How to make a boxy piano...
1. Find 3 boxes which, when stacked together, look a bit like a piano.
2. Don't worry if they're not the right length, just measure, cut and fold to make a smaller box (if they're nearly the right size, don't bother - just pad out the short one with some paper or cardboard).
3. BEFORE you stick them together, gently fill the boxes with tissue paper or newspaper - just enough to help keep their shape but not so much that they bulge (check by stacking them up again)... sorry I forgot to photograph this step!
4. Put a bit of glue between the boxes, then start taping them up - I like to use this gummy brown tape that I've had since I dabbled in watercolour painting many moons ago, but any tape would do.
5. Tape them up until they're nice and stable - I probably went a little overboard...
6. For my first piano (see here), I just used the brown tape all over for a fast and easy finish. This time, I covered the piano in little bits of brown tissue paper that I'd dipped in diluted PVA glue.
7. Leave it to dry (and don't be too careful about covering the bit where the keys will go - that's about to get covered up)
8. Measure the space for your piano keys to go - subtract a few mm from each side, then draw your piano keys. After discovering first time around that lead pencil can smudge when covered in Mod Podge or glue, I used a non watercolour black pencil this time.
9. Stick on the keys with Mod Podge or PVA, remembering to seal the top of the keys too, and you're done!
After finishing this piano, I wondered whether one family of dolls really needed two pianos - Audrey and Beris disagreed, and quickly set themselves up for a piano duet....
the only problem is, Audrey is a "by the book" classical piano player, and Beris is a "play what you feel" avant garde type, so it ended up as more of a piano duel...
For more creative spaces, visit Kirsty's.
18 comments:
The piano looks great and so is your tutorial. You must have one happy girl and a house full of happy dolls to;) Very clever:)
Adorable! I love your up-cycling!
Just too cute, love how creative it is!
oh i love it ... can almost hear the music.
That, my friend, is what I love about My creative space. seeing the goodness that people make at home. Just wonderful.
Absolutely LOVE it Catherine! ANd thanks for the great tute too, you may see one of these popping up at my place xo
Great piano. I'm sure Audrey and Beris can meet in the middle and produce something truly unique. Thanks for the link to the dolls.
That is just great - very 'Mr Maker' who is much admired around here!
LOVE the cactus... ;)
That's very clever! Never would have thought to stuff the boxes with newspaper to keep them stable.
Can't wait to see what you make next!
I have to agree with everyone else, very clever and cute idea.
Great tutorial. I love the brown paper 'walnut finish' look that you got with Audrey's piano. Hope you don't get too much piano duelling going on!
Wow, that's come up really well! This reminds me of some depression era dolls furniture I saw on Antiques roadshow once (collectible of the future perhaps) :)
Such a sweet project!
As I was reading through your gorgeous tute I was wondering if Jess had seen it. I reckon we;ll be seeing some piano/teddy bear action at her's very soon.
Gorgeous, gorgeous space.
That is so cute, it tickles me!
oh, this is very clever & cute !!
I LOVE it! Particularly the little story at the end. Santa used to bring us furniture for our dolls house every year made out of match boxes covered in fabric or paper. They are very special.
Love your little pianos and Audrey and Beris are just so adorable.
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