Colorado Springs Real Estate Facts & Fun

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Building a Children's Teepee

Remember as a kid building forts and tents in the living room only to have to take them down by the time Dad came home? There was once a time my brother and I made a tent that took up the entire living room and dining room area. That night, Mom and Dad slept in our tent with us. After that, they would find cardboard boxes for us to use instead. We made cardboard hotels and houses then.

Relive that magic with your own children by building them a play teepee to set up indoors on the rainy days and outdoors on the nicer days. Particularly great for Colorado kids wanting to play outside, but not wanting red, burned skin.

You will need: 6-6 foot bamboo poles, 3 sturdy rubber bands, 3 yards of 60-inch wide painters canvas (or other colorful fabric if you want), Fabric pencil or marker if you want to make your own designs on the tent, Scissors, Craft Paint and brushes (again if you want to make your own designs), straight pins, 6 plastic 1 1/2 inch rings, Embroidery floss, Sewing needle, 12 large grommets and grommet kit, 3 yards of ribbon.

Take all six bamboo poles in your hand at once. Wrap three rubberbands around the top of the poles about four inches down. Stand the poles up and separate them so they stand alone in a teepee shape
Lay the canvas fabric out flat. Fold it in half lengthwise. Then fold in half diagonally so it forms a triangle. With a fabric marker or pencil draw a half-circle on the top of the triangle. Draw a matching smaller half-circle at the bottom.

Cut along the lines you drew for the half-circles. Cut away the excess fabric. Unfold the fabric and lay out flat. Decorate the canvas fabric with paint as you wish. Let the paint dry.

Drape the fabric over the bamboo posts and position so it fits all the way around. Use straight pins to hold in place. Measure eight inches up from the bottom of the fabric and place a straight pin in place to mark the spot. Do this for the material along all six posts. Remove the fabric from the posts and place on a flat surface. Sew plastic rings into place with embroidery floss where the straight pins were placed.

Measure down an inch from the top edge of the teepee fabric and an inch inward and make a mark with a fabric pencil. Make a total of six marks two inches apart down the side of the teepee. Repeat on the opposite side of the teepee entrance flap. These marks are for the grommets.

Cut the holes for the grommets and set in place. Lace ribbon through the grommet holes. Place the fabric over the bamboo poles. Stick the bottom of the bamboo poles through the plastic rings on the inside of the canvas fabric. Tighten the ribbon and tie in a bow to hold the fabric in place.

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Kelly Young Realtor

About the Author: Kelly Young, GRI

Kelly is an Associate Broker with Red Rock Realty.  She has over 12 years experience in Real Estate in the Colorado Springs and Front Range region of Colorado. She represents buyers and sellers of real estate buying homes, land for sale, mountain getaways.   Specific areas include:  Black Forest, Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Divide, Falcon, Downtown, Manitou Springs, Monument, Old Colorado City, Westside, Woodmen Hills and Woodland Park. You can reach her at 719-226-0126 or by clicking "email the author" above.

0 comments • Kelly Young ~ Colorado Springs Real Estate ~ 719-226-0126 • June 11 2011 09:40AM