Make your own furniture out of cardboard

icola Enrico Stäubli is a self-described "architect, designer and bike messenger" based in Switzerland who believes that modern design should be affordable for everyone. So Stäubli started www.foldschool.com, a Web site providing free patterns and instructions for making your own foldable cardboard furniture for children.

All you need to make Stäubli's origami-like creations is some corrugated cardboard, adhesive, a ruler and cutting tools. The patterns can be downloaded from his Web site and printed out on your home printer. (Make sure your paper tray is loaded: the chair pattern alone fills 54 sheets.) Once the pages are printed, you join them together with tape to form one large pattern, and use spray glue to adhere the pattern to the cardboard.

(You can buy sheets of cardboard or just use old boxes.) Then you cut along the lines, fold, assemble and glue.

The Web site includes plans for a stool, rocker and chair. The pieces are really attractive, and can be customized by your child using crayons or paint. (Just don't decorate the seat or back if you want to keep clothes clean.) Construction time takes an estimated 3½ to 5½ hours, depending on the complexity of the piece, making this a good project for a rainy day (or week).

This is also environmentally friendly furniture, since the pieces can be recycled when your child outgrows them. And if you like the way your furniture came out, you can send a photo to Stäubli--he posts pictures of readers' chairs on the Web site.

(About.com)