Year after year, the holiday season brings with it a delightful, albeit sometimes frantic, tradition in our home: crafting a unique, homemade Christmas gift for our daughter, Clara. More often than not, this means us working right down to the wire, with elements drying in the garage on Christmas Eve – and this past year was no exception to our little festive rush! Yet, the most rewarding part of this annual endeavor isn’t just the creation itself, but the joy of witnessing Clara embrace her new treasure. That’s why we love sharing these projects the week after Christmas, so we can include those adorable photos of her enjoying them – truly our favorite part of the entire experience. This year, we’re thrilled to introduce Clara’s brand new, personalized figurine cubby!
And boy, does our girl love it!
As the holiday season approached, we embarked on our annual brainstorming session, wracking our brains for the perfect DIY Christmas gift for Clara. Thoughts bounced around: “A tool workshop? A vibrant fruit stand? Perhaps an elaborate cardboard playhouse?” But as we considered these grand ideas, a crucial realization emerged. Clara still gets immense use and enjoyment from the larger, floor-space-consuming creations we’ve already gifted her over the years, such as her beloved play kitchen, her charming refrigerator, her meticulously crafted dollhouse, and her expansive train board. All these cherished items still hold prominent places around our home, actively participating in her imaginative play. Therefore, the last thing we wanted to do was introduce yet another large, floor-space-hogging item, especially since our home doesn’t really have an obvious, available spot for it.
However, there was a definite and growing interest of hers that we knew we could address without occupying valuable floor space: vertically, on the wall! Our daughter, Clara, possesses an undeniable adoration for little figures of all kinds. Whether they are miniature forest animals, whimsical tiny-winged fairies, intricate Lego people, or even an eclectic mix of characters like ninja turtles and majestic plastic dragons, this little bean has a serious passion for these tiny knick-knacks and small toys. Our bare feet, on the other hand, are decidedly not fans of navigating a minefield of these delightful, yet sometimes painfully-underfoot, treasures!
This fervent passion for small figures sparked the perfect idea: a wall-hanging box, thoughtfully designed with a variety of cubbies, would provide an ideal and organized “home base” for all her little friends. More than just a storage solution, we envisioned it as a fun, interactive display where she could arrange and play with her collection. To make it truly special and unique to her, we decided to personalize it with fabric. The brilliant twist? We had Clara select the fabric herself from a collection we presented, drawing inspiration from her previous photo project, all without her knowing the final purpose of her choices. This clever approach ensured she had a genuine hand in “customizing” her Christmas surprise, making the eventual reveal even more magical and personal.
Selecting the perfect location for Clara’s new figurine cubby was straightforward. We chose a spot on her wall directly below her beloved blue clock. This location was ideal because Clara already showed a keen interest in placing her figures on the small ledge of the clock, even though only about three could precariously fit there at a time. After careful measurement and consideration, we determined that a 13″ x 17″ sized box would integrate seamlessly into that space, providing ample storage without overwhelming the wall. With the dimensions settled, we moved on to the design phase, sketching out various shelf configurations to optimize the cubby layout.
Our initial thoughts leaned towards creating a slew of cubbies all of the same uniform size, similar to the appealing aesthetic of this charming figurine shelf we admired. However, we quickly realized that to truly meet Clara’s needs and accommodate the diverse array of her tiny treasures, a more varied approach would be beneficial. Her collection includes figures of all shapes and sizes, from slender peg princesses to bulkier plastic dragons. Ultimately, we concluded that a variety of cubby sizes would work best. This flexibility would allow Clara to group some of her figurines together, like her collection of peg princesses, while also giving her the option to keep others separate, as she wisely (and humorously) explained: “Silly mommy, birds don’t play with dragons!” With a final, thoughtful shelf plan in place, balancing aesthetics with practical functionality, we were ready to start building this special gift.
With a clear sense of our design and rough dimensions in hand, the next step was to acquire the necessary materials. We headed to Home Depot and purchased a selection of 1/2″ thick craft boards. These versatile wooden planks provided the perfect foundation for our project. The total cost for the wood came to approximately $20, which thoughtfully included a little extra to account for any potential miscuts – a wise precaution in any DIY endeavor! Back in the workshop, John meticulously cut the top, bottom, and side pieces that would form the sturdy outer frame of the cubby. He then proceeded to cut a variety of divider pieces of differing lengths, carefully designed to create the personalized cubby configurations for the interior, matching our finalized sketch.
As you can observe in the picture above, the outer frame pieces were already semi-attached, forming an L-shape. This initial assembly was done using a combination of strong wood glue for lasting adhesion and 1/2″ brad nails for immediate secure fastening. To ensure the corners were perfectly square and robust, John employed a clever trick: he held the pieces firmly against the corner of a sturdy box while nailing. This not only helped to achieve precise 90-degree angles but also provided essential bracing, preventing any movement while he skillfully used the nail gun. This meticulous step was crucial for building a durable and aesthetically pleasing foundation for the entire cubby shelf.
Before committing to the full assembly of all the intricate interior pieces, we took a crucial, common-sense step: a real-world fit check. We carefully busted out a selection of actual toys from Clara’s extensive collection – her tiny animals, fairies, and various figures. The goal was to double-check our meticulously planned cubby dimensions and spacing, ensuring they truly made sense for the items they were meant to house. And, as often happens in DIY projects, it didn’t quite work perfectly right off the bat. Well, not entirely. Some figures were a bit too snug, others had too much space. So, with Clara’s actual toys as our guide, we shifted things around a bit more, making minor adjustments to the plan. This often meant a quick trip to the garage to cut a few more pieces to revised specifications, but these iterative tweaks were absolutely essential to ensure the final product was as functional and user-friendly as possible for our daughter.
Once all the necessary pieces were precisely cut and verified for fit, we began the systematic process of assembling the cubby, building it from the bottom up. We started by setting the first row of vertical dividers securely in place. To ensure consistent spacing and perfect alignment, we utilized a handy spacer piece that I had pre-cut. These vertical dividers were affixed using both wood glue, for a strong and lasting bond, and nails driven from the bottom for immediate stability. Following this, John carefully positioned the first horizontal shelf on top of the vertical dividers, securing it firmly with additional glue and nails from above. This layered approach ensured a robust and well-aligned structure.
After assembling the initial rows, we allowed the glue to cure completely overnight, ensuring maximum strength and stability for the structure. This patient waiting period is crucial in woodworking, preventing any shifting or weakening of the joints. The following day, with the first section fully dry and secure, we proceeded to add the subsequent rows of shelving in precisely the same methodical way. Each vertical divider and horizontal shelf was carefully aligned, glued, and nailed, incrementally building up the intricate grid of cubbies that would soon house Clara’s cherished figures. This step-by-step process, allowing for drying time between stages, ensured the entire unit would be incredibly sturdy and well-constructed.
With all the interior dividers and shelves firmly attached and dried, the main structural work of the cubby was complete. We then moved on to finishing the frame by attaching the other L-shaped piece that we had initially constructed, completing the rectangular outer shell. To give the cubby a finished look and add extra stability, John then cut a thin piece of leftover plywood to size on our table saw. This carefully measured piece served as the back of the cubby. And yes, you guessed it – he secured it with the reliable combination of wood glue and nails, much like adding the cardboard back-pieces to an Ikea bookcase, but with significantly more durability and a personal touch.
Once the construction was complete, it was time for the finishing touches. We applied one coat of primer to ensure excellent paint adhesion and a smooth finish, followed by two generous coats of Benjamin Moore Simply White paint in a semi-gloss finish. The semi-gloss provides a durable, easy-to-clean surface, perfect for a child’s toy organizer. In retrospect, we realized that painting the interior of the cubbies would have been considerably easier to do *before* attaching the back piece. That’s a valuable lesson learned for future projects – always consider accessibility for painting and finishing during the assembly process!
With the cubby expertly built, primed, and painted, we arrived at arguably the most enjoyable and crucial part of the personalization process: asking Clara to select her favorite fabrics. This was not just a decorative choice; it was about involving her in the creation of her own special gift, making it truly hers. It turns out, our little girl is incredibly decisive! She immediately gravitated towards her ultimate favorite (“the one with the pink flamingos!”), and within moments, she had also quickly pointed out five other fabric options she adored. Her selection process was swift and clear, as she confidently dismissed several other choices with a firm “nope” or an emphatic “next!” Her clear preferences made the final customization step both easy and deeply personal.
Then, on the magical night of Christmas Eve, with Clara tucked soundly into bed, I scurried to put the finishing touches on her surprise: carefully applying the chosen fabrics. My first step was to create precise paper templates for each cubby where I intended to add a fabric rectangle. These templates were invaluable for cutting the actual fabric pieces with utmost accuracy, ensuring a perfect fit. I deliberately chose not to add fabric to all the cubbies; I worried that an overwhelming amount of pattern might make the shelf look too “busy” or “crazy.” Instead, I drew inspiration once again from the charming figurine shelf we had seen online, deciding to apply fabric to approximately 50% of the cubbies, leaving the other half painted crisp white for a balanced, clean aesthetic.
When it came to adhering the fabric, I initially considered using starch, a common method for fabric application. However, a thought popped into my head: “Can’t I just use Mod Podge for this?” A quick Google search swiftly confirmed my suspicion with a resounding “Yes!” Since I already had a tub of Mod Podge on hand, this was a fantastic, time-saving solution, eliminating the need for any last-minute, frantic dashes to the craft store on Christmas Eve. The process was wonderfully simple: I used a small craft brush to apply a thin, even coat of Mod Podge directly to the back wall of the chosen cubby (not to the fabric itself). Then, with careful precision, I placed the fabric rectangle flush against the Mod Podged shelf-back, gently pressing it down to eliminate any wrinkles and ensure it was firmly stuck in place. Within thirty minutes, it was 100% dry and completely secure. So simple, yet so effective!
The morning of Christmas Day brought pure magic. Clara was absolutely thrilled to discover her new figurine cubby. Her face lit up with delight, not just because her beloved little friends now had a beautiful and organized place to call home, but also because she immediately recognized the fabrics she had chosen just the night before. This moment truly underscored the immense value of involving children in the creative process; they genuinely get the biggest kick out of being a part of something, especially when it’s for their own space. It was incredibly sweet to witness her joy and hear her exclaim with such excitement, “You remembered my flamingos!” That recognition made all the effort worthwhile, solidifying her connection to her personalized gift.
As parents, we initially weren’t entirely sure how Clara would interact with her new cubby. Would she merely use it as a static home base for keeping things housed when not actively playing with them, or would the cubbies become an integral part of her imaginative play? It turns out, she loves to do both! She frequently plays “apartment” with her figures right inside their designated cubbies (apparently, Ariel doesn’t mind sharing a room with a dragon!). But she also pulls some – okay, let’s be honest, often all – of them out to play elsewhere in her room or around the house. The wonderful thing is, she has been absolutely fantastic about bringing them back “home” to their cubbies when she’s finished playing, a testament to how much she cherishes her personalized toy display.
So, that summarizes the delightful, personalized figurine cubby we meticulously built, carefully painted, and charmingly “fabric-a-fied” for Clara this Christmas. Our total expenditure for this heartwarming project was an incredibly modest $20, as our only purchase was the craft wood. However, if you don’t already have common DIY supplies like wood glue, white paint, or Mod Podge on hand, your total cost might run approximately $5-20 more, which still makes it a highly affordable and rewarding DIY gift. For hanging this sturdy shelf securely to the wall, we screwed two D-rings directly to the back of the cubby. These D-rings were then hooked over robust screws, which we had firmly secured into the wall using appropriate anchors, ensuring a nice, firm, and safe hold for all of Clara’s treasured figures.
Did any of you undertake the creative challenge of making homemade gifts for kids this past holiday season? We’ve been absolutely charmed by some of the amazing play kitchens people have shared with us in the last few days – it’s truly inspiring to see the creativity out there! Can you believe it’s already been two years since we crafted Clara’s play kitchen? Time certainly flies when you’re having fun with DIY projects. It’s truly crazytown how quickly these little ones grow and how much joy these handmade treasures bring!
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