Thursday, June 23, 2011

Toys For Kids - A Matress for the Doll Bed

Doll Bed Mattress, Pillow and Cover:

Every Girl should have a doll, every Doll should have a bed, every Bed should have a mattress, every Mattress should have a cover and every Cover should have a Pillow.  As promised, here goes.  This was done Christmas, 2010, so I don't have photos, but I will try to describe as best I can.  For you guys out there, this was a first for me, using fabric glue that dries flexible, instead of sewing, so here goes.

Materials Required:
  • Foam-Core Board the size of the bed's box-spring
  • Soft Foam or padding the same size
  • Soft Cloth in very small print for girls - I got 2 contrasting patterns, 1/2 yard each
  • Fine Lace - 2 yards
  • Fabric glue
  • Yellow carpenters wood glue
Mattress:
For the base I cut a piece of foam-core board 1/8" shorter and 1/8" narrower than the 9"x20" box "spring."  I topped this with a piece of 1/2" soft foam, cut 9"x20" to make a tight fit between the head and foot boards.  Check that the foam-core centers on the soft foam with just a bit showing all round, place a small dab of YELLOW glue near each corner and the center of the foam-core, smooth out a bit with your finger, turn over, center on the soft foam and place a weight to hold it in position until dry.

I took one of the patterns of material and cut to fit around the mattress with about 1" extra, or approximately 13"x24".  Place the cut material FACE DOWN, center the mattress and check that about 1" will come around to glue to the bottom of the foam-core on both sides and ends.  When sure, place a small bead of YELLOW glue all along ONE side of the foam core, smooth with your finger and carefully press the material into the glue.  When dry pull the material to the other side, smooth the top side of any wrinkles, and glue the OTHER side as you did the first.  You will have to hold this edge for a minute or so until the glue tacks.

To finish the ends think about how you wrap a present box.  Press the material at the side of the mattress onto the end of the mattress.  Notice how the material now has an angled edge at the top and bottom.  The top and bottom will be dealt with after we glue the side flaps.   Place a dab of FABRIC glue on the inside of each side flap, fold in and hold till the glue tacks.  Trim the 2 bottom pieces to match the thickness of the mattress, fold up and glue as you did the sides.  The last step is to pull the material snug over the foam and glue to the bottom foam core with YELLOW glue as you did the full length sides.  Now repeat with the other end.  You should now have smooth, wrinkle free mattress for the bed.  I will edit this post for the cover and pillow.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Thanks to YOU!

Thanks to all the readers around the world, yesterday we made it to 1,000 Hits!  I hope each of you find something of interest in the Blog.  If you have an area I haven't touched yet let me know.    Thanks, Glen   aka  Armchair