stick all this stuff back in a pillow case.  Way easier.    
I saw the idea here, at Saltwater Kids first.  And she got the idea here, at Bloom.  Geniuses!  
Here’s mine.

Each kit contains……

1.  2 sheets with 5 ribbons attached  (I buy vintage sheets at yard sales and Goodwill for about 50 cents each) (I used one spool of grosgrain ribbon for each kit.  I bought them when they were half off at the Hob Lob, so $2 each)
2.  1 walkie talkie each (I bought a set at Walgreens for $10)
3.  1 chill pill light (a flashlight would be completely fine – but my kids ALWAYS look directly into all flashlights ….and I’m the paranoid mom who doesn’t want them to hurt their eyes)  (the dollar tree has flashlights though – much better deal)
4.  1 set of bungee cords (from the dollar tree)
5.  1 set of chip clips (from the dollar tree)  (I wanted to buy stronger clamps, they would work better – but my dollar store was out of clamps the day I bought all this stuff)
6.  1 rope (also from the dollar tree) (yeah, unless the kids you are making these for are old enough, I would suggest the actual building of the forts be a supervised activity….paranoid mom speaking again but… rope + unsupervised toddlers = E.R.)  But once the forts are up, they play in them for hours without me.
7.  Glow sticks (again…dollar tree…I’m so predictable)  🙂
8.  Pillow case to keep it all in (free from my closet)

So, that equals about 13 dollars for each kit.  Not to shabby.  
Not having to de-fort the house every night = priceless  🙂  
The original post included clothes pins and suction cups as well (both can be found at the dollar tree).  I don’t really have a good place for suction cups and I didn’t think clothes pins would be strong enough.  


** Hint:  When sewing a length of ribbon to each corner of the sheet, loop it over itself first (like in the picture).  That will allow a loop on one side (for hooking to things) and two ends on the other side (for tying to things).  Then the kiddos have the option of which to use.  After adding four ribbons to each corner, add the fifth one right in the smack middle of the sheet.  (So they can make a pointy tent when the need arises.) 

And how cute are those vintage sheets?  I love the tennis racket one!
 I was going to use vintage pillowcases too – but I kind of want to try and make these stinking adorable dresses so I am keeping the pillowcases in my stash.

I put two sheets in each kit.  
And all four sheets hung up in our basement turns it into a crazy blanket cave.  
But, it’s really easy to take down. 
 And oh so fun!  

Comments

  1. Bobbi says

    Erin, these are adorable. I can remember making my own”forts” with Mom’s blankets and old diaper pins when I was a kid.(45 years ago). I think having a kindred spirit for a mom is a wonderful gift for kids.

    Reply

  3. loraine says

    I am going stright to dollar tree and the resale shop when i get off work on Friday!!!! My girls (4 & 6) are going to love this!!!! Thanks so much for the idea!!!

    Reply

  6. Tina Marie says

    Anyone think this is too young for an 8 yo girl? I have a double b/day party coming up and this is perfect for the 6yo boy. Can’t wait to hit Dollar Tree and Goodwill tomorrow!

    Reply

  9. Topaz says

    When my daughter was younger (up to college age, she and her roommate spent several weeks sleeping in the blanket fort they made in the dorm room) she loved making blanket forts. Now she is the mother of a newborn daughter and I’m saving this post (and the top sheet from sets where the bottom sheet has worn out) to make her a blanket fort kit when she is older. Instead of a flashlight, I have some cute butterfly shaped led lights from the Dollar Tree to add.

    Reply

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