Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Tackle It Tuesday: The Animal Zoo

I haven't actually posted a REAL Tackle It Tuesday in awhile, probably because most of my tackles lately have been personal, not house related. But I tackled several real projects around the house last week.

I have tried so many different ideas to try to corral the growing stuffed animal population in our household.

I have tried to sell them in garage sales, but most of them seem to find their way back into our house before the three day sale is over.

I have tried hanging them, but it doesn't work because the kids love to actually play with the animals, not just look at them.


I also tried a huge hamper. THAT didn't work because they were just overflowing the bin and I still needed another spot.

















Then I saw an article in the family fun magazine last month. I usually see these great ideas in that magazine, but never get around to actually following through on the ideas.

Then I went upstairs to try to start sorting Aaron's room, preparing for our garage sale in a few weeks. Want to know what the first thing I saw was?



















I am thrilled that my boys love to sit and look at books for a long time, but they NEVER seem to make it back on the shelf.

So I wondered if it might be time to try that idea I saw to corral the stuffed animal in one spot and figure out a new solution for the books.

Aaron was fascinated when I headed upstairs with a hammer, nails, and the glue gun (of course).

I started by nailing piece of elastic to make "bars" for the cage.




Here is Aaron "helping" with the nailing process














Then I used the glue gun to cover the nails with beads that I got out of our craft cabinet.














Next came time to start piling the animals into their new home.














And I even sent a picture of the finished product to the magazine.



















I still need to figure out a solution to the book problem. For now, they are in baskets on the floor, making them accessible to the kids, but easily picked up off the floor.














I am quite proud of this tackle. I would love to hear any suggestions you have for the book dilemma. What a great problem to have, huh?

Have a great Tuesday.

8 comments:

Mom Knows Everything said...

That is a neat idea!!!

bethn said...

What a cool idea! OUrs just wind up on the floor in the closet.

Deb said...

If you find a good solution to the book dilemma, let me know! :)

Danielle said...

That is such a great idea for the stuffed animals! By the way our books do the same thing. My kids love to look but don't put them back!

Check out my tackle here.

Stacey,momof 2 said...

I love this idea...thanks for posting a picture-- otherwise I don't think I would of understood.

I have the book issue also...

Becky said...

What a great idea!

That picture of the boys in your sidebar "brother love" is precious.

Courtney said...

It is a great problem to have. We have the same one, so if you figure it out let me know. Love the stuffed animal idea though.

Kila said...

We used bins for books, too. They keep falling off shelves.

Fun idea for the animals!