DIY Children's Canopy

It's fun to play under a makeshift canopy.

Most children, at one time or another, have taken the cushions off the couch and draped them with blankets and sheets to create their own super secret play space. There's just something about being hidden in their own private space that makes imaginations run wild. One day it could be the underwater city of Atlantis, the next a secret mummy's tomb or maybe a spaceship flying at warp speed. There is no need to give up your living room everyday for play time. Create a portable kids canopy you can hang over the bed, in the corner of a room from a ceiling hook or even outside on a sturdy branch.

Things You'll Need

• 33 inch diameter toy hoop
• 70 by 54 inch felt
• Chalk
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• 720 by 1/8 inch wide ribbon
• 2 150 by 45 inch fabric
• Duct tape
• Pinking shears

Instructions

The Topper

1. 

   The toy hoop is a fun toy and helpful tool.

   Lay the felt out flat on your work surface and lie the toy hoop on top of it. Measure and mark a circle 6 inches outside the edge of the hoop with chalk.

2. Remove the toy hoop and cut the felt on the drawn line. Add a simple fringe to the edge by cutting into the fabric a couple inches all around the edge of the felt circle. Create a jungle or garden themed tent by cutting leaf shapes into the edge.

3. Find the center of the canopy topper and cut a small hole to feed the hanging loop through.

The Frame

1. Cut six 66-inch long pieces of ribbon and fold them all in half.

2. Take a piece of folded ribbon wrap the central fold around the hoop so you have a loop on one side and the loose ends of the ribbon on the other. Pull the ends of the ribbon through the loop and pull to secure. Repeat with all the remaining pieces of ribbon.

3. Arrange the ribbons around the toy hoop so they are spaced evenly. Gather all the ends of the ribbons in the middle of the hoop.

4. Create a hoop for hanging the canopy by folding over the ends of the ribbons and knotting them together.

The Canopy Walls

1. Cut out four 2 inch squares of duct tape. Mark the center of each length of fabric with chalk and stick a square of duct tape on the mark. Flip the fabric over and stick another square of duct tape aligned over the first.

2. Cut a 3/4 inch hole through the center of the tape on both pieces of fabric.

3. Take one length of fabric and drape it over the top of the toy hoop. Feed the ribbon loop through the hole in the duct tape. Drape the second fabric wall over the first forming an "X" and feed the ribbon loop through the duct tape hole.

4. Position the topper over the top of the fabric covered hula hoop and feed the ribbon loop through the center hole in the topper.

5. Hang from a ceiling hook or feed a length of ribbon through the loop and hang from a sturdy branch for an outdoor canopied play space.

Tips & Warnings

• To stop the fabric walls from fraying trim the cut edges with pinking shears or use an iron on binding on the edges.

References

• Family Fun: Cool Canopy
• Decorating Kid Rooms: Bed Canopy