pop up fairy tent

[Adasmommy]

First I thought I wanted to make a canopy like the ones that are suspended by a ring and can hang around a bed. Now I'm thinking what I really want for dd(6) is a tent and I'm thinking of cheating and buying a cheap pop up tent, and embellishing it to make it a fairy hide out.

I'm hoping that we will be living in a tiny travel trailer soon, traveling around the country. I'm thinking a pop up tent will fold up flat will take up next to no space, but when we're parked, dd can take it outside and have her own private space (because the trailer won't be big on private space). However, since I don't know for sure how long it will take us to rent our house and get into a trailer, I like that the tent will also be good if we're still living in our house, for indoor or outdoor play.

I like the idea of being able to use the tent in the rain, and I'm not sure how I can add on fabrics, flowers, and other decorations without causing leaks in the waterproof materials. Any ideas on that?

Do pop up tents fold up really flat? And they pop up really easily, right--as in, dd could do it herself?

Any other bright ideas for my project or specific tent recommendations?

[rcr]

Wish I could find the link, but I saw a really beautiful one made out of old Umbrellas (the fabric, not the meal parts.

[jillybeans]

we use the playhut brand pop up tents. They *do* leak with a heavy rain, but for the most part keep out mild showers. I use clothespins and playsilks and they clip them on the doorways. I don't embellish them because they get SO much use (four little girls here!) But stick-on velcro is a great solution to not harm the fabric.

And yes, they DO fold flat. Mine fold down into about a 15" circle. You have to put them in a bag or under a bed or they pop back up though.

[sapphire_chan]

They also sell waterproof gazebos pretty small these days, so how about getting one of those as well for putting over the tent? Protection from rain and hot sun.

There is sealant stuff available too, for putting over the seams of tents for extra waterproofing.

And, many tents have toggle thingies on the inside, that could be used for stringing up lines so that pretties could be clipped and hung. Obviously, that option would mean your dd would need more set up time before enjoying her tent, but it might be a nice option before you guys start traveling.

[Mbella]

I saw this in a catalog yesterday.  It is cute, but I don't think it is waterproof.  

http://www.cptoy.com/cgi-bin/pf.sh/2.0/product.htm?pf_id=NIN-98L&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=free&utm_campaign=Updated20101104&utm_term=HOM