What child (or adult for that matter!) doesn't like playing "make believe" every so often?  Whether you're playing a grocery store clerk, lemonade stand attendant or maybe you like playing with puppets... all you need is a little playhouse. Frank was on Steven and Chris to show us how he made his nieces their very own theatre. Read on for the step by step instructions on how to make your kids their very own playhouse. 



You need:

Tools
Drill & bits
Table Saw or Router & Table
Mitre Saw



Materials:

1"x4" pine--24 ln ft.
1"x3" pine--24 ln ft
Wood screws--2 ½" wood
4 hinges--butt hinges or garden gate hinges
Carpenters Glue

Breakdown

This is built in three sections - 2 side panels and 1 center panel (frame and panel construction).

Center panel - is 46"x 40" wide frame with an opening of approximately 12" x 33" wide (for puppet/window area).

• Cut four 1x4 rails at 40" long (two of these pieces will be the side rails and the other two pieces will be the top and bottom rails).
  
• Cut panel to 34"wide by 27" high.
• On tablesaw (or router and table) pass the rails through on the short face to create the dado at a depth of 1/2" (or channel cut...this cut allows the panel to slide in).
  

Side panels - are 46"x 14" frames with 1/8" ply.

• Cut four 1"x3" rails down to 46" in length (side rails) - mitre the ends - and cut four 1"x3" rails to 14" in length (top and bottom rails) - mitre the ends.
• Cut 2 panels to 42" long x 10" wide.
• On tablesaw (or router table) pass the rails through (on the short face) to create the dado at a depth of 1/2" (or channel cut...this cut allows the panel to slide in).
  

• Assemble all components (rails and panels) using glue and screws--don't forget to pre-drill your components.
• Once all panels are assembled, they are interconnected using hinges.
  
• A piece of 1/8" ply is cut and used as at the top rail of the center structure to identify (signage) the project i.e.; playhouse, lemonade stand, etc...
• Also, a piece of 1"x3" pine is cut to size to fit in the opening , to create a ledge (Stage Floor).
  

**The two side panels are put together with using "mitre joints", whereas the center frame is put together using "butt joints."

• You can stain or paint to finish.
• A regular or standard mini curtain rod can be installed to hang the curtain.
• Installing mini lights (purchased at a hobby/craft store) is also an option.
• Maybe paint the front centre part with chalkboard paint to make it easy to change up the signage or draw fun pictures.