How to Make a Coloring Caddie from an Old Toolbox

As we get ready to take this house apart in preparation for our upcoming move, I’ve been running around taking pictures of all the “finished” spaces. And as I’ve been snapping every last detail for the final room reveal posts, I’ve come across a few projects that were supposed to be shared here on the blog but somehow slipped through the cracks! Today’s project is one of those…and since it’s been working SOO well for us this year, I wanted to make sure I shared the idea so you can try it too! Today I want to show you how easy (and functional!) it is to make a coloring caddie from an old toolbox!

I love putzing through thrift and antique stores whenever I can…and without fail, I always come across old wooden toolboxes or caddies. I swear, I’ve found them in every size, shape and price point; and I always want to scoop them up because I can think of so many handy uses for them (besides tools!) A few years ago, I came across this long wooden toolbox in a local thrift store. The size was great, but the handle really prevented me using it for anything that wasn’t long and flat. So I could use it better, I simply sawed off the handle and gave it a few fresh coats of spray paint to create a countertop caddie…

In our last home, it was PERFECT for holding all of our laundry supplies! (You can see more of that laundry room here.)

When we moved into this house last summer though, we didn’t have a laundry room counter and therefor didn’t really need the caddie to hold our laundry supplies anymore. I did, however, really want to set up an art station for Henry in our playroom. I knew with a few quick cuts of foam and paper, this toolbox could easily be repurposed yet again into a coloring caddie!

If you would like to do a similar project, here is what you need:

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• An old wooden toolbox
• Primer and paint (optional)
• Foam core board
• Decorative paper or tapes (wallpaper, scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, contact paper, washi tape, and Duck tape sheets would all work great)
• Mod Podge (if using non-adhesive paper)
• Tools: Saw (if you need to remove the handle), Ruler , X-Acto Knife, Paint Brush, Rotary Cutter and Cutting Mat

Start by measuring the width and depth of the INSIDE of your toolbox base. Then using a ruler and X-acto knife, trim a sheet of foam core down to the corresponding dimensions.

TIP: Because these foam core sheets will essentially stand up on their own against the sides of the toolbox, it helps to cut them just a smidge too big.

Before going on, test the dividers in your toolbox to ensure they are tight enough against the sides and will stand up on their own!

You can certainly leave your dividers plain, but to camouflage that they are foam core AND make them a little more durable, I wrapped mine in some leftover wallpaper I had on hand (from this project). Start by cutting strips of paper the exact same width as your foam dividers…but don’t worry too much about the length…

If your paper doesn’t already have adhesive on it, use some Mod Podge to coat the back of the paper strips…

Then place one of your foam dividers along the edge of one of the paper sheets and fold the foam divider down the paper so that the paper covers the both sides as well as the top edge of the divider.

Use a craft knife or rotary cutter to trim away the excess paper along the bottom of the divider! Quick and easy without the hassle of a lot of measuring!

When the dividers are wrapped and dry, slide them into the toolbox to create compartments. Use your various coloring supplies to determine how big to make each section so that it’s perfectly tailored to what you need to store!

If your kiddos are big enough, place the caddie out in the open to encourage coloring and creativity! Ours’ was placed on a table right behind the sofa in our playroom. Not only does it keep all of our coloring tools easily accessible, but it also provides a place to catch remote controls and tissues!

When I first made this caddie, I honestly wasn’t sure how well it would hold up or how much it would get used. My little Henry is not much of a colorer, but having these markers and crayons out in the open has really encouraged him to color more. Boy do I love coming down the stairs and seeing this…

What’s more…it’s been so great to have this for playdates and gatherings. Even though Henry isn’t an avid colorer, a lot of his friends are and it helps to have our supplies out and ready for use whenever they come over!

I’m always amazed at how well some of the simplest projects hold up and function over time! All these months later, this coloring caddie (including the foam dividers!) has held up perfectly. We’ve rearranged the caddie a few times to adjust to our always-fluctuating stash….but all in all…this was one inexpensive and successful repurposing project!

I’d love to know…do you have coloring supplies out in the open for your kids? What do you use to corral them? Have you repurposed an old toolbox into something really useful? I have a feeling this toolbox will continue to see different functions as we move from home to home. Next time you see one at your local junk store, grab it and experiment with different ways to use it!

I hope your week is off to a great start! I’ll see you back here on Thursday with my next Renter-Friendly walls post…see you then!