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Make It Easy:  Making my own cheap wall tent!  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 17 2007 : 7:40:13 PM
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Ladies! I had a brainstorm!
I am dying to have a wall tent- but buy a canvas one is way to expensive for me right now. So what oh what can I do? Make my own from materials on hand and a quick stop to the hardware store! I can do that! So here is my plan
I will make the frame out of white PVC pipe that I get the harware store to cut for me. It is $2.38 for a 10 ft section which I will have them cut in halves for me.
so I will need 5 10ft sections to make the walls. I will probably also buy one more section that I will have them cut to be 7 foot as a center pole. And instead of canvas- I will sew together some of these white sheets for the walls and white table cloths for the roof! So for between 20-30 dollars I will get my wall tent.
I think I will dig out the floor as well and then wet it down until it makes a crust. Where I am going to put it has nasty poky sedge grass. Perhaps I can get moss to grow inside like a carpet! I will plant sunflowers all around and try to get some mid-season flower steals! Oh I am so excited!! Yay!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Duchess
True Blue Farmgirl
109 Posts
Iowa
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2007 : 9:54:17 PM
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| Alee, it sounds like a deal,lol. The only thing I can see right off is that those poles need to go into the ground and if you cut them to 5' is that going to allow enough head room?? Also I hope you are in an area with not much wind. I put up one of those cool tent type patio covers and the wind took off with it. Of course I live in Iowa and we have wicked winds. With longer poles I think you should be good to go. Enjoy and have fun, love the sunflowers |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2007 : 10:48:30 PM
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Yeah, I want one, but I think that is too much for my plate this year but I can plan for next year......
Enjoying the moments. |
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Duchess
True Blue Farmgirl
109 Posts
Iowa
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2007 : 05:51:39 AM
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Hi Carol,
Keep your eye out at the stores for sales, mine was pretty neat and got it on sale for $35.00 at Wal Mart and it had been over $100.00. Sometimes we hit the right time and place, ta da. Also check yard sales and thrift shops, I have gotten some good deals. Good luck |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2007 : 10:29:16 AM
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Hi Duchess-
I don't think I will sink the poles into the ground as I want it to be portable. I will probably buy some of those stakes that look like a U and stake down the ground level frame whenever I put it up on grass. Usually Idaho doesn' have too bad of winds, but if it is easy to put up and take down, I could always take it down for a wind storm. Who knows... It might not work...but I think it will be fun to try! :)
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2007 : 10:31:03 AM
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Oh and I am 5ft tall so with the center pole lifting the roof a bit then I think it will be high enough since I will mostly be sitting or lying down in it. I might change my mind and make them cut the poles to 7 ft all the way around and then just eliminate the need for the center pole. We'll see! Ideas are still perculating! LOL
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Duchess
True Blue Farmgirl
109 Posts
Iowa
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2007 : 10:40:02 AM
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| good for you Alee, I love being inventive and am always looking for ways to use what I have. You know that old saying "Nothing ventured, Nothing gained" With free sheets, inexpensive poles and plenty of imagination you can work wonders. How about Velcros to secure the sheets to the poles, that way if you need to wash them it will be easy. Or using craft paint to paint clouds and sunflowers,lol. I have been collecting downed branches to attempt a wattle fence I saw in Mother Earth Magazine. We have section of drive that the snow really piles up in, so am looking at windbreaks that won't cost much. I am also going to make arches and pergolas from the branches and grow roses and morning glories on them. I love using things in different ways. Again, best of luck and have fun |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2007 : 11:04:33 AM
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I bet your wattle fence will look great! Good idea about the velcro! I have some paint that would be fun to decorate with- but that might have to wait till next year. I am getting pretty busy with all the different projects that I am doing! LOL
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Mikki
True Blue Farmgirl
1510 Posts
Mikki
Austin
Indiana
USA
1510 Posts |
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sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2007 : 5:37:15 PM
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Hi Mikki!
Like Sherone mentioned- MaryJane's site has some pictures of them. She also featured them in her first book. They are a great way to either set up a permanent tent in your back yard, or to have a more sturdy tent for camping if you are planning on camping for a while. I know a lot of people buy them for ice fishing, re-enactment camping, and things like that. If my wall tent idea turns out okay, then I might use it for shading my booth at the Farmer's market.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
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Photobugs
True Blue Farmgirl
363 Posts
Pamela
Post Falls
Idaho
USA
363 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2007 : 6:13:46 PM
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You can also check out page 70 of the current (Aug)issue of Country Living to see MJ's wall tent in there. You can only see part of it. But let me tell you from seeing these first hand...they are great. Everyone should try to put one up in their yard.
But Mikki you have your own version, your cabin is wonderful! You have gone way beyond wall tents with that!
Pamela
http://homesteadmercantile.blogspot.com/ |
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Make It Easy: Making my own cheap wall tent! |
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Making my own cheap wall tent!
