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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Crate Seats

Today was a very productive Saturday. While my husband and father-in-law were working on the deck, I completed my crate seat project. I am thrilled with how they turned out. I was planning to make six, but ended up making 8 because I had extra materials. I just have to head back to Target and get 2 more crates. I can’t wait to get them around my guided reading table and see how they look in my new classroom! And Meatball loves them, too!

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Here is a step-by-step guide of how I made them:

1. Get your materials together. I bought my crates from Target for $3.49. Amazing deal! I saw the same ones at Kmart today for over $7! The fabric is from JoAnn Fabrics. I do not sew or do anything crafty with fabric so I had no idea what I was doing. I bought WAY too much fabric. I bought 6 yards, and I ended up getting 4 crates from one yard. (Any easy fabric projects out there?) Also, I wanted dog-themed for my classroom so I had to pay $5.99 a yard. I would suggest going to the clearance bin! The batting luckily was 40% off ($5.99 a yard). I bought 3 yards and that was perfect for 8 crates. The plywood was very easy to get. I went to Lowes and they cut it perfectly for FREE! The total price was $18.83 and we have some leftover pieces. If you have a store cut the plywood for you make sure you take the crate along. That way they can make sure it fits before you buy it. You will also need a staple gun. I borrowed mine from my father-in-law.

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2. Cut the fabric and batting. I used a 1/2 yard square of fabric. It was just enough. The batting I cut in long strips the length of the wood, and I folded about four layers to make it nice and cushy.

3. Lay out the fabric upside down. Center the batting and plywood in the middle.

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4. Now it is just like wrapping a present. I stapled the longer sides first. Then I stapled the shorter sides like you would the ends of a present. Pull the fabric tight so every side is nice and snug. I used plenty of staples just in case.

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5. Turn it over and TA-DA! Mine were a little tight going into the crate. I don’t know if it was because of the fabric or what… but luckily the plastic crates expand a bit and they fit just fine.

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Anyone else making these this summer? What are you going to store inside?

3 comments:

  1. I love these! Thanks for the nice step-by-step. I would love to make these for my classroom.

    - Elizabeth
    http://firstyearinthe3rdgrade.blogspot.com/

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  2. Thanks for posting this. I've been thinking about making them but didn't want to make some of the same mistakes you made - too much material for one. I know exactly what I need now. Thank you!

    Carolyn
    http://thirdgradeadventuresinelbert.blogspot.com/

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  3. I made these last week with my student teaching cooperating teacher! I got my first teaching job as a 5th and 6th grade Spanish teacher for this fall, so I made Spanish flag seats :] Check out my pin!! Thanks, Allison!

    http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986834747576/
    Jennifer

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