From Thrift Store Tool Caddy to Grandma’s Helper Gift

Sometimes I find something at a thrift store and know exactly what I want to do with it. Other times, I bring something home simply because it has potential.

This little wooden tool caddy was one of those finds that didn’t look particularly exciting at first. But it was sturdy, a great size for little hands, and had all those divided compartments just waiting to hold something fun.

And eventually, I knew exactly who it was for: my granddaughter, Violet.

Starting with an ordinary thrift-store find

You've probably seen wooden caddies like this one at thrift stores, yard sales and flea markets. They may have originally been intended for tools, gardening supplies or craft supplies — but that's the fun of thrifting. We don't have to use things for their original purpose!

I gave the caddy a good cleaning and then painted it with DIY Paint Petticoat Pink.

Once the paint was dry, I protected it with DIY Big Top Liquid Top Coat. Since this was going to be a child's toy rather than something sitting prettily on a shelf, I wanted a durable finish that could stand up to lots of play.

After the Big Top had dried, I used my Cricut to cut Violet's name from adhesive vinyl and added it to the front.

Turning Cricut images into felt tool patterns

Now I needed some tools!

Rather than starting with sewing patterns, I searched Cricut Design Space for tool images. I found shapes for things like a hammer, wrench, screwdriver, saw, pliers and square and used those images to create my own paper patterns.

After cutting the paper patterns, I placed each one on felt and cut approximately 1/2 inch beyond the pattern shape to leave room for stitching and trimming.

I used different colors of felt for the various parts of each tool — because apparently Grandma's toolbox has absolutely no need to follow traditional tool-color rules!

I layered the felt pieces wrong sides together and machine stitched around the outside, leaving a small opening for stuffing. After adding just enough stuffing to give each tool a little dimension, I stitched the opening closed.

Finally, I trimmed around the outside edges with pinking shears.

And suddenly my little pile of felt scraps had become a very colorful set of tools!

Every Grandma's Helper needs an apron

Of course, if Violet was going to have her own toolbox, she needed an official Grandma's Helper apron, too.

I made the apron from a piece of drop cloth I already had on hand. The blue trim and ties were another bit of repurposing: they came from a fabric belt I'd been given as a gift but no longer wore.

I added “Grandma's Helper” to the front, and it was ready to go.

This is one of the things I love most about creating from thrifted and leftover materials. Individually, none of these things were particularly special — an ordinary wooden caddy, felt scraps, drop cloth and an unused fabric belt.

Put them together with some paint, a Cricut and a little imagination, though, and they became something made especially for my granddaughter.

A little helper's tool kit

The finished caddy holds all of Violet's soft tools, and her apron can hang right over the handle when she's not wearing it.

I love a good furniture makeover, but upcycling doesn't always have to involve a dresser or cabinet. Sometimes the most satisfying projects start with the simplest thrift-store finds.

So the next time you pass one of those plain little wooden caddies at a thrift store, take another look.

It might just be waiting for its next job.

Happy upcycling!
Amy
Crazy 4 Castors