Chestnuts roasting on an cardboard fire...

Have you ever seen these little cardboard fireplaces people put up at Christmas?

Well, I hadn't either until a few weeks ago when my neighbor expressed a love for them.

If you know me, I have two weaknesses (more if you ask my husband) One is that I think- NO, I know, that I can make anything. Arrogant? Yes. But only in that respect!! I think negatively about everything else about myself and you can take that to the bank!

My second weakness is I'm a sucker when I hear that you want something rare and handmade. I will move heaven and Earth to make it for you. That is how this whole fireplace came about. My neighbor, as mentioned above, told me a few weeks ago that  her uncle had one of these cardboard fireplaces when she was a little girl and that she always wanted one just like it.

You see, I can't hear that and not want to make that dream come true. I also couldn't just buy one online. I mean really, that would be like the cake boss sending little Debi cupcakes to his kids school birthday celebration. NO, this one had to be lovingly hand-crafted by me. So when my daughter's bunk-bed arrived in super big boxes, I set to work right away crafting a hand-painted cardboard fireplace.

It was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be. I just mentally high-fived myself!