Shark House!

Saturday, 11 June 2016

Last week was really wet. The week before was really cold. So cold that there was ice on the road and my bike suddenly slipped out from under me during my morning commute (don’t worry I’m ok).  

So cold, that I worried about Pinto’s sleeping conditions. You see she sleeps in the laundry (much like Jett used to when he was a baby - heh heh!). Jett was in a cot, but Pinto is up on the bench, in a very open and largish dog bed.  So she doesn’t have walls and I imagine the cold air swirls around her. Also the laundry is probably the coldest room in the house and there’s a bit of a draft thought the cat door. So I decided she needed something cosier, which I could make as a fun craft project during the wet weekend which was the forecast bookend to the freezing cold work week.

I did some web research for home-made cat beds - there were lots of  options.. I considered weaving a basket from all our fabric straps (but I can’t really weave), I considered crocheting a basket (but I can’t crochet al all), I considered using wood with my enthusiastic yet patchy woodworking skills.  Then I came up with the perfect idea…  A paper machete shark bed.  I’d seen a commercial fabric version of these around the web, but nothing much like what I had in mind..

So.. needing my own pattern, I started with a sketch..  

 

Then I went to the art supplies shot and got some large pieces of cardboard - I figured I’d need something a bit better than cereal boxes - not too thick though -  when I made a piñata for Jett’s birthday party it was so strong after we exhausted all the kids we practically had to run it over with the car to break it open.
With the supplies purchased, the next challenge was the structure. I figured I needed to start out with a strong base..

 

Then I built the ‘bones’ up from the frame. I found using those pins which seperate was the best way to hold the structure together at this stage.

 

Then it was on to adding the ‘flesh’ which I did with strips of the lighter cardboard and wide masking tape.

 

 I taped on some old cut up ikea cups and then it was onto the first couple of layers of paper mache..

Then the final layer of white paper that I’d fished out of Denny’s recycling bin. I also painted it white so the top coat would go on nicely.

 Which meant it was ready to paint grey. Zali helped with this stage..

Then, using some free fleece blankets the kids had got when we flew Emirates Airlines to Norway, I sewed a puffy cushion centre and some ‘bumpers’ for the walls - so it was very cosy. I also sewed the teeth out of some leftover felt.

I added a bit more detailing in the paintwork with and voila! A Shark House for Pinto.. 


I only finished it on Thursday -so we were able to lure her into it for brief moments but she’s not completely comfortable in there yet.. hopefully she’ll come around I can get the perfect photo of a snoozing (and cosy) cat inside the sharks mouth! Until then I have these..

 
2016summary
Christmassy Photos Friday, 30 December 2016
Noosa - Day 5 Thursday, 15 December 2016
Noosa - Day 4 Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Noosa - Day 3 Monday, 12 December 2016
Noosa - Day 2 Sunday, 11 December 2016
Noosa - Day 1 Sunday, 11 December 2016
Being Bothered Pays Off. Sunday, 11 December 2016
Swimming tour of Brisbane part 2 Sunday, 11 December 2016
Paver Project Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Swimming tour of Brisbane Wednesday, 23 November 2016
The end of an era Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Snowvember Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Tramp-a-bag Monday, 31 October 2016
Mt Wellington Monday, 31 October 2016
Online Only Challenge Monday, 31 October 2016
3 Capes Monday, 10 October 2016
Packing Regrets Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Fantasy Amazing Race Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Before and After then After that #37 Monday, 3 October 2016
Before and After #36 Zali's Room Take 2 Monday, 3 October 2016
That's DR McComb to you.. Friday, 26 August 2016
'Mrs', 'Miss', or 'Dammed feminist'? Sunday, 14 August 2016
Who is really paying for the bake sale? Friday, 12 August 2016
Running Sunday, 31 July 2016
The Kettering Incident and Why I am the Smartest in the Room Friday, 29 July 2016
Before and After Sneak Peak Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Vacuum Cleaner Update Tuesday, 26 July 2016
How not to go to the movies Tuesday, 12 July 2016
How Not to Sell Vacuum Cleaners Monday, 11 July 2016
Melbourne Mini Break Monday, 27 June 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #35 Thursday, 23 June 2016
Treasure Chest Cake Thursday, 23 June 2016
Shark House! Saturday, 11 June 2016
Before and After #35 - CD Tower to Mirror Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Maths - it could happen to you. Thursday, 19 May 2016
Power Tools Tuesday, 17 May 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #35 Friday, 22 April 2016
Sheffield Rail Trail & Derby Thursday, 21 April 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #34 Wednesday, 20 April 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #31 & #32 & #33 Wednesday, 20 April 2016
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #29 & #30 Tuesday, 19 April 2016
Creatures of Habit Thursday, 7 April 2016
Let me count the ways.. Wednesday, 30 March 2016
Canberra 2016 Friday, 25 March 2016
Un armed.. Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Full day of activities Sunday, 13 March 2016
Dumped Saturday, 12 March 2016
Double Tromble Friday, 11 March 2016
Million Dollar Lane Wednesday, 9 March 2016
2nd International MFSC Tuesday, 8 March 2016
Tip Run Tuesday, 8 March 2016
Blackberry Season Thursday, 3 March 2016
Packed Lunches Wednesday, 2 March 2016
so yeah.. Sunday, 28 February 2016
Cradle Mountain Run Curse Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Last Pictures Tuesday, 9 February 2016
All the kids Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Overland Track - Day 7 Monday, 25 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 6 Monday, 25 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 5 Sunday, 24 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 4 Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 3 Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 2 Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 1 Monday, 18 January 2016
Overland Track - Day 0 Sunday, 17 January 2016
Slow Progress Thursday, 14 January 2016
Pakning på, opp og stå, ut og gå Monday, 11 January 2016