Reader Project: Eight Personalized Toy Boxes, One For Each Grandchild's First Birthday

Reader Project — built and photographed by Carmen R. from West Chester, Pa. Share your own project →

Carmen R. of West Chester, Pennsylvania has built the same toy box eight times over eleven years — once for each of his five grandsons, and again for his sister’s grandchildren. Each one starts from a standard Kreg plan he modified, and each is finished differently so it belongs to one child: a color combination and the child’s name in raised letters across a recessed front panel. The most recent one, in turquoise with "MACKENZIE" on the front, went to his sister’s granddaughter for her first birthday.

The boxes are built from 3/4" MDF sheets with 1×2, 1×3 and 1×4 framing, assembled with pocket screws and cut with a Kreg track saw. Six are painted with furniture paint; two were made from select pine, stained, and given milled trim on the lids. The latest box took about 38 hours and roughly $200 in materials and paint. Carmen reports the oldest one is still in use and looks like new.

In Carmen’s words

I have built a toy box for all our 5 grandsons for their 1st birthdays. I have also built a toy box for my sister’s two grandchildren for their first birthdays. Each one was basically the same excluding 2 for our youngest son’s 2 boys where I finished them with stain and tops. My latest build was for my sister’s granddaughter’s 1st birthday.

The build

Project type: Furniture — children’s toy box
Skill level: Advanced
Wood: 3/4" MDF sheets with 1×2, 1×3 and 1×4 boards; select pine for the two stained boxes
Finish: Furniture paint on six boxes; stain on two select-pine boxes, with shop-milled trim for the tops
Tools: Kreg track saw, miter saw, Kreg pocket screws
Time: About 38 hours for the latest toy box
Cost: About $200 in materials and paint
Plans: A standard Kreg plan, modified

Biggest challenge

Using the same basic design, I wanted to make them unique for that child with color and how their name was placed in letters. I’ve built 8 toy boxes over the last 11 years. The oldest box is still in use and just like new.