How to Make a Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin

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Today I’m sharing a crazy easy tutorial on how to make your own custom pet toy storage bin, for not a lot of money!

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Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin-3

I’ve paired up with a group of talented ladies to bring you a monthly Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge. Each month we will create a new home decor piece from an item(s) we’ve found at a thrift store, yard sale, resale shop etc. There is no budget or specific theme so we are free to let our creativity run wild!

Thrift Store DecorUpcycle Challenge

Amanda | Domestically Creative     Chelc | Inside the Fox Den     Erlene | My Pinterventures

Kim | Made in a Day     Sara | Twelve on Main     Debra | Shoppe No. 5

Shirley | Intelligent Domestications     Marie | DIY Adulation     Lindsay | Crazy Organized

Michelle | Our Crafty Mom     Julie | Live From Julie’s House     Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek

Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles     Pili | Sweet Things     Sherry | Savvy Apron

Ann | Duct Tape and Denim     Dru | Polka Dot Poplars

Megan | C’mon Get Crafty     Jennifer | Hydrangea Hippo

You can also follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!


How to Make a Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin

If you follow me on Instagram at all, you know that I have one silly, neurotic, adorable chocolate lab named Delilah. Since my husband and I don’t have any children, it’s safe to say that she is one spoiled pup. Going on almost 7 years old, she has collected quite a few toys over the years, and up until now, she hasn’t had a storage bin to call her own. She’s had to share with the kitties! Oh the horror! Seriously..this face says it all.
Miss Delilah excited for her new custom pet toy storage bin

Her personal favorite toys include a stuff-less flamingo, a soon to be stuff-less duck, a Kong frisbee, and a giant pink stuffed bunny that my mom bought her at Goodwill 2 years ago. The flamingo still has a few working squeakers, but the duck has been removed of it’s noise makers leaving only it’s body with several holes left behind. Her bunny, however, seems to be her comfort toy. She hasn’t managed to chew a hole in it yet, instead she carries it around and uses it for a pillow.

 Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin-1-2Ok, but enough about the dog, seriously.

For this month’s thrift store challenge, I was really racking my brain. On one particular trip several weeks ago, I stumbled across this giant metal Christmas tin that was a great size and already had handles cut into it. I loved the shape of it and figured I could use it to store something in.
Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin-before

Cut to last week when I was cleaning and going through closets. I found a few throw blankets that I forgot I had, but had nowhere to store them other than in a closet. What I really wanted was a pretty wicker basket to keep them in, to add a little bit of comfort to my decor in the living room. That’s when it dawned on me that the basket I was currently using to keep all of Delilah’s (and the cats) toys in was pretty, the perfect size, and just tucked away in the corner sadly forgotten about. My mom gave me this basket when I first moved out, however I never appreciated it’s beauty until now.
Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin-1

I knew the Christmas bucket I bought would be a great size for Delilah’s toys, so I decided to upcycle it to create a custom pet toy storage bin!

What you’ll need:

First I cleaned the bucket really well. It was pretty dirty and covered in glitter from being filled with Christmas decorations at the thrift store. Then I carefully gave the outside of the bucket a coat of spray paint, being careful to avoid putting it on too heavy so the paint did not drip. Once that was dry, I went over it twice more with another coat of paint to make sure the Christmas design was fully covered.

While the bucket was drying, I printed out the design I wanted for the front. I chose to use her full name “Miss Delilah”. Believe it or not, that name was my husband’s choice. When we first brought her home we couldn’t decide on a name for her. My husband wanted something that sounded Southern, so when I blurted out the name Delilah he said “Miss Delilah” it is. Never mind the fact we never call her by her name–“Puppy Dog” and “Girlie” seem to fit her just fine 😉

Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin-6

I used the font “Malina” for this design. Obviously the brush look won’t come through with the paint pen, but I loved the script design. After printing out the design, I used my font transfer method to get the design on the front of the bucket. This was trickier than I thought it’d be since I’ve never done this with metal. If I had a Silhouette this would have been so much easier–hint hint.

Next, I outlined the design with a black Sharpie paint marker. Once that was dry, I filled the now custom pet toy bin with her favorite toys.

custom pet toy storage bin

Because she is a little bit neurotic, and very cautious around new things I couldn’t get a picture of her enjoying the bin. BUT! She does come up to it and gently pulls out her toys as she wants. Now if I could just teach her how to pick them back up 😉

More Thrift Store Upcycles:

Don’t forget to pin it!

Custom Pet Toy Storage Bin


Be sure to check out all of the other creative upcycle projects my fellow bloggers have come up with!


18 Comments

  1. Such a pretty toy bin storages organization. Amazing ideas for kids messiest playroom. My house is little jungle due to my kid’s huge toys. I am searching for this toy storages organization for my kids’ toy. thanks, this idea.

  2. Great idea! Our dogs take out all the stuffing and squeakers too. We usually have ‘snow’ in our living room. Love the way you spelled out Delilah’s whole name too. She is adorable!

    1. Yes! That is her favorite part of getting a new toy! It’s like removing the stuffing to get the prize squeaker is more fun than the toy itself. Thank you for stopping by!

  3. Miss Delilah is gorgeous and precious! One of our dogs is very skiddish of anything new also. The toy bin turned out great and the size makes it easier for her to grab her favorite toys.

  4. This doggy toy holder came out great! Seems easier than silhouette, which I have, and hate pulling out. My dogs have unstuffed rag toys too. Sorry I haven’t had a chance to get around to commenting. Trying to get it together after vacation. #mm sharing on Fb!
    Kim

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