I posted last month about a little project I had going… How to make a DIY American Girl Doll Bed from an old End Table! Most of you guessed what I was up to and I wanted to show you the finished product!
First you will need an old end table. The fancier and more gaudy the better! You want some FLAIR! I looked on Craigslist mostly and even drove to a few used furniture stores, but I ended up getting mine from a reader!
Second, sand it up a bit lightly with fine sandpaper
Next I went to my Home Depot and looked to see what they had as far as discounted paint that was returned or messed up. I found some cream for only $4.
I gave my table a few coats over the next few nights.
Taking some brown acrylic paint
Using some thin plywood board we had, I cut out a “headboard” and added some decorative trim to the top. I painted this and antiqued it, and nailed it to the back.
I added ball feet to the top of the table, this will now be the bottom of the bed. I had a lot of choices with the ball feet at my home improvement store. There were some very expensive and inexpensive ball feet to pick from, and I went with about $4 each, this was my biggest expense at $16.
I added “slats” which were the big paint stirs (free) from my Lowe’s over the open space, so that the little mattress I made would not fall in. The nails went through to the other side and would have prevented the drawer from going and to I had to hammer the ends over.
The ends of the legs were bare and I wanted them fancier, so I found some finials in the same section as the ball feet, and spent about $2 each on them. I think this made a fancier touch!
I changed out the knob handle to something a little fancier and prettier, there are so many choices! This drawer, put in upside down from the way it was as an end table works perfectly as a storage drawer for the doll’s clothing!
Total cost of this project, about $40!
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
How fun! I would have loved this as a young girl. Great job!
How in the world do you find time to do this? You seriously have always been my hero for all the stuff you get done and do!
Ok, I already heart your blog but now… I’m over the top hearting it! LOL My little girl would love this! Going to start scouring the yardsales and craigslist now. PS Just went to San Antonio last week and used your website as a resource for visiting S.A. and especially Seaworld! Thanks so much for all you post and all the info you have available!!!!!!!
You are so sweet! This was so much fun for ME! The girls LOVED it as well… now I am looking for a way to make bunk beds…
Such a cool idea! Looks amazing 🙂 one question: what did you use to cut out the headboard? I think my MIL is interested in making this for one of her granddaughters 😉
You would die. It was pathetic, I used a skill saw and just about hacked it out. If someone actually had some tools you could make it look really nice.
A coping saw might have worked better but it would have taken a little longer or else maybe using a very fine tooth blade in the jig saw would have made the cut easier. Gotta say, the bed turned out absolutely gorgeous!
Love, mom
How am I JUST now seeing this?! I love how this turned out! So pretty – and such a great use for a piece that was just taking up room before.
I love this idea, thanks so much for sharing it!
How perfect! I love this. I wish I had a little girl, but maybe I can try this for my neice =) Thanks for sharing!
We are having a DIY makeover link party, would be fun if you joined!
niece…oops!
BRILLIANT! If my daughter didn’t have a bunk bed I’d make her this. Love it. I did a doll closet from a night stand. I’d like to invite you to participate in my Pin Me Linky Party. It goes Fri-Tue. I allow up to 3 links each week!
I LOVE this!!! What a great idea!
That is so awesome!!!
Brilliant! TY for sharing!
I think the idea of using an old end table is great, I find them at garage sales for 2 or 3 dollars, ones in very good shape maybe 4 or 5 dollars, I wish I had thot of that when it was warm. But I go to thrift stores too. Thank you so much for the idea, I AM going to try it.
Kim
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