Most years we’re rushing to finish Clara’s homemade Christmas gift at the last minute (yes, sometimes with things still drying in the garage on Christmas Eve). This year was no different, but the best part of sharing it after the holidays is seeing Clara enjoy the finished project. Introducing Clara’s new figurine cubby:
She absolutely loves it.
We brainstormed several ideas—anything from a tool workshop to a cardboard playhouse—but we realized she still gets a lot of use out of the larger handmade pieces we’ve made for her (the play kitchen, refrigerator, dollhouse, and train board are all still in rotation). Since we didn’t want to add another large item that would take up floor space, we decided to go vertical and make something to hang on the wall.
Clara has a passion for small figures—animals, fairies, LEGO people, ninja turtles, tiny dragons—you name it. She carries them around, arranges them, and, unfortunately for bare feet, drops them around the house. A wall-hanging box with multiple cubbies felt like the perfect solution: it keeps her collection visible and accessible while saving floor space.
We personalized the cubby by lining some compartments with fabric from Clara’s own photo project—she had picked the patterns earlier without knowing what they were for, so it felt special that she helped “customize” the gift. We planned to install the cubby under her blue clock because she already liked placing figures on the clock’s small ledge, and a 13″ x 17″ box seemed like the right scale.
We debated uniform cubbies versus a mix of sizes. Clara groups some toys together (peg princesses) and keeps others separate (“silly mommy, birds don’t play with dragons!”), so a variety of compartment sizes made sense. Once the layout was finalized, we headed to the hardware store and picked up 1/2″ craft boards—about $20 worth, including extras for mistakes.
John cut the outer frame pieces and a selection of interior dividers. We assembled the outer frame first using wood glue and 1/2″ brad nails, holding corners square with a box while nailing to ensure accuracy and stability.
Before finishing the internal dividers, we tested the layout by placing actual toys into mock cubbies. That revealed spacing adjustments, so I ran back to the garage for a few more cuts. Once everything fit, we built from the bottom up: glue and nails for the vertical dividers, then the horizontal shelves, letting each section dry before continuing.
After the interior was secured, we attached the final L-shaped frame piece and added a thin piece of leftover plywood for the back, cut to size on our table saw. The back was glued and nailed in place—think of it like the cardboard backing on an Ikea bookcase, but sturdier.
Paint prep was simple: one coat of primer followed by two coats of semi-gloss Simply White. In hindsight it would’ve been easier to paint before attaching the back, but the finish still turned out crisp.
With the box built and painted, the fun part was choosing fabric. Clara picked her favorite right away—the pink flamingos—and pointed to five other patterns while dismissing the rest with a quick “nope” or “next!” On Christmas Eve, I made paper templates for the cubbies I planned to line and used those templates to cut the fabric pieces accurately.
I considered starch but decided to use Mod Podge to adhere the fabric—quick, tidy, and something I already had. I brushed Mod Podge onto the back panel of each cubby, pressed the fabric in place smoothing out wrinkles, and let it dry. It set within about thirty minutes and felt secure.
On Christmas morning Clara was thrilled. She loved that her figurines finally had a home and was delighted to see the flamingo fabric she had chosen. Kids really enjoy being part of the process, especially when it’s for their own room, so it was wonderful to watch her face light up and hear her say, “You remembered my flamingos!”
We weren’t sure if she’d use the cubbies as permanent homes or as play spaces, but she does both. She plays “apartments” with the figures in their cubbies and also carries them around to play elsewhere, then faithfully returns them home when she’s done.
The project cost about $20 for the wood; if you need supplies like glue, paint, or Mod Podge it could add another $5–$20. To hang the cubby we attached two D-rings to the back and mounted it over wall screws secured with anchors for a firm hold.
That’s the wall-hanging figurine cubby we built, painted, and fabric-lined for Clara this Christmas. It’s a compact, decorative, and functional toy organizer that keeps tiny treasures tidy while still inviting play.
