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DIY Play Stove

Expand your child's imagination with a play stove where he can cook up all sorts of play meals. Using items found in most homes, you can save a great deal of money by making it yourself. This also allows you to customize the stove by painting it any color you like. If you have a limited amount of space, you can collapse the stove for storage when not in use.

Things You'll Need

Large appliance-size cardboard box
Spray paint, such as silver or white
Box cutter
Red contact paper
Black contact paper
Scissors
2-liter bottle caps, 4
1-inch-long bolts with nuts, 4
24 inches of twine or thin rope, divided in half
Clear packing tape

Instructions

- 1
  Remove any labels from an empty cardboard box that was used for a large appliance, such as a stove or washing machine. Turn the box over so the open side is face down. Spray paint the outside of the box with spray paint ̵2; use silver or white ̵2; and allow it to dry.
- 2
  Draw a 16-inch square in the center in the front side of the box to use for the oven door. Cut along the top and sides of the box with a box cutter; do not cut the bottom side of the box.
- 3
  Cut two 6-inch circles from red contact paper and two 6-inch circles from black contact paper. Arrange the circles in a square pattern on the top of the box. Space the circles 4 inches apart. Unpeel the backing from the paper to place each circle on the top side of the stove for the stove eyes.
- 4
  Add the stove knobs. Draw four small marks 1 inch from the top of the front panel ̵2; the side with the stove door ̵2; that are spaced 2 inches apart. Cut a 1/4-inch wide slit through the box at the four marks.
- 5
  Attach the head of a bolt to the inside of a 2-liter bottle cap using hot glue. Repeat with three additional bolts and soda caps. Push the end of each bolt through the slits in the cardboard so the caps are on the front of the oven. Turn the box to one side. Enter inside the box and attach a nut to the end of each bolt. Screw the bolts into the nuts until they are secure to the box.
- 6
  Return the stove to its upright position. Find the center of the top side of the oven door. Measure 5 inches out from the center on each side. Cut a 1/4-inch slit in the cardboard door at these two points.
- 7
  Position a 12-inch length of twine or thin rope on the front of the door and press an end of the twine through each of the holes. Apply a thick layer of hot glue around the twine on the inside of the oven door to secure the oven door handle in place.
- 8
  Add a towel rack to either the right or left panel of the oven. Measure across the top of the side panel and mark a 10-inch space. Cut slits and attach a second 12-inch piece of twine or thin rope as you did with the front of the oven door.
- 9
  Turn the box over on one side. Tape the open bottom of the box using clear plastic tape.

Childrens Toys