There is quite a variety of toy boxes on the market that come in various sizes and shapes, but most people have the chest like wooden boxes that sport hinged lids or a molded plastic box. Plastic toy boxes may look like teddy bears of fire engines and may or may not have a lid. These toy boxes are wonderful but they can run into some money so most children only have one. Most kids have more toys that can fit in that lonely box. Where can the other toys be stored?
There is a solution. Just make a toy box from a storage tub made of plastic. They come in all kinds of colors and sizes and if you do not like the look at them you can change that in an instant. Plastic tubs are a great alternative because children can not hurt themselves on any sharp angles. Hinged toy boxes have a habit of the lid falling and crunching little one's fingers. Tubs have lids that are removed so there is no danger there. Precocious children will try to climb into a toy box and sometimes the lid will crash down and they can not get out. In a plastic tub they just have to push on the lid and it will pop right open.
Plastic tubs can be decorated in several easy and inexpensive ways to make them more appealing to children. Many different things can be glued on them like stickers or decals. You can make figures from craft foam or felt and glue them on or you can use paint or fabric. Kids can even help you make the toy box and they will enjoy that time you spent with them. The tubs need little care and they won't scratch like wooden ones do when they run their toy truck across the top without the wheels.
Painting the tub is an option but if you spray paint the whole thing the paint will chip and peel in time causing an issue for little kids. Tubs come in all colors so there should be no reason to paint the whole thing. You can use acrylic paint to paint flowers or other fun forms on the tub. Stencils used with acrylic paint can make a fun toy box too. Paint yellow ducks on a blue tub, sheep on a purple tub and even fire trucks on a black tub. Stencils are plentiful and there are many made with children in mind. There are even alphabet letters and you can stencil the child's name on their specific tub.
To make your own fun figures to stick on your tub go to the crafting store and get craft foam in either sheets or in pre cut figures. Most foam comes with adhesive on the back and you just have to remove the paper backing and stick them on. You can adorn the figures with other foam or paint them with the pointy nozzle of fabric paint. To make a lady bug motif cut out two circles, one in black and one in red. Divide the red one in half and place it over the black on separating the two red halves to show a wedge of black in between them. This is the black body and the red wings. Cut another black circle then cut again using only a fourth of it. Stick this to the red and black circles at the top where the wings meet. This is the head. Add some black circles for dots on the wings and cut out some white circles for eyes. Once the lady bug is made your child can help you apply them to the tub.
You can do the same thing with felt. You can buy felt squares in the craft store that have adhesive backing as well. Some felt squares are floppy and soft and there are some that are rigid. The rigid ones work best because they won't flop down if the adhesive on the back gives way. If the felt does not have adhesive just buy a can of adhesive spray to stick them on the tub. Spray the area in which you want to put the felt figure and the adhesive will dry and you won't even notice it is there. Use cookie cutters as guides to make your felt characters. Just place the cookie cutter down on the felt and draw around it with a marker or pencil. Use a teddy bear cookie cutter and cut out several brown or beige bears. Cut out a small round circle and place it in the center of the head area, this is the bear's muzzle. You can use fabric glue to stick this on your main felt figure. You can use a small black pompom or cut out a small black circle to glue just above the center middle of this circle for the nose. Use a marker to make a mouth. Cut out two black eyes out of felt and glue them on above and to each side of the circle.
Fabric can be used to cover the tub completely. Cut fabric to fit around all sides of the tub and make sure to push it up underneath the lip. Fabric will unravel and you can stop that from happening by using pinking shears or squirting on substance that will prevent it from unraveling called no fray. Use your spray adhesive and careful roll the fabric onto the tub. It is possible to cut the fabric in sections and stick it on. Do the lid too but never cover the edges, just the middle part. Covering the edges will not allow it to snap onto the tub.
It is always a good thing to have a good molded plastic or wooden box in which to store toys. Since they are so expensive it is hard to have two or more to store all toys away. The inexpensive storage tub toy box is a great alternative and will keep toys up off the floor.
There is a solution. Just make a toy box from a storage tub made of plastic. They come in all kinds of colors and sizes and if you do not like the look at them you can change that in an instant. Plastic tubs are a great alternative because children can not hurt themselves on any sharp angles. Hinged toy boxes have a habit of the lid falling and crunching little one's fingers. Tubs have lids that are removed so there is no danger there. Precocious children will try to climb into a toy box and sometimes the lid will crash down and they can not get out. In a plastic tub they just have to push on the lid and it will pop right open.
Plastic tubs can be decorated in several easy and inexpensive ways to make them more appealing to children. Many different things can be glued on them like stickers or decals. You can make figures from craft foam or felt and glue them on or you can use paint or fabric. Kids can even help you make the toy box and they will enjoy that time you spent with them. The tubs need little care and they won't scratch like wooden ones do when they run their toy truck across the top without the wheels.
Painting the tub is an option but if you spray paint the whole thing the paint will chip and peel in time causing an issue for little kids. Tubs come in all colors so there should be no reason to paint the whole thing. You can use acrylic paint to paint flowers or other fun forms on the tub. Stencils used with acrylic paint can make a fun toy box too. Paint yellow ducks on a blue tub, sheep on a purple tub and even fire trucks on a black tub. Stencils are plentiful and there are many made with children in mind. There are even alphabet letters and you can stencil the child's name on their specific tub.
To make your own fun figures to stick on your tub go to the crafting store and get craft foam in either sheets or in pre cut figures. Most foam comes with adhesive on the back and you just have to remove the paper backing and stick them on. You can adorn the figures with other foam or paint them with the pointy nozzle of fabric paint. To make a lady bug motif cut out two circles, one in black and one in red. Divide the red one in half and place it over the black on separating the two red halves to show a wedge of black in between them. This is the black body and the red wings. Cut another black circle then cut again using only a fourth of it. Stick this to the red and black circles at the top where the wings meet. This is the head. Add some black circles for dots on the wings and cut out some white circles for eyes. Once the lady bug is made your child can help you apply them to the tub.
You can do the same thing with felt. You can buy felt squares in the craft store that have adhesive backing as well. Some felt squares are floppy and soft and there are some that are rigid. The rigid ones work best because they won't flop down if the adhesive on the back gives way. If the felt does not have adhesive just buy a can of adhesive spray to stick them on the tub. Spray the area in which you want to put the felt figure and the adhesive will dry and you won't even notice it is there. Use cookie cutters as guides to make your felt characters. Just place the cookie cutter down on the felt and draw around it with a marker or pencil. Use a teddy bear cookie cutter and cut out several brown or beige bears. Cut out a small round circle and place it in the center of the head area, this is the bear's muzzle. You can use fabric glue to stick this on your main felt figure. You can use a small black pompom or cut out a small black circle to glue just above the center middle of this circle for the nose. Use a marker to make a mouth. Cut out two black eyes out of felt and glue them on above and to each side of the circle.
Fabric can be used to cover the tub completely. Cut fabric to fit around all sides of the tub and make sure to push it up underneath the lip. Fabric will unravel and you can stop that from happening by using pinking shears or squirting on substance that will prevent it from unraveling called no fray. Use your spray adhesive and careful roll the fabric onto the tub. It is possible to cut the fabric in sections and stick it on. Do the lid too but never cover the edges, just the middle part. Covering the edges will not allow it to snap onto the tub.
It is always a good thing to have a good molded plastic or wooden box in which to store toys. Since they are so expensive it is hard to have two or more to store all toys away. The inexpensive storage tub toy box is a great alternative and will keep toys up off the floor.
0 comments:
Post a Comment