Steps to Build this Doll Bed

Here's how we cranked these cute little doll beds out -

Jigsawed the headboards and footboards out.  Use a good sharp blade, preferably a scrolling blade for the curved cuts at the top.  Once you get one cut you can use it as a pattern for the rest.

Once you have the headboards and footboards cut out, sand the jigsawed edges.  It will be tight getting in some spots, so consider hand sanding with just sand paper.

Another trick with arches is to round the outer edges so it's not as crisp ... and your less than perfect arch cuts aren't as distiguishable  ... not that any of my cuts are, uh, less than perfect.  Hahaha!

So once the headboards and footboards are all done and sanded, we moved on to the siderails.  The siderails are just 1x3s (what I'm using is the cheap whitewood furring strips, costing about $1.50 at good ole Orange).

We are pretty spoiled to have the Kreg Foreman automatic pocket hole machine in our shop - it is awesome.  Seriously - beg for one this Christmas.  

Since the doll beds I've made have always been immediately "tested" and jumped on and layed in by the child itself, glue is essential. 

And then we attached the aprons on the inside through the predrilled pocket holes with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws.  This hides all screw holes.

Flipped it over and added the footboard,

Looking cute!  Now we just need to add the mattress support slats -

Glue,

Pocket holes on the underside,

Done!  

NOTE: In the plans I recommend a third center support slat just for added structural support.  

No-Sew Mattress Tutorial

Now for the no-sew mattress tutorial -

I purchased a 22" x 22" x 2" chair pad foam insert for $7 at Joanns and cut it into three pieces to fit inside the bed.  I also cut three pieces of scrap 1/4" plywood (what you see is actually scrap wall paneling - use what you got) to fit inside the bed rails.

Then I just cut a piece of fabric about 3" bigger all the way around the foam piece.

And then layed the plywood on top of the foam, pulled the fabric around the foam and plywood and stapled on the back.  Sorry I choose white on white here - it's a little hard to see.