How to Make Grace’s Bakery

How to Make Grace’s Bakery

First of all can I just say, WHEW!  This was a project and a half!  But, with patience and help from my awesome hubby, the Bakery replica is now complete.  This post is only to show you how to make the bakery.  And by Bakery, I mean the shell of it.  This is just the complete structure.  I have been working on this since the day I got Grace’s real French Bakery, January 1st.  I have made this design that I am sharing with you, but I have not finished the details yet.  So, I am now working on the painting and the fine tuning of the artwork on and in the bakery.  I will do a completely separate post of what comes with the Bakery on the inside, such as pastries, wall art, and furniture.  In the meantime, you can get busy making the structure too!

I am really excited about this project.  The original French Bakery from American Girl is priced at $500.  That is a lot of money!  I understand that not everyone can spend that.  But I also understand how much everyone loves this new piece of American Girl furniture regardless of the price.  My intentions with this project are to make sure that those who cannot purchase it, can at least make it for a fraction of the cost.  Please keep in mind that this is still a big project, so it’s not cheap even to make.  So far, the project has cost me  $65 for lumber, $5 for trim moulding, $72 for hinges (the best kind), $15 for plexiglass, $2 for knobs and the wood glue, nails etc. I had on hand.  That’s about $160 so far depending on what you have on hand.  I will be able to do the inside of the bakery for under $100.  That will be the total, about half the cost of the real thing!  For such a big piece, that’s amazing!

Please let me know what you think.  Leave a comment with any questions that you have.  You can also message me directly through the American Girl Ideas Facebook page.  Also, please post the pictures of your bakery on the Facebook page!  I love to see other ideas.

***Important***Please do not post, upload or sell these plans.  These plansare property of AmericanGirlIdeas.com and are offered here for free.  If you want to share these plans with a Facebook group, website, blog, or friend, you can simply link back to this post.  Thank you.

Shopping list:

1 – 3/4’’ plywood @ 2’ x 4’
4 – 1/2’’ plywood @ 2’ x 4’
1 – 1/4’’ @ 8 1/2’’ x 3’’
Wood Glue
1 – 3/4’’ Nails for 18 Gauge Nailer
1 – 1 1/4’’ Nails for 18 Gauge Nailer
6 – Hinge Packets (2 per pack) 12 total
11’ of Molding
1 – .75 Kreg Jig Screws

Cut List:

*Make sure you label each piece of wood as you cut with a pencil.  This will save you a headache!

1 – 3/4’’ Plywood @ 32 11/16’’ x 16 3/4’’ – Bottom
2 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 23 3/8’’ x 12 7/8’’ – Left and Right Sides
1 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 31 11/16’’ x 23 3/8’’ – Back
2 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 20’’ x 10 7/8’’ – Large Doors
2 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 20’’ x 5 3/8’’ – Small Doors
1 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 32 11/16’’ x 3 3/16’’ – Front Panel
1 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 31 11/16’’ x 1’’ – Door Stop
2 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 12 7/8’’ x 2’’ – Right and Left Skirts
1 – 1/2’’ Plywood @ 32 11/16’’ x 4 1/2’’ – Main Skirt
1 – 1/2’’ x 1/2’’ @ 6 1/8’’ – Shelf Support
1 – 1/4’’ Plywood @ 8 1/8’’ x 2 5/8’’ – Shelf

Tools:

18 Gauge Nailer
Compressor
Tape Measure
Kreg Jig
Jig Saw
Miter Saw
Table Saw
Hearing Protection
Safety Glasses
Pencil
Sanding Block
Short Level
Compass

Optional – Scroll Saw

***Grace’s Bakery Instructions PDF

 Step 1:

You have already cut the bottom (floor) of the bakery.  It should look like a rectangle.  The first step is to create the curve.  I made mine into a point because it was easier for me and looked even.

Step 2:

Cut the notches for the hinges out.  Take your time, this will ensure your doors open and close properly.

Step 3:

Cut the bakery side window out.  You can leave this step out, but you will be missing an order window!

Step 4:

Cut the notches out for the hinges shown below.

Step 5:

Cut the square window for the bakery.  Again, you can skip this step, but your bakery will not have sunshine!

Step 6:

Cut the notches out for the hinges on the small door.

Step 7:

Cut the notches out for the hinges on the small right side door.

Step 8:

Measure and draw the bay windows on your large doors.  This will help you cut a perfect window.  Follow the measurements given below.

Step 9:

Start the construction by adding the left and right side of the bakery.  Use wood glue and nail into place.  The sides go all the way to the back of the floor.  *Normally in my projects I use the Kreg Jig and screw into place.  I did not do that for this project because I didn’t want any screws or pocket holes to show inside the bottom of the bakery. *

Step 10:

Put glue on the sides of the back and slide into place.  You will then nail from the outside through the side walls into the back.

Step 11:

Screw your hinges into the notches on the side walls and then attach the small doors.

Step 12:

Screw your hinges into the notches of the small doors and then the large doors with windows.  They should now easily open and close.

Step 13:

Attach the front panel by using wood glue and nailing into place.

Step 14:

From the inside of the bakery, attach the door stop.  When you nail into place, be sure to use the 3/4″ or smaller nails.

Step 15:

Take the top right skirt and drill three pocket holes. Then attach the skirt with pocket hole screws.

Step 16:

Repeat step 15 for the left side skirt.

Step 17:

Before attaching the front main skirt, cut your arch on top.  You can also cut a small window if you want.  The measurements for both are in the diagram below.

Then drill 4 pocket holes, on the inside, for attaching the main skirt to the front panel.  Also, nail from the front of the main skirt into each side skirt.

Step 18:

Attach the shelf support by using wood glue and nailing into place.

Step 19:

You should have already cut out the shelf.  At this point it is still a rectangle.  Cut it to show the curve and then glue and nail it into place through the window.

Step 20:

Add the trim around the bakery.  Measure around your bakery and cut your trim accordingly.  No one’s trim will be exactly the same, that’s why I did not include measurements.

Now your bakery “shell” is complete!  Be sure to spackle the nail holes, let the project dry untouched overnight, and sand down the entire piece really good.  I will be doing a Part 2 to this project.  Part 2 will cover the door knobs, plexiglass windows, bakery furniture, art and decor.  Stay tuned for that.  Until then, this should keep you busy!!