Transform a corner of your yard into a playtime paradise for kids with quick-and-easy projects that include a toy car road, a sandbox and more.
Car Road
Pave the way to backyard fun with a miniature road for toy cars. Made with edging blocks, it’s so simple your kids can help you build it.
Step 1. Lay out a series of edging blocks end to end to form a mini road through a corner of your yard.
Step 2. Pick up one block at a time and, using a caulk gun, apply landscape adhesive to one end, then adhere it to the end of the previous block. Repeat for all edgers.
Step 3. Cut a roughly 1/2″-wide by 2″-long rectangle out of a plastic “Garage Sale” sign. Then, cut the bristles of a chip brush to about 1/2″ long. Use the empty rectangle in the Garage Sale sign as a stencil to paint “lane divider” lines on each edger. Let dry.
Step 4. Want a place to put toy cars when your kids aren’t using them? Turn a gray patio stone into a toy car parking lot.
Toy Car Tunnel
Build a cool tunnel for your kids’ toy cars out of PVC pipe.
Step 1. Saw the PVC pipe to the desired length (our tunnel is 2-1/2′ long).
Step 2. Apply silicone sealant to the bottom of the pipe and attach it to the top of the edging block “road.” Backfill soil or mulch over the top of the pipe, leaving a few inches exposed at the ends.
Step 3. Attach river rocks to the pipe ends with silicone; let dry. Gently backfill soil or mulch up the rocks.
Easy-to-Make Sandbox
What kid doesn’t love a sandbox? This super-easy project only takes a few hours to make—and provides countless hours of fun.
Step 1. Determine the size of the sandbox you want to build, then dig a pit about 12″ deep.
Step 2. Using a utility knife, trim pond liner to the shape of the pit, leaving about 12″ of liner around the pit perimeter.
Step 3. Make a series of small punctures in the liner for drainage.
Step 4. Fill the pit with play sand.
Step 5. Use edging blocks to anchor the liner around the perimeter of the pit. Using a caulk gun, apply landscape adhesive to each of the blocks so they adhere to one another and to the liner.
This article is excerpted from Lowe’s Creative Ideas magazine. For more information, please visit www.lowes.com.
