cardboard playhouse

The week between Christmas and New Year's is one of the school holidays that we enjoy spending at home. It is so rare to have a whole week to just relax and spend time with the kids without the stress of travel. Of course, there are days when I know that a project is needed or we all start to drive each other a little crazy...this cardboard playhouse was a perfect way to spend 4 or 5 hours. First constructing it, then decorating it, and finally just playing in it. It also managed to use up a lot of the waste that the holidays bring: all the fresh direct boxes and Amazon boxes from our holiday shopping were perfect for making walls, and our ikea wrapping paper made festive wallpaper inside the house. I did invest in quite a few rolls of tape in a nice assortment of colors -- what is it about tape that makes kids so happy? It is really all you need...some paper and lots and lots of tape!