Circus Car Stuffed Animal Storage

Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: jeremy lee/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC

We have a bazillion stuffed animals in various stages of containment around the house.  1 four year old, 2 two year olds, 4 grandparents.....you do the math.  So that (okay, and my love of Animal Crackers) led to this.  You toss the toys in the top, the kids pull them out through the bungee bars!

MATERIALS

16 - 24" Bungee cords

Decorative scroll appliques

Paint

Staple gun

Screws and screw gun (or nails and nail gun)

Wood glue

Lumber:

2 - 1"x 3"x 24"

2 - 1"x 3"x 20"

2 - 1"x 3" x 48"

2 - 1"x 3" x 42"

2 - 1" x 6" x 24"

2 - 1" x 6" x 20"

2 - 1" x 6" x 48"

2 - 1" x 6" x 42"

4 - 2" x 2" x 24"

4 - 10" discs

4 - 4" discs

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STEPS

Create the sides by attaching a 1x3x24 to the top of two of the posts and a 1x6x24 to the bottom.  Make two sides.

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Join the two sides together by attaching the 1x3x48 and 1x6x48 on both sides.  Once you have the full box, go ahead and paint it as well as the other pieces of wood and decorative pieces that haven't been used yet.

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Cut off any hooks on the bungees and staple gun them evenly spaced along the inside of the 1x3's. Use 6 cords on the front and the back and 2 cords on each side.  I did about 3 staples in each cord.

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Now stretch each cord straight down and to the same at the bottom.  If your cord ends up being too long, simple bend the ends.

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Take the remaining, slightly shorter 1x3's and 1x6's and nail or screw them to the top of the bungee cords, making a bungee sandwich.

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Attach your decorative scroll work using wood glue or shorter nails.

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Center the smaller disc on top of the larger discs, secure with nails or wood glue and then attach the wheels to the train car.

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Gleefully dump in all of your kids toys.   Done.

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