finding toys for the light table at the Dollar Store

After making our own light table, I wanted to find some fun toys for Roxie to play with on the table. Play At Home Mom, who gave me the inspiration for the light table, offers lots of ideas for light play. While some of the ideas require purchasing expensive supplies (like Magna Tiles), others require nothing more than markers and bubble wrap. Eventually I would love to get a set of Magna Tiles for Roxie to play with, but in the meantime I decided to scour our local Dollar Store for translucent items that we could use. Here's what I came home with:
Neon-colored jacks: these have a great tactile quality. Roxie does love biting them (she's still teething), so they get put away in a sealed container when I'm not playing with her. So far she enjoys sorting them by color and watching me spin them.

picking up the yellow jacks

sorting jacks by color (mama helped)

Shapes cut out of transparent looseleaf dividers: I got this idea from Pinterest. Roxie doesn't have a shape puzzle, but the local library does, so when we were there last week I traced the shapes on a piece of paper. Roxie got to play with them for the first time this evening, and she enjoyed putting them all in a muddled pile and then spreading them out to see the different shapes and colors emerge. I lined them up for her, organizing them by color and shape, and she liked picking them all up again.

collecting all the shapes after mama sorted them

Plastic ice cubes: These are a huge hit. I don't like Roxie putting them in her mouth, because who knows what they're filled with, but she loves the way they feel. She likes trying to stack them in a tower, and taking them out of a bowl and putting them back in. You can also roll them like dice, which will be fun for number activities when she's a little older (we can use a Sharpie to draw numbers or dots on them).

trying to stack cubes

stacking cubes

Glass beads: These also have a great tactile quality, and they make a nice clicking sound. Roxie loves to pour them from one container into another. Yesterday she astonished me by picking out all the green ones, then the blue, clear, and turquoise ones, and lining them all up on the back of the sofa. That was the first time I noticed that she understands how to sort by color. These are also a choking hazard and therefore get put away when I'm not playing with her. Another downside is that Roxie likes to drop them on the plexi tabletop, and I'm worried that the glass or the plexi will chip or crack, so I'm working on teaching her the difference between hard objects that she can't drop (like the glass beads) and soft objects that she can (the jacks, the ice cubes).

picking out two matching beads and clicking them together

clicking two green beads together

I leaned a cheap mirror against the wall because I noticed that Play At Home Mom has a big mirror above their light table. Roxie likes making faces at herself and watching herself play. It also allows me to see what she's up to when I'm sitting on the sofa.

offering a shape to her mirror self

being goofy

baby's got a new set of wheels

For Christmas Roxie got a fantastic set of Melissa & Doug Blocks. They come neatly packed in a wooden crate with handles.

The problem is that the crate, when full, weighs almost 20 pounds. So poor Roxie couldn't even pull the crate out from its storage spot, let alone move it across the room to wherever she wanted to play. This box needed wheels.
I ordered four swivel casters from Home Depot. Then I took a look at the bottom of the crate to see how best to attach them.

The bottom of the crate seemed pretty flimsy. I could tell that the wood that was used for the bottom panel was much thinner than the wood that was used for the sides of the crate. Roxie already liked to climb into the crate and sit in it, and I was worried that the bottom would eventually crack.

The flimsiness of the bottom was not helped by the fact that it was recessed, leaving a 3/8" gap between the bottom of the crate and the floor.

So the first step was getting a piece of 3/8" plywood and cutting it to fit in that space. Initially I tried to make a paper template before realizing that I should just (duh) measure the sides and use a square to help me trace straight lines to guide my cuts.

I used a handsaw to cut out the plywood rectangle because I want Michelle Obama biceps because we don't own a circular saw. Then I sanded down the edges. I got a LOT of splinters. Sanding plywood sucks.

I used a thin piece of scrap wood to spread wood glue on the bottom of the box and the piece of plywood.

The directions said to clamp the pieces together for at least 30 minutes. I don't have a clamp, but I have some heavy boxes of cat litter.

The plywood was annoyingly still not flush with the edges of the box, so I took all the thin scraps of wood that I had and spread them out on the bottom of the box to make up the difference. Then I glued them down.

I traced the whole box on a piece of 1/4" MDF. This piece was going to cover the entire bottom of the box, reinforcing the base and making it thicker so that I could screw the casters in securely. Then I cut out the MDF rectangle using my trusty handsaw. MDF is much easier to saw than plywood. And sanding it is downright pleasant. No splinters, just dust!

I glued the MDF to the bottom of the box just like I had done with the plywood, "clamped" it with the cat litter boxes, and left it overnight. (No pictures; they would be pretty boring.)

Then I had to figure out where to place the casters. I decided that they should be placed 3/4" from the edge of the box, and I cut out a quick cardboard template to help me place them. 

 I used a pencil to mark where the pilot holes for the screws should go.

Then I drilled all the pilot holes. My screws were 3/4" long, so I put a piece of tape on my drill bit at 3/4" so that I didn't accidentally drill through the bottom of the crate. Of course the drill bit broke after I had done 15 of 16 holes. After using pliers to remove the half of the bit stuck in the crate, I finished up the last pilot hole.

Then I had to screw in the 16 screws. I could have used the drill as a power screwdriver to help me, but I wanted those Michelle Obama biceps I am scared of using the drill as a screwdriver. I've had bad experiences in the past with stripped screws and broken-off screw heads.

Then it was done! 

 I flipped it over and filled it back up with blocks. I couldn't wait to show Roxie.

Naturally, the first thing she wanted to do, once she saw that her crate now rolled around the room, was empty out all the blocks, get in the box and go for a ride.

So we did!
For a simple project, this was not as cheap as I'd hoped it would be.
Cost breakdown:

• 4 casters: $10
• plywood: $6
• MDF: already had
• thin wood scraps: already had
• screws: $3
• wood glue: $3
• Total Cost: $22, with lots of screws, glue and some plywood left over.

But just like the light table, I got to use my brain and do some problem-solving and Home-Depot-aisle-wandering, and that's worth the 22 bucks to me.

PS - At some point we'll return to our regularly-scheduled home improvement blog. Maybe once it gets warmer.

Winter Pinterest Challenge Completed: Train Table converted to Light Table

Let's start with the best part: when I turned on the new light table for the first time, H said, completely unprompted, "that's really cool." He followed it up a few minutes later with "that looks awesome." Considering his usual level of reserve when it comes to my crazy projects, this is high praise indeed. Take a look:

It is SO much better than the Sterilite light box - there's really no comparison. It looks professional, keeps the lamps and cords hidden from curious toddler hands, and offers a much larger play space. As an added bonus, the table gives off great mood lighting for when we're watching a movie and don't want to use our floor lamps.
So if you'll recall, this project started because of the Winter Pinterest Challenge.

Go check out what Megan, Katie, Sherry and Michelle ended up doing for their projects. I think Sherry and John win for most ambitious project: in the course of one week, they added board-and-batten to their hallway. Using a nail gun. During naptimes. Oh, and painted everything, too.
So here was my inspiration: a train table that converts into a light table.

via Play At Home Mom

As I mentioned in my original post, I happened to find this same train table on Craigslist for $15. The original MDF top was in good condition, except that the one side with the painted scenery was faded. The white side was fine (only slight discoloration). So I sanded and painted the scenery side with chalkboard paint. I'm still waiting to get my hands on some white chalk so I can properly show it off.

Turning the table into a giant light box required buying a large piece of white plexiglass. Following the details at Play At Home Mom, I called a Philadelphia plastics supplier and ordered 3/16" plexi in color 2447 (milky white). After picking it up today, I think I could have gotten away with 1/8" plexi. But this way if Roxie decides to climb on it while I'm not looking, there is no chance it will break. This is thick, sturdy plastic. The plexiglass will stay on the table all the time, and when we want to use the chalkboard or regular tabletop, we can just lay those panels right on top. And when we're using the light table, we can store them under the couch.

Where I put my own spin on the project was in repurposing some old wall lamps to use as the light fixtures. As I discovered when pricing out the project, the cost of the four undercabinet fixtures, plus daylight bulbs, plus a sheet of plywood to rest them on added up to an additional $100. By using the lamps and bulbs we already owned, I brought that extra cost down to $0. My table is not as bright as the one at Play At Home Mom, so I may invest in daylight bulbs down the line. They do give off a much brighter, purer light than the soft white bulbs I'm using now. A package of 4 candelabra-base daylight CFLs costs $10.55 at Amazon, so it would cost $21 to replace all the bulbs. But for now I think I've spent enough on this project!

Here's the cost breakdown:

• train table (purchased back in November): $15 on Craigslist
• chalkboard paint: $10 at Home Depot (and I have LOTS left)
• set of rollers and paint tray: $7 at Home Depot
• white plexiglass: $75 from Shore Plastics
• materials for the light box that didn't work out and I couldn't return: $3.21
• Total Cost: $110.21

So although this was not a cheap project, it involved a lot of trial-and-error and problem-solving, and I learned a lot in the process. The final product is one that I am proud of, so overall it is a success. I'll post soon with pictures of some of the dollar store items I picked up for Roxie to play with on the light table, and I'll let you know how she likes it!

Stay tuned for further updates on the play corner... it's nowhere near done yet!

light table update

I just took the plunge and ordered a $70 piece of plexiglass.

After playing with a makeshift Sterilite light box for the past few days, it's just not that much fun. I've tried a few different ways to diffuse the light from the fluorescent bulbs: white contact paper (too opaque), frosted clear placemats (hard to attach to the container), and a frosted shower curtain (okay, but wrinkly). But really what's ruining the fun is that the box is too flimsy and Roxie is very curious. She wants to bang on the box, sit on it, move it around, open it up and see what's inside. And with glass bulbs and electrical cords involved, I just can't let her explore as much as she wants to. Which makes for frustrating play time for both of us.

...but the colorful plastic "ice cubes" from the Dollar Store have been a huge hit.

Last night I was unable to sleep, so I started mentally accessorizing the new play corner. There needs to be some kind of light fixture, so I was thinking about what we already own to see if anything could work. And I remembered that we have two large (37") IKEA Gyllen wall lamps that I bought for our bedroom and decided I didn't like. They've been under our bed for the past two years. And then - then! - I thought, well, maybe I could just get some plexiglass to put in those fixtures in place of the decorative glass, and use them as light boxes! And THEN I thought, well, why don't I just put the fixtures under the train table and go back to the original plan of getting a plexiglass top for the table!

Because let's return to the original problem: I am fine with spending $75 for a piece of plexiglass, but the additional $100 in light fixtures and bulbs was what made my first plan cost prohibitive. But if I already have fixtures and bulbs, then we're set!
It was literally all I could do not to climb out of bed, sneak downstairs to get the measuring tape, and quietly measure the fixtures (which were right beneath me under the bed!) while H was sleeping. I managed to resist, but the first thing I did this morning was bring a lamp downstairs to see if it will sit under the table without support (saving me from purchasing a piece of plywood). It will!

So I called a local plastics supplier and ordered up a piece of 3/16" white plexiglass. It should be ready today, but since Roxie is sick I'll go pick it up tomorrow. I am so excited!
I may still end up getting some daylight CFLs to put in place of the current incandescent bulbs. The CFLs will be brighter and cooler, both temperature-wise (the incandescents get quite hot) and color-wise ("natural light" bulbs give off a brighter, bluer light, while "soft white" bulbs have a duller, yellowish tone).

Let's do a price comparison to see how much the new, improved original plan is going to cost, compared with the Sterilite light box:
Sterilite light box:

• box: $6
• two undercabinet lights: about $25
• two daylight bulbs: $20
• total: $51

Train table > Light table conversion:

• plexiglass top: $70 + tax
• two light fixtures: already owned!
• "candelabra" bulbs: already owned!
• total: $70

Price difference: $19. Not bad! All the materials I bought for the light box are going to be taken back, except the placemats and shower curtain, which I cut up (total cost: $3.19). Thanks, Walmart and Home Depot, for being so nice about returns! 

So while I have nothing completed to show for my Winter Pinterest Challenge so far, I've been hard at work. Here's what the corner of the living room looked like before I started:

 And here's how it looks now:

I have some paint touch-ups to do from where the magnet boards were hung on the wall, but other than that, it's a blank slate. Oh, and that white tabletop does have chalkboard on the flip side of it, but I can't really show that off properly since I don't have any chalk. (D'oh!) 

I've been busy with another Roxie-project, too, so stay tuned for that post tomorrow.

this project is getting out of control

OK, I've priced out the materials necessary to convert the train table into a light table.

• basic 18" under cabinet fluorescent lights: 4@ $12.97 = $51.88
• "natural light" 18" fluorescent light bulbs: 4@10.22 = $40.88
• 2x4' 1/4" MDF panel to rest lights on: $5.97
• white plexi sheet: about $75 (I called two places for estimates)

TOTAL: $173.73

That is WAY more than I expected to spend. I knew the plexi would be around $75, but somehow I grossly underestimated the cost of the other supplies.

Sooooo... Plan B. The train table is still going to come upstairs. I'm still going to paint the top with chalkboard paint (the other side is already white, so - yay! - I don't have to do anything to it.)

But the light table part of the project is going to have to be scaled down. I'll probably use some type of Rubbermaid container. Here are a few ideas:

via TeachPreschool.org

via Happy Hooligans

via Growing a Jeweled Rose

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some Home Depot returns to make...

it's Pinterest challenge time again!

Young House Love has teamed up again with Bower Power to organize another Pinterest Challenge, and this time I'm getting on board from the beginning (instead of retroactively, which is how my Fall Pinterest Challenge came together).
Here's my pinspiration:

via Play At Home Mom

It's a train table that's been converted into a light table. Roxie loves building with blocks, and I think it would be great to have a large, flat surface that she could build on in the living room. I also just think that the light table concept is really cool.

Last fall I actually found this same train table for $15 on Craigslist, so I snapped it up and it's been collecting dust in the basement since November. Here's what has to happen between now and Wednesday, the Pinterest Challenge deadline:

• wipe down the table
• repaint the tabletop (white on one side; chalkboard paint on the other)
• buy plexiglass for the light table
• buy fluorescent lights
• buy mdf/plywood to rest the fluorescent lights on

Oh yes, and:

• clear out the corner behind the sofa where the table is going to go, which currently looks like this:

The sofa may also have to scootch over a few inches, which would center it better in the room anyway.  The play corner won't be done once the train/light table is there, but it'll be on its way. Once the table is in place, I'll be able to visualize what I might do about wall decorations, an area rug, toy storage and other accessories.

coming out of hibernation

Oh, hello again! It's been, what, seven weeks since I posted last? I'm blaming some combination of winter blues and post-holiday letdown for my complete lack of motivation and energy over the past two months. Even though it's still freezing here, some part of my brain must be thawing out because I've managed to get a couple small things done recently.
Last week Roxie and I spent an unseasonably warm afternoon playing in the park behind our house, tossing rocks and sticks into the stream. On the way back to the house, we passed through the thicket of forsythia bushes, and I decided to snip a bunch of stems to bring inside. A week later the wind chill is back in the 20s and we're cooped up inside, but at least we have some flowers to remind us that spring is coming... eventually!

It was also time to change up our wreath on the front door. I was amazed at how well the 15-minute evergreen wreath held up. Over two months after I first hung it up, the evergreens still had their needles, they hadn't browned all that much, and the nandina branches were still holding their (darker red, but not shriveled) berries! I call that a complete success! I'm definitely making the wreath the same way next year.

But as February comes to a close, it's really kind of embarrassing to have a Christmas-y wreath still hanging on the door. So Roxie and I took a little field trip to JoAnn last week and picked up a 6-foot garland of faux forsythia for $6 (after using a 50% off coupon, of course). Today I took ten minutes to pull the evergreens out of the grapevine wreath and then wrap the forsythia garland around it. With the addition of a new bright green ribbon, our front door is ready for spring!

Finally, we headed outside on a sunny, but chilly, afternoon earlier this week, and I intended to just hustle Roxie into the car to run some errands, but despite the cold she wanted to play outside and enjoy the sunshine. So while she examined leaves and rocks, I started pulling some winter weeds. One thing led to another, and suddenly I found myself raking all the fallen leaves and dried stems out of the garden beds. After an hour, Roxie was getting cold and cranky, so we came inside to warm up. When H got home, we all spent another 30 minutes outside while he helped me gather up all the piles I had made and move them to the compost heap out back. The beds look so much tidier with all the old foliage trimmed back. You can see the daffodil, hyacinth and crocus shoots coming up. Yes, spring is coming, and we are so ready for it!