Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Thrifty "Toy Planter" DIY: Funky Animal Planters for Cheap


With a house full of toys and a plant obsession, I'm frequently asked when I'm going to make the toy planters trending on the web these days. I'd been planning to make some, but my friend Rosaly of Old Skool Junk beat me to the punch making the colorful set above. She recently gave them to me to finish painting, fill with plants, and sell.


DIY Steps: 1) Select your thrifted toys to slice into, make sure they're hollow! 2) Cut a hole in their backs for the plant to live in. 3) Optional: Spray paint your toys, leave them to dry for at least a day. 4) Fill with your plant, most likely a succulent unless you're working with a huge toy with space to accommodate a plant that needs more root space. 5) I'd top with a decorative mulch like marbles or aquarium gravel.



I been enjoying them hanging around in the house so we have made it to the sell stage yet... but I intend to make some special cards for them and place them in the antique store to see how they sell. If you'd like to buy one from me in the meantime though, drop me a line!

These planters are a hit with everyone who sees them. I can't wait to experiment with larger hollow plastic toys I find and make more!

Related Article: Using Vintage Planters: Quick Tips for Filling Vintage Pots with Greenery

What thrifted finds do you like to fill with plants? Old buckets? Vintage drawers? Anything that can hold dirt can hold your plants!
Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.
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31 comments:

  1. Those would make some pretty cool fathers day gifts!! For the coolest dad in the office!

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    1. I didn't think of that! Awesome, that's what the tags must read when I put them in the shop :)

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  2. Love these!! And Nells Vintage is right...fathers day gift idea!

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  3. Oh neat! I'm always coming across toys this size at the thrift, usually in a big grab bag for cheap! I'll have to pick a few up and give this project a whirl!

    <3Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting!

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    1. I'm always tempted by the big grab-bags of them. I've got quit the dino toy collection...

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  4. Oh my goodness. These are ridiculously great.

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    1. I can't wait to make more of them!

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  5. I've been seeing diys for this on pinterest and really love it. I like to propagate jade plants which requires really small planters at first. Usually I just use the plain ones but this dinosaur planters would make the little jade starters great gifts

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    1. Yep, agreed. I love these as small plant starters and gifts.

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  7. I'm absolutely in love! How much are you asking for them? I especially like the lion one!

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    1. I'll see how they go at $5.50 each.

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  8. I'm literally dying these are so cute!

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  10. I can honestly say I never would have thought of this one!

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  11. What do you use to cut them open? I'm finding those buggers to be quite TOUGH! Guess that's how they've survived my 3 boys all these years. LOL!

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