Yo Dawg, I Heard You Like Customizing.

[feelysonheelys]

...so I'm planning a project to make a playset into a piece of customizing/restoring equipment, so you can customize while you customize. (Do people still enjoy the Xzibit Meme? It's old enough to be semi-ironically back in style, right?)

I've had good fortune with Salon 40 Sunfading in my window, but I know I can get a more efficient job done with a UV Chamber. I've been meaning to built one as a hobby project for a little while now, but I've kept putting it off. So today when I was perusing ShopGoodwill for potential bait ponies, I spotted a worn-down Show Stable that flipped a switch in my head.

Not too shabby, but in need of some TLC. Then I remembered how Truly_Scrumptious decorated their UV box as a little hotel, and how I'd replied with the idea of a Day Spa exterior for my own. All these thoughts snapped into place, along with the fact that the Show Stable's roof can be easily lifted for access, and...

Well. I think I've found my next project. I'm SO excited to share the steps of this journey! The stable itself will really just be the exterior for the box inside, but I aim to make it truly one of a kind.

 

[Twinkle-eye]

This sounds adorable!

 

[NanoRuby]

That's such a cute idea, I'd love to see what it looks like as you work on it and when you're done!

 

[BethMcBeth]

Interesting thought if it’s functional go for it.

 

[Jellybean]

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

 

[Gingerbread]

Oh, I love the idea!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see how it turns out

 

[Truly_Scrumptious]

OMG I love this idea (and am stoked to see that my UV box helped inspire!). I have a show stable in poor shape, and I've been wanting to try to customize it in some way for years, if I can't restore (not sure if restoring it is worth it or practical for me, but maybe). I'll be following, I'm super interested to see what you will do with it and maybe it will get me to do something with my own Show Stable

 

[feelysonheelys]

I went real DIY with it and made the reflective surfaces out of cardboard with aluminum foil. They're removable, too-- that way I can alter things as needed.

Exterior renovations are chugging along. I removed the decal to replace it with a custom sign later, and I've started some painting. It's not ALL going to be purple, just this entrance and some accents. It gives the roof some more detail, too. I'm winging the design a little bit, but it's a lot of fun!

As for the UV element, I got some stick-on USB light bars at Walmart and stuck 'em on the inside of the roof. They can be removed and replaced as necessary. Here you can see Cosmic Candy feeling fresh after having some discoloration treated, waiting on her friend Disembodied Head of Sugarberry, who is getting a facial.

 

[Twinkle-eye]

So cuuute! Get in there, ponies!

 

[Gingerbread]

lovin' this idea! What if you printed out some pony pictures and taped/glued them to the area inbetween the foiled cardboard and outside windows so from the outside sides it looks like ponies inside through the windows?!? Maybe find some beauty parlor type pics? That would be cute!

 

[feelysonheelys]

lovin' this idea! What if you printed out some pony pictures and taped/glued them to the area inbetween the foiled cardboard and outside windows so from the outside sides it looks like ponies inside through the windows?!? Maybe find some beauty parlor type pics? That would be cute!

Excellent idea! I knew I needed to find something to put in the windows-- can't let it just be the backsides of the cardboard. Maybe I should stage photos myself, make some pictures of ponies in my collection getting spa treatments.

 

[Twinkle-eye]

I want to do this too

 

[feelysonheelys]

I want to do this too

By all means, feel free to hop on this and make it a bandwagon. I wonder what other playsets would be easy to convert like this... Aside from "whatever I find cheap on secondhand sites" of course.