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.
Craft foam can be purchased at craft stores in sheets or already cut out in forms. Some have an adhesive already on the back and you just peel off the paper and the foam form will stick. Cut out simple figures and embellish them with magic marker or more acrylic paint and even fabric paint with the pointed nozzle. Make lady bugs by cutting out a black circle or oval and then make another circle that is slightly smaller in red. Cut the red circle in half and place it over the black one but separate the two halves of the red one so that a wedge of black shows in the middle for wings. Cut out a fourth of a black circle and put it at the top where the red meets for the head. Then cut out black dots and place them on the wings and two white dots for the eyes. Once you assemble the lady bugs your child can help you stick them on.
Using felt in a similar fashion. Craft shops will have felt pieces and some have sticky stuff on the back. Felt can be purchased both regular and somewhat thinner and rigid. Get the rigid type because it works best on the tubs. If no adhesive comes with the felt just use a spray can of adhesive to attach the figures to the tub. Just point and spray where you want the figure to stick and once the glue dries you will not know it was ever there. Trace cookie cutters to make your felt figures. Place the cutter on the felt and trace around with a pencil or marker. Teddy bear cutters are fun so make beige colored and brown bears. Cut out a round circle that is smaller than the head and glue with fabric glue in the center of the head. This will be the muzzle of the bear. Glue on a tiny pompom in black or cut a dot of black to place right above the middle of the circle for the bear's nose. Make the mouth with a magic marker or fabric paint. The bear needs to black eyes blued above the circle to either side.
You can also cut fabric to completely cover the tub. Measure the tub and cut fabric to fit in one large sheet around the sides and to tuck under the lip. The fabric will fray so cut with pinking shears or apply no fray liquid on the edges. Spray the tub with adhesive and carefully stick. You can do this in sections if it is easier for you. Do not forget to do the top but only do the indented part in the middle. If you do the edges too the top will not snap into place.
It is a great idea to have a really good expensive wood or plastic toy box but it is not often that most families can have two or more. Decorating storage tubs will store away all the toys and it won't cost you much at all. - 33386
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.
Craft foam can be purchased at craft stores in sheets or already cut out in forms. Some have an adhesive already on the back and you just peel off the paper and the foam form will stick. Cut out simple figures and embellish them with magic marker or more acrylic paint and even fabric paint with the pointed nozzle. Make lady bugs by cutting out a black circle or oval and then make another circle that is slightly smaller in red. Cut the red circle in half and place it over the black one but separate the two halves of the red one so that a wedge of black shows in the middle for wings. Cut out a fourth of a black circle and put it at the top where the red meets for the head. Then cut out black dots and place them on the wings and two white dots for the eyes. Once you assemble the lady bugs your child can help you stick them on.
Using felt in a similar fashion. Craft shops will have felt pieces and some have sticky stuff on the back. Felt can be purchased both regular and somewhat thinner and rigid. Get the rigid type because it works best on the tubs. If no adhesive comes with the felt just use a spray can of adhesive to attach the figures to the tub. Just point and spray where you want the figure to stick and once the glue dries you will not know it was ever there. Trace cookie cutters to make your felt figures. Place the cutter on the felt and trace around with a pencil or marker. Teddy bear cutters are fun so make beige colored and brown bears. Cut out a round circle that is smaller than the head and glue with fabric glue in the center of the head. This will be the muzzle of the bear. Glue on a tiny pompom in black or cut a dot of black to place right above the middle of the circle for the bear's nose. Make the mouth with a magic marker or fabric paint. The bear needs to black eyes blued above the circle to either side.
You can also cut fabric to completely cover the tub. Measure the tub and cut fabric to fit in one large sheet around the sides and to tuck under the lip. The fabric will fray so cut with pinking shears or apply no fray liquid on the edges. Spray the tub with adhesive and carefully stick. You can do this in sections if it is easier for you. Do not forget to do the top but only do the indented part in the middle. If you do the edges too the top will not snap into place.
It is a great idea to have a really good expensive wood or plastic toy box but it is not often that most families can have two or more. Decorating storage tubs will store away all the toys and it won't cost you much at all. - 33386
