DIY Figurine Cubby: Crafting the Perfect Personalized Toy Display for Kids

There’s something truly special about a homemade Christmas gift, a labor of love that often comes together in a flurry of last-minute crafting. This year was no exception as we found ourselves working right down to Christmas Eve, with paint drying in the garage just hours before the big day! But the best part of sharing these projects a week after the holidays is getting to include adorable photos of our daughter, Clara, absolutely loving her new treasure. Witnessing her joy is undeniably our favorite reward. So, let us proudly introduce Clara’s brand-new, custom-built figurine cubby:

She absolutely adores it, and that makes all the effort worthwhile!

The Inspiration: Why a Figurine Cubby?

Each year, we rack our brains trying to come up with the perfect homemade gift for Clara. Past ideas have included a tool workshop, a fruit stand, or even an elaborate cardboard playhouse. However, we realized that Clara still gets immense enjoyment from the larger handmade items we’ve already created for her, like her play kitchen, her refrigerator, her dollhouse, and her train board – all of which are still actively used and displayed around our home. Consequently, we didn’t want to add another large, floor-space-consuming item, as our home simply doesn’t have an obvious spot for it.

But there was a clear interest of hers that we knew we could address vertically – specifically, on the wall. Clara has an undeniable fascination with little figures. Whether they are tiny animals, whimsical winged fairies, beloved Lego people, or even an eclectic mix of ninja turtles and plastic dragons, she has a profound passion for these miniature knick-knacks and toys. While her passion delights us, our bare feet, on the other hand, are decidedly not fans of accidentally stepping on them!

This led us to the idea of a wall-hanging box featuring a variety of cubbies. It would serve as a fun and organized home for her countless little friends. To make it even more special, we decided to personalize it with fabric she had chosen herself from her weekly photo project, without knowing what it would be used for. This clever approach ensured she had a hand in “customizing” her Christmas surprise, adding an extra layer of anticipation and ownership.

Designing the Perfect Display: From Concept to Cubby

Size and Placement Considerations

We chose a specific spot on her wall, directly below her blue clock. This location was ideal because Clara already loves placing figures on the clock’s small ledge, even though only about three can fit at a time. We determined that a 13″ x 17″ sized box would fit perfectly in this space. With the dimensions in mind, we began sketching various shelf configurations, meticulously planning the layout of each cubby.

Crafting a Versatile Layout

Our initial thought was to create a slew of cubbies all of the same size, similar to this charming figurine shelf we admired. However, we quickly realized that to be truly functional, the display needed to accommodate different-sized toys. Clara’s collection is diverse, and a single cubby size wouldn’t offer the flexibility needed. Ultimately, we concluded that a variety of cubby sizes would work best. Clara often likes to group certain figurines together, such as all her peg princesses, while keeping others distinctly separate. As she wisely put it, “silly mommy, birds don’t play with dragons!” This insight solidified our decision for a mixed-size layout. Once we finalized the shelf plan, the real fun began: building.

Building the Cubby: A Step-by-Step DIY Guide

Gathering Materials and Initial Cuts

With a rough sense of the dimensions and our design plan in hand, we headed to Home Depot. We purchased a bundle of 1/2″ thick craft boards, which totaled around $20, including a bit extra for any potential miscuts – a smart precaution in any DIY project. My husband, John, then took charge of cutting the top, bottom, and side pieces for the outer frame, along with a variety of divider pieces for the interior cubbies. Precision in these initial cuts is paramount for a professional-looking finish.

Assembling the Outer Frame: Precision is Key

As you can observe in the picture above, parts of the outer frame pieces were already semi-attached. We accomplished this using a strong wood glue and 1/2″ brad nails. To ensure that the corners were perfectly square, John ingeniously held the pieces against the corner of a sturdy box while nailing. This technique not only helped maintain a true right angle but also provided critical bracing for the wood as he used the nail gun, preventing any movement or splitting. This step established the foundational integrity of the entire cubby structure.

The Crucial Toy Test: Adjustments for Perfection

Before committing to the full assembly, we took a crucial moment to pull out a representative selection of toys from Clara’s collection. This “toy test” allowed us to double-check our design plans, ensuring that the sizing and spacing of the cubbies made practical sense for her actual figures. And, as often happens in DIY, it didn’t quite work out perfectly on the first try. Not entirely, at least. So, we strategically shifted a few things around, and I quickly ran back to the garage to cut a few more pieces, making the necessary adjustments to ensure every beloved toy would have its ideal spot.

Constructing the Interior Shelving

Once all the individual pieces were perfectly cut and verified, we began the assembly process, working meticulously from the bottom up. Using a custom-cut spacer, we carefully set the first row of vertical dividers into place. These were secured with a combination of wood glue and nails driven in from the bottom, ensuring a strong and stable connection. Following this, John placed the first horizontal shelf directly on top, using both glue and nails driven from the top to create a robust and seamless join. This systematic approach ensured structural integrity and precise alignment for each cubby.

We allowed the initial assembly to dry thoroughly overnight, ensuring maximum bond strength. The next day, we proceeded to add the subsequent rows of shelving, following the exact same careful method. This patient approach is vital in woodworking, allowing the glue to set completely and provide lasting durability for the structure.

Adding the Back Panel

With all the interior shelving firmly in place, we completed the main frame by attaching the other pre-constructed L-shaped piece, effectively closing the box. Then, John added a thin piece of leftover plywood to serve as the back panel. This piece was precisely cut to size on our table saw, ensuring a perfect fit. And how was it attached? You guessed it – with a reliable combination of wood glue and nails. This step felt a lot like adding the cardboard back-pieces to Ikea bookcases, providing stability and a finished look to the entire structure.

Finishing Touches: Paint and Personalized Fabric

The Painting Process

With the cubby fully constructed, it was time for painting. We applied one coat of primer to ensure excellent paint adhesion and then followed up with two coats of Simply White paint in a semi-gloss finish. The semi-gloss is ideal for a kid’s room as it’s durable and easy to wipe clean. In retrospect, it would have been considerably easier to apply these coats before attaching the back piece, allowing for more access and preventing any potential drips or missed spots in the corners.

Clara’s Fabric Selection: A Touch of Personalization

Once the cubby was built, primed, and painted, we moved on to the truly fun and personal part: asking Clara which fabrics she liked best. It turns out, our girl is incredibly decisive! She immediately gravitated towards her favorite (“the one with the pink flamingos!”) and then quickly pointed out five others she approved of, while confidently dismissing a bunch of options with a clear “nope” or an emphatic “next!” Her involvement in this step truly made the gift her own.

Mod Podge Magic: Applying the Fabric Backings

On Christmas Eve, after Clara was tucked soundly into bed, I scurried to get the fabric precisely in place. My first step was creating small paper templates for the cubbies where I wanted to add fabric rectangles. These templates were invaluable for cutting the actual fabric accurately and neatly. I deliberately chose not to add fabric to all the cubbies, fearing it might look too busy or overwhelming. Instead, I drew inspiration once again from that charming figurine shelf and opted to cover about 50% of them, leaving the other half pristine white. This balance created a visually appealing, clean, yet personalized look.

Initially, I considered using starch to adhere the fabric, but then a thought popped into my head: “Can’t I just use Mod Podge?” A quick Google search confirmed my suspicion (“yes!”), and since I already had Mod Podge on hand, the process was incredibly quick and efficient, saving me from any last-minute, stressful craft store runs. I used a small craft brush to paint a thin, even layer of Mod Podge directly onto the back of each cubby where the fabric would go (not on the fabric itself). Then, I carefully placed the pre-cut fabric rectangle against the Mod Podged shelf-back and gently pressed it down, ensuring it was wrinkle-free and adhered nicely in place. Within thirty minutes, it was 100% dry and completely secure. It was genuinely so simple and effective, making this personalization step a breeze.

The Big Reveal: Clara’s Joy and Lasting Play

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

Clara’s excitement on Christmas morning was truly heartwarming. Not only was she thrilled that her beloved little friends now had a designated place to call home, but she also loved seeing the fabrics she remembered choosing just nights before. I firmly believe that children get the biggest kick out of being an integral part of the creative process, especially when it involves items for their own room. It was incredibly sweet to witness her face light up and hear her exclaim, “You remembered my flamingos!” That moment alone made every effort worthwhile.

Practical Play and Organized Fun

We weren’t entirely sure if Clara would actively play within the cubbies, or simply use them as a “home base” for keeping things housed when not in use. However, it turns out she loves to do both! She often plays “apartment” with her figurines right inside their cubbies (apparently, Ariel doesn’t mind sharing a room with a dragon!). What’s more impressive is her fantastic habit of pulling some (okay, most!) of them out to play elsewhere in the room, then diligently bringing them back “home” to their designated cubbies when she’s finished. This demonstrates the cubby’s success not just as a display, but as an effective tool for teaching organization and encouraging imaginative play.

Project Cost and Hanging Instructions

So, that’s the story of the custom figurine cubby we meticulously built, painted, and fabric-a-fied for Clara this past Christmas. Our total expenditure for this particular project was a modest $20, as the only thing we needed to purchase was the wood craft boards. However, if you don’t already have staples like wood glue, paint, primer, or Mod Podge on hand, your total cost could increase by an additional $5-20, depending on what supplies you need. For hanging the cubby securely, we screwed two D-rings directly to the back of the cubby. These D-rings then hooked perfectly over screws that we had firmly secured to the wall using anchors, ensuring a nice, strong, and stable hold. Always remember to use appropriate anchors for your wall type and the weight of your shelf.

Share Your DIY Creations!

Did you embark on any homemade kid gift projects this holiday season? We’ve been absolutely amazed by some of the incredible play kitchens people have shared with us recently. It truly feels wild to think it’s already been two years since we crafted Clara’s own play kitchen! It’s a crazy journey watching our kids grow and seeing how these handmade gifts become cherished parts of their childhood. Share your projects and inspirations with us!

Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house? Just click on this button: