busy board...

I am so not ready for another week to start, but now that's its' Monday, 

I don't really have much of a choice right?!

But I am super excited to share with you our newest little project.

B U S Y   B O A R D !

what the heck is a busy board?!

My thoughts exactly when I heard about them.

The best description...it's a board, with stuff on it!

I know, seems/sounds super lame right?! WRONG!

Its a board, with cool stuff on it, to help with fine motor skills, and to [try] and keep the little ones "busy" for more than a few minutes.

Like this...

via Pinterest

or this...

via Pinterest

or even this...

via Pinterest 

I've been seeing these "busy boards" floating around Pinterest and etsy lately and there was no way I was going to pay someone to make one, so the husband and I went to work!

Now, before we begin, this was by no means a "cheap/inexpensive" project, so don't go in thinking this is going to be a $5, 5 minute, project like I did..."hardware" is expensive! But it's what my little guy loves, so I sucked up the price and just did it...and by the looks and sounds of things, Hudson is going to be entertained for more than a few seconds with this thing!

We went to Home Depot and browsed the hardware section...anything that flipped, latched, spun, opened, closed, or made a sound...I think we bought it. 

I found this 2 foot round piece of wood at Home Depot...already cut, and already smooth [which meant no sanding, so I was sold instantly!] for $7 - can't beat that!

[excuse the phone pictures!]

I decided to paint it black, well because I have a thing for black and Hudson doesn't care!

[I am incredibly impatient when it comes to paint, so out came the hair dryer!]

Things got a little messy, but I set everything out, placed it how I wanted, and got out the drill.
Carabiener
Light switch
Wheel
Hooks
Combination lock
Small Peg Board [nails and rubber bands]
A few different types of locks
[Door Chain, Sash Lock, door Security Guard, Barrel Bolt,] 

the light switches were the hardest, and I didn't even know where to begin, so out came the hubby to drill out holes in the board to let the light switches sit flat on the board.

Okay, so it's not all finished but I couldn't want to put it on the blog. 

I will be putting a little door, with a hinge, and knob at the top for Hudson to open.

But here is the [semi] finished project!

I love it.

Hudson loves it. 

My sanity loves it.

And it was all completely worth it!

Can't wait to see the little "door" on the top, to make it complete!