This range is made from a cardboard storage box. Condiment cups and lids are spray-painted silver for knobs that realistically turn. An oven window made from a plastic sheet protector allows different pictures of baking food to be interchanged freely. The oven door opens with two racks inside made from sheets of cardboard spray-painted silver then drawn with grids. The oven's handle is made from a report cover sliding bar sprayed silver. There is even a light attached inside the oven that is activated with movement of the box's side flap. (I created my own burners with clipart that I enlarged.)
This clever creation is the brainchild of Cheryl Robinson, owner of The Crafty Buffet, who appeared February 18, 2009 on the Martha Stewart Show. I was in awe as I watched her cardboard range come to life on my television screen! I immediately ordered a kit to create my own, which I received in record time. This range would provide hours of creative play for a child or, as Cheryl suggested on the show, it can be used to store books (cookbooks maybe?) or other items. Included in the kit is:
ü a cardboard storage box
ü a flat cardboard piece that is used for the back of the range to attach the dials to and two other ones for the oven racks
ü 5 plastic condiment cups with lids
ü 5 paper fasteners to attach the condiment lids to the range's back panel
ü 4 CDs to simulate burners by drawing a spiral shape with a black Magic Marker on the backside (I chose instead to run off a clipart enlargement onto cardstock but the use of CDs is oh, so cute too)
ü 4 styrofoam dots to keep the oven door snug after repeated openings and closures
ü 1 clear plastic sheet protector for oven's window
ü 1 report card sliding bar for oven door's handle
ü a template for cutting an opening in oven door
ü a dial placement template
ü 1 Quik Brite™ Light
ü 5 labels for oven and burner dials (I used the ones provided on Martha Stewart's site because I like the yellow color... they need to be enlarged 139% to cover the condiment lids perfectly)
ü step-by-step instruction book, and instructional DVD
In addition to what Cheryl provides in the kit, you'll need a can of silver spray paint, a paint color for the range to either spray or roll on (I chose a retro blue commonly used for kitchen appliances in the 1950s), and a hole punch among other little supplies that you probably already have on hand like a pen, pencil, glue, ruler, etc. (I purchased a "screw punch" from Martha Stewart Crafts at Michael's that Cheryl recommended. It was a wise purchase as it can be used to punch a hole where standard paper punches can't reach.)
Cheryl also sells a coloring book with drawings of food to be used in the plastic sheet protector oven window. My copy is on its way, so in the meantime I ran off sheet of clipart featuring a baking sheet of chocolate chip cookies.
Not only is the instruction book detailed and so very easy to follow, but look how unbelievably cute the design is...
My transaction with Cheryl, via a phone conversation, as well as email communication, was handled professionally and in an expedient manner. She is a businesswoman with a very personable friendly demeanor. I highly recommend her product and service.
Feb. 28, 2009
Today's mileage: Where did today go? Oh, I was having fun creating my range.
GRAND TOTAL monthly mileage for February: 64.5 miles
Bible reading? Uh huh.