I had a very productive Thanksgiving weekend. I managed to finish all the gifts that I had planned on making. One of which is this play mat for Violet. It's made of two sheets of 2x4 1/4" masonite. I made it to go along with her christmas gift which is the big Calico Critters house. The Calico Critters web site shows all the houses and playsets set in surroundings with trees and roads and I thought that would be really cute to make. Her play mat has a lake with a creek that will have a bridge (haven't made that yet), a small pond, grass, a rock path, bushes, and two large trees. I used leftover house paint from our many projects to paint the roads, sidewalks and water. The grass and bushes are wool felt.
This is the house she is getting.
She has the bunny family and small house now and will bet getting something Calico Critters related from everybody for xmas.
Here is what the mat looks like with the small house. Super cute when you see the house and trees set on the mat.
She will be most excited about getting the car though. Without being prompted we've asked Violet what she's going to ask Santa for Christmas. Each time she replies that she wants a car for her bunnies. She explains the car she has now is to small and her bunnies don't fit and fall out. She's been shoving her bunnies in my 1970's FisherPrice school bus and gets mad when they won't all fit or fall over.
So on Christmas morning we'll have the house all set up on the mat with the furniture, car, trees, her small house and bunnies all ready to play.
