I don't know if you remember a Flickr confession post I did a while back where I confessed to being obsessed with doll beds? Well there was one. When I got Fievel I made him a collapsible cardboard bed using this tutorial : http://www.hellobee.com/2012/10/09/diy-cardboard-bed/
And while it sufficed (and was very cute) , I have recently decided that Fievel, being the air gypsy he is, sleeps in a hammock. So the bed got folded convienently away, waiting for my next doll to claim it.
Problem was, I wanted a bed that was a little more elegant for Anna. I knew that 18" doll beds fit MSDs very well and hopped on the American Girl website to see what they had. Expensive is what they had. I especially loved Rebecca's bed, but couldn't justify over $100 for a plastic bed frame and bedding I would have to replace.
Reminds me of church
There are a few cheaper options, but they are all very "Barbie", pink and clunky.
pass
I decided to go with the Ikea Duktig bed. Its cheap, ($20, although I've seen it go for like $40 out of the states) and solid unfinished pine, so I could stain/paint/distress/carve to my heart's content. With some minor assembly (inserting 8 pegs and four screws which makes it VERY solid) it looked like this:
The bedding it comes with is ugly. Maaaaaaybe a little kid wouldn't think so, but the consensus in my family was that it had to go. I kept the plaid blanket because it was soft, but the pathetically flat "pillow" and "mattress" were traced around for pattern making and then put in the spare fabric drawer. When I get the time to bust out my sewing machine (which has been put away because of the construction on my house), Anna will be sporting tons of (fluffy) pillows with a white and blue floral pattern. But until then, I thought I would customize the frame.
I REALLY wanted to carve some deep Circular Gallifreyan text in the head and foot boards with my dremel, but I chickened out.
pretty, huh?
I ended up white washing the frame so you could still see the the wood grain. Then distressing the hell out of it (cuz it was fun!) And finally mod-podging decorative paper (bought at Hobby Lobby) on all the support pieces. I really like the way it turned out. It looks old and, most importantly, like it belongs to an adult.
Anna likes it too.
While I was picking out the paper I happened to notice that the decorative boxes were on sale (and by happened I mean I obsessively check every time I'm there) and they WERE! (insert happy dance) 50% off no less. So I picked up this little gem to sit trunk-like at the foot of her bed.
So in sum, Anna is spoiled. Keep watch for part two, which will include lots of sewing.
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