Looks like a great day to sit near a window and enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face.
Meet Lalka: Enjoying her new window seat with a view of the barn and her new catnip stuffed dangly toys…
Fun!
A quick trip to the hardware store for brackets and screws and we were able to get started. Lots to choose from. We chose the shortest gray ones for this project. Bri made a window seat too. Hers is from scratch, mine uses an old breakfast tray. Tutorials for both are shown below.
TRAY TURNED CAT WINDOW PERCH
Materials:
Old Tray
Pillow
Shelf Brackets
Screws
Optional: Line tray with scrapbook paper and secure with Decoupage. I used vintage wall paper. New pillow cover. I used an old pillow and leftover fabric scrap. I also used scrap fabric, stuffing, ribbon and cat nip to make some toys attached with an eye screw.
Here’s what I did (using the optional steps mentioned above):
1. I sanded and scuffed up an old tray. I cut wallpaper to fit inside and secured to the bottom using Decoupage. Let dry.
2. Using left over fabric, I sewed an envelope pillow cover for an old pillow to use as a cushion.
Cut fabric. Allow an extra 1/2 inch on the top and bottom. Triple the side of the width of the pillow.
You’ll have a large rectangle. My pillow is approx. 12 x 18 inches. My fabric was cut to an approx. 13 x 54 inches.
The short sides of the fabric: One edge of my fabric is the selvage end. I sewed a hem on the other end.
One end is hemmed. One end is the selvage (or hem both ends if no selvage).
Hem side:
Fold fabric. Edges should be on top (back side up/out) and be near the middle. Anywhere in the middle works.
I want my selvage end to be inside, the hemmed side out. Make sure selvage is the top folded piece.
Pin and sew both long edges. Reinforce over hem/selvage part of seams.
Flip right side out and insert pillow.
3. I drilled a hole and used an eye screw for attaching catnip stuffed toys on ribbon (see toys below).
4. Measure and mark where the brackets will go. Pre-drill holes.
Our windows are not framed in this room and the tray is a perfect fit underneath the sash.
5. Attach bottom screws of shelf brackets.
6. Hold tray in place (my tray fit perfectly under the window) and mark where holes for short screws need to be inserted into the tray. Pre-drill holes.
7. Attach tray to shelf bracket with short screws.
8. Loop ribbon toys through eye screw.
How it looks from underneath…
Lalka loves her new space…
She’s a big girl for 1 year old. Perfect for watching for birds and squirrels or snuggle in a ball in the sun.
Catnip Stuffed Toys
Here’s what we did:
1. Make toy patterns and trace onto scrap fabric. I made a fish, bird and mouse.
2. Double fabric with right sides together and cut out shapes.
3. Cut a piece of ribbon. Mine are between 2-3 ft. Grab ends to find center. Hold center and start rolling ribbon.
4. Pin ribbon roll between two sides (right sides facing each other) of fabric. Ends should be sticking out past fabric.
5. Sew around shape, leave an opening for stuffing. I reinforced (back and forth) over the ribbon to make it more durable for pulling/playing. Sew close to the edge but be sure to grab both pieces of fabric. Snip curves.
6. Turn right side out. Alternate stuffing and catnip
7. Hold open edge together, making sure edges are tucked in. Sew closed and continue sewing a border around the entire shape.
8. All done. I fed the top of the ribbon loop through the eye screw and secured animals to hang from cat tray/window seat.
EASY DIY CAT WINDOW PERCH
Bri made one for her cats too, we actually cut a board to fit the window sill…
Layout batting and fabric under board and cut to size, allowing fabric and batting to wrap on under side.
Wrap in batting, starting with stapling in the center of each side and working way to corners.
Cut away excess.
Repeat to cover in fabric.
Bri covered a piece of cardboard with wrapping paper and stapled it to cover raw edges.
Follow steps 3-8 above under TRAY to CAT WINDOW PERCH.
Bri’s cats love it!
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