Have you priced children's kitchen sets lately?

Pottery Barn Kid's Retro Kitchen

I have a four year old little girl. She is a girly-girl. She wants to cook in a kitchen like Mommy's. I thought we might go and get her one. Have you priced children's kitchen sets lately? They cost a small fortune!

I love the Pottery Barn Kids Retro kitchen set. It is extremely cute. But, guess how much this lovely set will "set" you back for the sink, ice box and oven? $747.00 with $45.00 in shipping. (It is currently on "special" for $649.00.) Can't you buy the real thing for around that much?

Large Pastel Kitchen from Target

My search continued. I found another wooden set at Target. It was o.k. It was not very realistic and pretty small. The price was much better at $139.99. Comparatively speaking it was a bargain... IF you have around $150.00 to sink (pun intended) into a kitchen that your child may or may not play with more than a week.

There had to be a cheaper option. I did not want a plastic one. They are all too small and made for much younger children. I was at a standstill. Where on earth can you find a reasonably cute kitchen set that does not cost an arm and a leg?

I found this on the Family Fun website:

Kitchen in a Box from Family Fun

Kitchen in a Box:

A cardboard box, gussied up as a play sink and stove, will send your toddler into pretend rapture --for real. In fact, the hours of play she'll get out of this sweet kitchen make it well worth an evening of cutting and painting. (For a simpler version, just tape the box closed, cut a hole for the bowl, and call it a sink. She'll still adore it.) Offer plain old rolled oats (which are safe to eat) and pint-size cookware for even more fun.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Large cardboard box (ours measures 14 by 18 by 26 inches)
Tacky glue
Additional flat cardboard (cut from a box is fine)
Scissors, craft knife, and pencil
Metal bowl with 1/2-inch lip
White paint, colored craft paint, and brushes (optional)
Cord or kitchen twine

Time needed: Afternoon or Evening

1. Seal the flaps of the box closed with glue.

2. Cut cabinet and oven doors, burners, and a faucet from the flat cardboard.

3. Turn the box on its side so you can lay the cabinet and oven doors on the front of the kitchen. Trace around them, then cut out 3 sides of each rectangle; leave the fourth side uncut to act as a hinge. Glue the freestanding doors on top of the hinged ones for durability.

4. Flip the box over and, on the top side of the kitchen, trace around the bowl's rim. Cut a hole 1 inch smaller than the diameter of that circle.

5. Cut a slot for the faucet. Use a sharp pencil or the craft knife to punch holes for the towel rack and door handles (you may need to work from both sides).

6. Paint the box white, if you like

7. Add the final touches: glue on the burners and faucet; paint on details such as stove knobs, hinges, and hot and cold water handles; lace cord through the holes, then knot it on the ends to make door handles and a towel rack. Finally, position the bowl in the sink hole and hang a dish towel from the rack.

This was my answer. Problem solved. Now I have to find some boxes! I bet it would be easy to make an icebox to match! Now this I can afford! Plus, if she gets tired of it in a few weeks... who cares? It is just a cardboard box!

I think I might do what another mom suggested and add jar lids for the range knobs and attach them with string so they turn. The possibilities are endless! Each time I look at my cardboard creations, I will remember that I saved over $700 with a little time and effort. Now that is frugal and fun!