- 1). Cut the wood paneling so it's the same height as the bed frame with the bed springs and mattress on top. Sand the cut edges of the wood smooth.
- 2). Cut two panels so they are the same length as the bed plus 2 inches. Twin beds are 75 inches long. Cut two more panels that are either 30 inches or 35 inches long, depending on how long you want the bow -- front end -- of the pirate ship to be.
- 3). Paint all the cut paneling dark brown so it looks like a ships hull. Let it dry. Paint the wood strips beige. Let them dry.
- 4). Push the bed away from the wall so you have room to get behind it.
- 5). Lay the long panels along each side of the mattress edge. Get behind the bed. The bed acts to steady the panels and keep them the correct distance apart as you work. Attach the long panels to a 1-inch-by-1-inch strip of wood that is horizontal to the floor. Use a straight bracket that has two holes. Place one hole over the long panel and one hole over the strip of wood and screw in. The first strip should be about 12 inches above the floor. Attach an additional 1-inch-by-1-inch strip of wood about 18 inches above the floor.
- 6). Attach the 96-inch-long 1-inch-by-1-inch strip of wood vertically to the other two strips about 19.5 inches from the sides of the bed for a twin bed. This is the mast for the sail of the pirate ship. It will also hold the pirate flag. Screw the upright vertical strip into each horizontal strip.
- 7). Push the bed back against the wall.
- 8). Lay the short panels so they butt up against the long panels at the bottom of the bed.
Attach the long panels to the short panels at the bottom and top using door hinges. Hold the door hinge against the panel and screw it tightly. Attach the two short panels together to form a point. Attach in two places on each short panel by using two additional door hinges. - 9). Drill three sets of holes in each short panel about two inches from the point. The holes should line up. The first set of holes should be six inches from the floor, the second, 18 inches from the floor, and the last set, about three inches from the top of the panels. Place the 4-foot-long strip of 1-inch-by-1-inch wood inside the point made by the short panels. Tie the strip against the wood using brown shoelaces or twine.
- 10
Measure the space between the head of the bed and the point at the bow of the bed frame you've just constructed. Cut a triangle of cloth so it is 3 feet wide at one end and as long as the bed frame. Cut three strips of cloth about 12 inches long and 3 inches wide. Sew the middle of one strip to the pointed end of the triangle. Two ends will hang free. Sew the middle of another strip of cloth at the bottom of the 3 foot long end and another at the top. You've now made a sail. - 11
Tie the 3-foot end of the sail to the long strip of wood at the head of the bed. Leave 12 inches at the top of that strip for the pirate flag. Tie the tapered end to the short strip of wood at the foot of the bed frame or bow of the boat. - 12
Add a purchased pirate flag to the top of the mast, and you're finished.
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