The 25 Days of Christmas Day 21: Toy Boxes to Seats Complimented by Rene’s Coleslaw Recipe

Merry Christmas Friends,

It's our pleasure to continue the 25 Days of Christmas feature for you, our good friends. December 1st through December 25th you can visit our blog for helpful, money-saving ideas to decorate your space for the holidays. It's just a little something to show our appreciation for your continued support of Interior Design eBlog.

Created these toy boxes to store the toys for triplets or just your three little ones. The clearly labeled boxes make it easy to keep the kids' toys separate and can also function as benches. An ideal project for Dad to build and Mom to decorate. Extra storage space is always a gift. These attractive mobile toy boxes can be made with decorative fabric or paint and personalize to style.

Materials and Tools:
birch plywood (see dimensions below)
3/8-inch pieces of birch
wood glue
1-1/4 inch framing nails
four caster wheels
cushion insert (19-inch square)
fabric in desired color/pattern
staples
paint
table saw
miter saw
framing nailer
staple gun
paintbrush
scissors

Steps:

1. Cut the birch plywood down to the following dimensions for the cubes:
four pieces at 16-1/4 by 15-1/4 inches for the sides
one piece at 17-inches square for the bottom
one piece at 19-inches square for the top
one piece at 15-1/4 inches square for the top inset

2. Cut the 3/8-inch birch down to the following dimensions for the trim:
eight strips at 2 by 13-inches
four strips at 2 by 16-inches
four strips at 2-3/8 by 16-inches

3. Glue and nail the side pieces together to create a box, with a consistent wood grain on each side. Each long edge will continually overlap the edge of the adjacent piece to form a crisscross pattern, making the total width 17 inches all the way around.

4. Nail the bottom into place, making sure everything is nice and flush.

5. Glue and nail trim onto each side, with the rails (horizontal pieces) secured inside the stiles (vertical pieces). The 2 by 13-inch strips will serve as the rails, the 2 by 16-inch pieces will serve as the left-hand stiles, and the 2-3/8 by 16-inch strips will serve as the right-hand stiles. The right side trim is wider (the same thickness as the trim piece itself) in order to cover the edge of the left-hand stile on the adjacent side. Overlap the stiles in the same manner the cube sides were attached.

6. Once the cube is assembled, paint it the color of your choice.

7. Assemble the top by centering the inset piece on the bottom of the cube top and securing it with nails.

8. Place a cushion insert squarely on top of the cube top. Wrap fabric around the cushion and fold it under the top. Secure the fabric on the underside with staples and trim away excess material or just paint to your desired color.

9. Attach four casters onto the bottom corners of the cube to add mobility to the piece.

10. Place the top onto the cube. The inset should fit snugly inside the cube for seating.

Enjoy and share Rene’s Coleslaw recipe courtesy of Paula Deen.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced celery
1/4 cup chopped green onions, white and green parts
1/2 cup almonds, toasted
1 1/2 cup dried cranberries
5 cup shredded cabbage (can buy shredded from store but not angel hair shredded cabbag

Dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
1 tbsp honey mustard
1 tbsp honey
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Combine cabbage, almonds, cranberries, celery, green onions, and green pepper in a large plastic bowl with a snap-on lid. Combine all dressing ingredients, adding salt and pepper to taste, and refrigerate until ready to serve. Pour dressing over slaw just before serving. Stir well.

Servings: 10 - 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 min
Difficulty: Easy

Check back for more holiday ideas and enjoy the additional storage for the little ones.

Wishing you all the timeless treasures of the season; the warmth of home, the love of family and the company of good friends.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Live well,
Yvonne