Cereal Backdrop

I don't have any kids of my own, (yet) but I babysit a toddler here in Berlin a couple times a week. He is a load of fun!
I got this idea from Kate @ mini-eco. She has created a castle backdrop made from a cereal box. It is very nice, it looks store bought! She even has links to the patterns if you don't feel like freestyling!

I Free-styled! Mostly for two reasons. One, I made mine last minute, like half an hour before I had to leave to pick up the little man and two because he is a boy! He has tons of cars and trucks and Fire Engines. (What is it with boys and fire engines anyway?)  Well that said, I tried to make a Fire Station and an Auto Shop instead of a castle as you see on Mini-Eco.

You start with an empty Cereal box. One with out any damage.

Carefully open it along the seam. I used a knife so as not to rip it.

Then trace or draw a design and careful cut it out. I used a box cutter blade. Here I find it easier to use then scissors.

 I made the doors big enough that all his Fire trucks could fit through the doors.

Since this project was car themed I added a Auto Shop with garage door, mail slot and front door. (Jojo is the kids nickname.) On the second floor I added a balcony. We put some little men on it later and he rescued them with the fire truck ladders. I also added a bendable straw to the back drop as a Fire Pole. 

Here is a blurry action shot ( low camera Battery, my bad), the little man's hands actually fit perfectly around the fire pole and when his feet were up against the wall he could stay there!! I loved it!! And of course Jojo did too!

The scene after the daring rescue!

Taped to the book shelf.

This was a great Idea!! Jojo and I both had a blast. It is so simple and so much fun. On a functional note: the cereal box was a little flimsy and it easily would fall over. That problem was quickly solved with TAPE!! Thank the heavens for tape.  I fastened one side to the bookcase and on the other end I taped the base to the carpet and it work just fine.
It survived the first encounter with a toddler! Who knows how long it will last, but that doesn't matter, if he destroys it we can always make another. Now that he understands what it is and what it is made out of, next time we can make it together and he can choose the design and color it even!

Have fun making one yourself for the kid in your life.

Don't forget to check out Mini-Eco for more cool ideas!