This travel play kitchen set was super-frugal to make, and is perfect for small living spaces since the entire set folds up!
I’m thinking we’ll take it with us for trips to the garden plot, visits with grandparents, or just playing outside in the backyard like we did this afternoon.
I used an ordinary folding TV tray table for the base, and sewed the stove top cover using wool felt. Here you can see the curtains under the stove where Emily stores a basket of play food, pots and pans.
As soon as I put it outside, the girls wasted no time and got busy cookin’!!
Emily liked firing up the burners….
….and drying her hands on the kitchen towel.
Clara thought the “drawer” pockets were so much fun!
They played outside until it was time to get dinner ready!
What I loved about bringing the kitchen set outside was how it led to all sorts of neat “play” food experiences, like leaves for “salad” and grass for “spinach angel hair”.
Bon Appétit!!
I linked this post to:
July 15th, 2010 on 5:18 pm
Dear Valerie,
I like how Clara is mixing the pockets. What was she cooking in there?
Love,
Mark
July 15th, 2010 on 5:22 pm
Ooh – this is so neat and looks so well done. I am lazy, so I am thinking that just putting a cardboard with drawn burners on such a table will work wonders here – thanks for an idea!
July 15th, 2010 on 5:30 pm
You are quite clever as well as an accomplished seamstress. Makes me wish I had more girls…I can just see my boys making mud pies on them and that would be that for the beautiful kitchen; nope best just stick with wood planks for my boys!
Perhaps I will have granddaughters soon…?
July 15th, 2010 on 5:58 pm
I want one!
July 15th, 2010 on 6:03 pm
Valerie – you are just SO clever. Really. I love your blog. Thanks for the inspiration and also the positive feedback you left on my post yesterday. I realy appreciate what you said – it has stayed with me.
July 15th, 2010 on 6:04 pm
Oh how I wished I had a Daughter instead of a son. Maybe I'll make it for the fun of it. I mean I need something for all my play felt food.
July 15th, 2010 on 6:22 pm
@ Lisa Anne — Play kitchen sets are not just for girls!! I made this one as uni-sex as possible on purpose because many of Emily's friends are boys and they love to "cook" too.
July 15th, 2010 on 6:23 pm
@ Raising a Happy Child — It really would work well with just cardboard and burners drawn on! Kids need very little to be happy!
July 15th, 2010 on 6:24 pm
@ Phyllis — LOL Nothing wrong with wood planks!
July 15th, 2010 on 6:31 pm
Very clever.
(And you're right. My boys like to cook almost as much as the girls.)
July 15th, 2010 on 6:32 pm
We used to play kitchen outside a lot in Costa Rica. I find Atlanta summers a little too hot for comfort and we hardly play outside! I can't wait for cooler September air, then we'll be outside again. And I love this playset. It's beautiful.
July 15th, 2010 on 6:36 pm
thank you for the suggestion, val , my boys would love it also!
July 15th, 2010 on 7:22 pm
@ Scott — That makes me very happy!!
@ The Girl who Painted Trees — I don't think we'd be up to outside kitchen play if we lived in Atlanta either. We had a major heat wave last week, and if I even thought of going outside I would break out into a sweat.
July 15th, 2010 on 7:22 pm
@ angelina — Yay!!!
July 15th, 2010 on 7:27 pm
very cool, what sweet photos. once again, my mother-in=law is the excellent seamstress and I'll have to recruit her for this project!
July 15th, 2010 on 7:49 pm
Would you consider writing out the pattern? I know..it should be pretty easy, but I'm a beginning seamstress!!!
July 15th, 2010 on 7:50 pm
This is ADORABLE! I just need to learn how to turn on my sewing machine then I am good to go! Thanks for he comment on my blog!
July 15th, 2010 on 9:41 pm
Valerie, this is darling – I think it's one of your best creations to date =)
July 15th, 2010 on 10:55 pm
I am totally loving this. I think my kids would have a LOT of fun with this, however they would want it in the sandbox with them, I wonder if I could make it from tablecloth fabric instead of felt for that purpose!
July 15th, 2010 on 11:26 pm
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Your blog is awesome – I love all your great ideas! You are very talented!
July 16th, 2010 on 12:55 am
just need to learn how to turn on my sewing machine then I am good to go!
July 16th, 2010 on 1:48 am
Oh my, this is just the cutest thing! Love it!
July 16th, 2010 on 2:32 am
that is adorable! dunno how you came up with that… but its perfect
July 16th, 2010 on 4:00 am
How lovely! you are so creative!!!
I am awful at needle work lol!
Thanks for popping by my blog and your lovely comment!
Pipxx
July 16th, 2010 on 4:01 am
How lovely! you are so creative!!!
I am awful at needle work lol!
Thanks for popping by my blog and your lovely comment!
Pipxx
July 16th, 2010 on 4:52 am
What a great idea. Our house is ready to explode~ This might be a good way to ditch the HUGE plastic kitchen that is open taking some good floor space.
July 16th, 2010 on 4:52 am
And you should sell this…
July 16th, 2010 on 6:38 am
Oh no, not another good idea, that I need to add to my list. I haven't done the last 50. You really do have some great ideas. This wouldn't take up too much room and children love to cook. I'm hoping to renovate their playhouse this summer, so this would be a lovely addition. Yeh!
July 16th, 2010 on 7:58 am
@ M/T.A. — I don't think I will post a pattern, per se. Though I'd be happy to email you some instructions if you're having trouble. valerie (at) frugalfamilyfunblog (dot) com
July 16th, 2010 on 8:01 am
@ organicmommy — I see no reason why you can't use tablecloth fabric, or even reuse an old tablecloth for this. I've never attempted appliqué with tablecloth fabric though. You could try colored contact paper for the burners and knobs. Have fun!!
July 16th, 2010 on 8:02 am
@ brookie — Not enough hours in the day! But I might put one or two up in the shop sometime…. Just because they are super-fun to make!
July 16th, 2010 on 8:03 am
@ Cheryl — Oh, it would be perfect for a newly renovated playhouse!!! Have fun!!
July 16th, 2010 on 8:26 am
What a wonderful little kitchen!
July 16th, 2010 on 8:39 am
This is too cute….Can you make me one? =)
July 16th, 2010 on 9:20 am
I love this! What a great idea!
July 16th, 2010 on 10:32 am
Hmmmm…… If I made one it would be so filthy so fast. My kids make mud soup…… But, it would get a lot of use. Maybe some of that vinyl covered fabric……
July 16th, 2010 on 1:49 pm
That is amazing, you are so talented. I have loved looking at all your crafts. Your daughter asking for tuna is just too cute.
July 16th, 2010 on 3:33 pm
I just love all these things you do with your girls. Thank you so much for sharing all these wonderful ideas
July 16th, 2010 on 3:40 pm
oo love this!!
July 16th, 2010 on 7:28 pm
Val, again: I love your blog. I am definitely going to make this TODAY. It's so simple, and I have a few of those TV trays to spare. This is so fortuitous, as I just was thinking, "Did you really think you were EVER going to use all this grey felt?" HA! Yes, I think I will.
July 16th, 2010 on 9:38 pm
@ Ticia — This set doesn't need to be used outdoors. The girls already have a kitchen set at our house (it's the same one I played with when I was little). So we just use this one for little trips or when we play outside instead. It would be great for any small living space, really!
July 16th, 2010 on 9:39 pm
@ Committed Recycler — Yay!! Have fun!!!
July 16th, 2010 on 10:56 pm
Saw this at tatertots and jello. LOVED it.
Would make such a great present.
I would love for you to link up this great idea at my Christmas in July linky party. It is a sort of gathering of tons of great homemade gift ideas…the whole month I am doing stuff.
I hope to see you there.
Just Another Day in Paradise
July 16th, 2010 on 11:13 pm
this is too cute! very creative and they adore it too
July 17th, 2010 on 7:02 am
This is an amazing, crafty little travel kitchen, and I think it's so much neater than those big, clunky plastic kitchens that sit in the corner of the playroom. You could take it anywhere. What an excellent idea.
July 17th, 2010 on 8:00 am
cute!!! I've an award for you, just in my blog!!!
July 17th, 2010 on 10:47 am
Super cute, love that you used a TV tray!
July 17th, 2010 on 11:28 am
That could not be cuter and I love that it can be put away so easily. Amazing job!
July 17th, 2010 on 11:54 am
That is very cool and, I agree, it's so cool how they used the grass and leaves to continue their play. Fabulous.
July 17th, 2010 on 12:09 pm
That is just adorable such a neat idea! I featured it go check it out and grab a button!
July 17th, 2010 on 12:11 pm
Very awesome!! My daughter saw me looking at the post/pictures and begged me for it.
So….I don't sew. Can't. Just how much would you charge to make another and ship it to TN?
Email me at mrshonea@yahoo.com
Thanks!!
July 17th, 2010 on 12:26 pm
This is so cute, what a fun idea and so well made! Just saying hi from tatertots.
July 18th, 2010 on 8:08 am
This is AdoRaBle! It would be FuN to take camping too! I featured it here:
http://thecreativecrate.blogspot.com/2010/07/diy-travel-play-kitchen.html
Thanks so much for sharing!
July 18th, 2010 on 11:06 am
Absolutely adorable!
July 18th, 2010 on 12:06 pm
Genius idea! I love that you used an old tv tray. So clever!
July 18th, 2010 on 12:22 pm
@ Larissa — I"ll be over to check it out! Thanks for inviting me to link up!
@ biancifiore — WOW!! Thank you soooo much!! xoxo
July 18th, 2010 on 12:24 pm
@ Heather — Thank you so much for the link! I really appreciate it! xoxo
@ Stacie — Thank YOU!! That is so sweet of you!
July 18th, 2010 on 4:25 pm
So fun! What a great idea!
July 18th, 2010 on 6:10 pm
Wow, SUCH a good idea! The pockets and place to hang the towel = genius.
I love it!
July 18th, 2010 on 6:20 pm
So we went on a wonderful campout for the past few days and I love catching up on these great posts! These turned out really great! Good Job!
July 18th, 2010 on 7:52 pm
Genius! I can't wait to make this. My daughter would love a play kitchen but we have such a small house. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to make one for her. I can't get over how cute this is too!
July 19th, 2010 on 9:53 am
What a fantastic idea! And you put it all together so wonderfully. I love it!
July 19th, 2010 on 2:31 pm
Great idea! I saw a tv table at a yard sale today and passed it up–wish I hadn't!!
thanks!
July 19th, 2010 on 7:42 pm
Awesome idea! My girls would have loved this when they were small! I'm visiting you with sumo, hope you visit me too!
July 19th, 2010 on 9:32 pm
@ Lindsey — Thank you so much!
@ shauna — I think this will work out perfectly for a small house! Have fun!!
@ she wears flowers — That always seems to happen to me too! LOL Don't worry, I almost always see TV trays at thrift stores, so I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding another one.
July 19th, 2010 on 9:32 pm
@ anne maskell — I'm on my way to check out your blog now!
Thanks for stopping in!
July 20th, 2010 on 8:52 am
You just gave me a million ideas from this. I'll be sure to post about them when I get around to it. At 33 weeks pregnant, I'm more consumed with making baby clothes right now.
July 23rd, 2010 on 7:48 am
Yay!! That makes me SO happy!!!
July 20th, 2010 on 10:44 am
Well done, as always! :>) Linked -
July 20th, 2010 on 2:03 pm
This is simply adorable! what a creative cute idea!
July 20th, 2010 on 9:04 pm
wow! that's incredible! I'm totally adding that to my "to make" list! awesome!
July 23rd, 2010 on 8:05 am
Have fun, Jamie! They really are a lot of fun to make!
July 20th, 2010 on 10:55 pm
What a clever & fun idea!! Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!
July 23rd, 2010 on 8:06 am
It was my first time linking up! Looking forward to it again next week!
July 21st, 2010 on 1:17 pm
Hi Valerie. That is one of the smartest and definitely the cutest things I've ever seen! You are one creative Moma. I wish my granddaughter lived closed, I would try to make one of those.
Hugs…Tracy
July 23rd, 2010 on 8:05 am
Thanks SO much!!!
July 22nd, 2010 on 4:13 pm
That is totally awesome. My girls – ages 1 and 3 – would love something like this! Thank you for the idea.
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
July 23rd, 2010 on 8:05 am
You’re very welcome! I’m sure they will love it!! Have fun!!!
July 23rd, 2010 on 7:30 am
Valerie, I love this! I have spent so much money on my classroom and have been wanting a ‘kitchen’ and this is a great way of having one without spending and enormous amount. I am also thinking that I could probably make it reversable. Thank you.
July 23rd, 2010 on 7:46 am
Hi Shar!
That is fantastic! You could definitely make it reversible!! Have fun!
July 23rd, 2010 on 11:04 am
love this it is so cute and adorable
July 28th, 2010 on 7:04 am
This is amazing!! How fun!!
July 30th, 2010 on 3:10 pm
this is such a great idea!!!!! I think i will make one that fits on our campingtable…the girls will love this!
love miranda
August 2nd, 2010 on 5:07 pm
So clever! I love it. We have very limited space for an actual plastic play kitchen. This is perfect, we can simply fold it up and put it away.
August 27th, 2010 on 6:34 pm
Hi! I love your blog! My sister just came across a great site for felt and it has lots of cute food on it. Thought it’d go great with this! It’s
http://americanfeltandcraft.wordpress.com/ Thank you for your blog!