The minute I saw the recycled stuffed animal chair on JesusSauvage I was totally inspired and desperate to try out something similar.  Like so many households we have acquired an insane amount of stuffed animals, including a gigantic tub of beanie babies from my husband’s childhood.  It was getting out of control.  The other day, when Ev came home with a metal grid bin on sale at Office Depot for 5 dollars I knew exactly what I’d do with it. Hello repurposed stuffed animal catch all bin!  (I also fell in love with him all over again for getting it for me.)

You can find the directions here, which are really simple.  Basically, get some plastic zip ties and practically decapitate all of your child’s stuffed animals with them as you connect them to the metal.  It’s kind of an experience putting them on.  At first I felt kind of bad for them (crazy) and then I kind of liked it (psycho).  And then I started imagining all of the animals like members of Toy Story saying things like “Great, what are we going to do now?” or “Who let the beanie babies on here?”  

Gigi and D totally love it.  They come over and hug the bin and throw balls and more animals into it.  How we still have more loose stuffed animals left I have no idea.

It feels so satisfying to complete a big project like this.  There are so many amazing diys that I’ve seen on my favorite blogs that I am totally inspired to do in 2014.  Like look at these incredible dyed blocks by Fun At Home With Kids and this marbled milk paper art by Babble Dabble Do.  If my follow through on our new recycled stuffed animal bin is any indication, I am psyched for 2014! Happy New Year everyone.  Let’s go big!