Toy Tree House

by Jodie Arellano
(Dixon, New Mexico)

I made this tree house last year for my sons Christmas or rather Santa commissioned it. I was pregnant at the time and didn't feel comfortable using the chain saw or saws all. So I just bought the pine rounds from the hardware store that are used for making lazy susans and used natural cut wood slices that are used for wood burning and for sale in the craft stores. All the other wood including cherry, apricot, pine, cedar root, aspen, cottonwood, and willow I found while hiking and exploring. Driftwood would work great if you live by a beach.

I used hemp twine to knot together the rope ladders. For the stairs
I made slices from a branch and screwed them together. Wood slices from a simple branch makes wonderful play cookies, money, etc.. and you can make buttons like this too.

Hopefully this Christmas we'll add a pully (which you can get at hardware store, used for blinds) and maybe a hammock. This tree house is so sturdy and my son can climb it and I am not worried. It was a great way to save a couple hundred bucks and make something way better!

Always drill a guide hole that is a bit smaller than your screw. Some wood is harder than other wood, for example if your using a piece of fruit wood (which is very hard), drill your guide hole and then put some dish soap on the screw so it won't break your screw!

This is my blog:
Lana Encantada