Cardboard Ships

Apparently my girls aren’t the only ones obsessively reading or listening to the Chronicles of Narnia and then running around, recreating the scenes, British accents and all.

A post by Lorraine over at ikatbag came at the perfect time last week, just when I’d been feeling the need to work on a project with the girls, but wasn’t sure what it should be—something fun that would grab and keep their attention for a while. Narnian ships, made out of cardboard – pattern included – was just the project we needed!

We ended up with two ships, both of which departed from the design of the Dawn Treader in the story. Heidi’s had the dragon figurehead… but a red sail, decorated with a white Aslan.

And while Sophie’s sail was purple just like in the book, she wanted a mermaid at the front.

The scale of our insides was a little inconsistent – playmobile people make great captains at the helm…

…but are a little too big to fit into their quarters below deck.

To avoid getting small pieces stuck in those tiny quarters below, I made it so the whole floor could be lifted up.

All aboard!

Over the next few days, it was fun to see the girls add on – a treasure chest (filled with a crown, a “fancy pillow,” a wand, and a glass slipper among other things, some more decorations, beds, lockers and who knows what else.

Thanks Lorraine! You inspired not only me, but also a friend who visited, went home with my pattern pieces and some cardboard and made two for her girls too!