domesticgoddess

After 11 years, my trusted pressure cooker broke down. Time for a new pressure cooker!

Tahdah! A gift from my mother in law which she ordered all the way from Taiwan!

I didn’t want to throw the box without using it first so I decided to transform it into a toy oven for my boys!

You will need:

Masking tape

Packing tape

Double sided tape

Box cutter

Glue gun

4 plastic bottle caps

4 old cds

12×12 inch paper (I used scrapbook paper for this)

4 brass plated paper Fasteners or 4 paperclips

Extra cardboard to make a shelf

Kid safe Paint

Time from start to finish: 1 hour by yourself . 1-2 hours if the kids are “helping” you.

I drew a rectangle on the front side of the box. I measured 1.5inches from the sides of the box and 3.5 inches top and bottom.

And another rectangle in the middle of that rectangle. I measured 1.5″ from the sides of the bigger rectangle and and 2.5″ from the top and bottom of the bigger rectangle.

Cut with the box cutter.

DO NOT CUT THE BOTTOM OF THE BIG RECTANGLE. This will be the oven door.

Get your extra cardboard and measure to the bottom of the box.

Mark and fold.

I made a little slit along the fold to make it fold cleanly.

Make a diagonal cut at the corners.

Then just fold and tape together with packing tape.

Put inside the oven and position it. Secure with packing tape.

Close the bottom of the box using masking tape.

Tape and cover sharp edges with masking tape.

Stick a decorative paper on the top part of the oven. I used scrapbook paper.

And double sided tape.

Did the same for the old cds.

Now, make the knobs using plastic bottle caps and paper Fasteners.

Glue together with a glue gun.

Then just fasten to the oven. This will allow for the knobs to turn 🙂

Made a handle by gluing 5 pcs of cardboard together. Cut into any shape you want. And put together with a glue gun.

Cover the hole with clear plastic. Use whatever you have at home. I used the plastic from a pack of sticker paper.

Then I added some more details. I used more scrap cardboard to make a backsplash.

And added a shiny drawer liner to cover the oven shelf.

And a little to the backsplash.

Then my Eldest son and I painted it with quick drying kid friendly paint.

Finished product!

Kid tested and approved.

When on vacation, I always try to squeeze in something educational for the kids.

That’s how we ended up at the Hong Kong Science museum. They are open M-F from 10am- 7pm. Closed Thursdays. FREE admission on Wednesdays. That’s when we went ofcourse! Free admission!!! Woohoo!

A half day at the museum was more than enough for exploration and discovery. It’s an interactive museum. MEANING: Tons for little hands to touch and manipulate. My 6-year-old and my 15-month-old were definitely busy, busy, busy!
Teo enjoyed looking at all the little critters.

Tinkering with the machines.

Figuring out how the ball floats and moves.

He loved the mirror maze. Five Teos! God help us! Hahaha😂

Optical illusion. Lots of people having their pictures taken here. Naturally, we had to check out the hype for ourselves!

Caleb enjoyed the exhibit on power and electricity. WARNING: you might experience some mild electric shock while interacting with the displays. All for good fun ofcourse!

Our favorite exhibit was the solar powered planes. You use a mirror to reflect light onto the planes’ solar panelled wings to make them move. How cool is that!?! Boys will be boys. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time here.

The puzzles exhibit was our last stop before leaving the museum. As you could see, everyone had fun while learning something (Yes, even the hubby Hahaha! ).