May part 2

Toadstool fort:

I need to do a fort no one was expecting: A toadstool fort. My inspiration was my youngest niece who reminds me of a little gnome. I thought,” What would be better then a toadstool for her to run around in?”

 I had to make the fort large enough for her and her older sister to sit in, or for a camp-out. I also had to make it taller than the other two forts I had made and was planning on making. The roundness and mushroom top was hard for me to try to work out in my head. Once I went to the hardware shop, I began to wrap my head around the problems. I went with some PVC for the height and strength, then a bending type of plastic that has little connectors (like a hula hoop). I also randomly found a $10 -7’ umbrella that I colored red with white dots. It was perfect!!

I used some cream-colored bamboo bed sheets that just never worked out for my cousin. They gave the fort an awesome color. I used a fabric shower curtain from Ross for the grass. I cut the shower curtain in grass-like shapes and sewed them onto the bamboo sheet parts. I found some $0.98/ yd at Beverly’s Fabrics. (No worries- I always check with our local fabric store first before going to Beverly’s). I did get all the thread and fabric for the window curtains at our local fabric store, Hart’s Fabrics.

You may have noticed I am on a roll with making an entire village of forts this year. You would be correct. I have one more to go: A NASA GARAGE fort.  If you are wondering if these forts are expensive to make, no they aren’t. (Under $80)  Plus, I’m sure you have half of the supplies around your house or garage already.  It’s just working out the designs that are the hardest part. They are really easy to put together once you have an idea of what you are trying to build.