Vintage Toys and Thrifty Storage
August 13, 2012 by Aimee • 20 Comments
I started working on decorating my boys bedroom a few weeks ago, but beyond the new bedding and recycled pendant banner, I wanted some original pieces to add to the room, like vintage toys and thrifty storage to layer, making their room extra special.
At an estate sale I found a shoebox of old wood tinker toys for just a couple dollars. I almost set it back down because it didn’t have the original packaging, but then I remembered an old jar I had sitting around and my wheels got turning.
A long while back, I found an old green metal toolbox for Big B to hold his knife collection someday. He’s a cub scout and counting down until he can take the test and get his first knife. This box totally made his day!
The tinker toys were a perfect fit in the little jar, just as I’d hoped. (Rarely does something work out that smoothly for this girl…I don’t know about you, but I wear myself out with project ideas that have to be revamped time and time again). Not this time! A bit of orange spray paint on the lid and it was a done deal!
I am so obsessed with this…I keep trying to talk Big B into letting me put it in another area of the house, but he’s not budging…want to see why!?!
He’s got a killer collection started. Hahaha. So cute.
Here’s the other piece I grouped with this vignette, a 40 year old echo metal reeds harmonica from my boys great-grandpa. Opa was born a Polish man who moved to Germany in late 1914, as a child. In 1956, Opa left East Germany with not much more than a couple suitcases, this time with Gigi in tote, escaping to West Germany. Gigi’s has early memories of her dad playing this harmonica at their home in Germany. Now my boys play beautiful music make loud noise in our home. I’m a minimalist with a huge weakness for sentimental items.
On the other side of the room, I placed a table with a wire basket that I found at the Goodwill this week, for $1. I had eyed some at other stores recently, but I was having trouble scoring a basket for a good price. Score! I had stored my boys cars under their bed in a bin and was almost ready to transfer them to the attic because they were just sitting there taking up valuable space. Now that they’re in eyesight, every time I walk into their room, those little cars are everywhere! So fun when a toy gets a new lease on life.
And as busily as I’ve been decorating the beds and walls…
…my boys have busied themselves with decorating their floors.
Want to see more fun Thrifty Finds!?! (here)
Fun finds! I love your toy storage. So pretty.
Vintage toys always catch my eye! Thanks for sharing!
I am a sucker for metal boxes. This one is fabulous. How fun for your son to have his boy scout goals. I wish him well. You are so sweet to help him make his goals even more exciting by giving him such an intriguing storage piece as well as all the other cool things!
Liz
My boys are grown now but I remember when their floor was covered in Logo’s. Love the old tackle box!
Great finds to corral your boys’ toys. Love that green metal tackle box.
Mary Alice
Hi Aimee. I love your recent finds! That orange lid on the Tinker Toys looks awesome. Your boys are lucky to have such a cool room!
Brenda
cottage4c.com
I like thrifty and I like storage! that’s a win win situation
I love vintage anything, and the toys are adorable. I honestly remember playing with the tinker toys, oh my! Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!
So many great ideas, I’ll have to come bach LATER AND HAVE A LONG LOOK AROUND. I’m now following you!
Great finds, Aimee! I love those tinker toys.
Megan
This is amazing! Come link up! Another jar idea! Genius!
What a great idea for a boys room, love how it’s looking, and I love all your great finds!
Following from Mom’s Monday Mingle!
Great finds
Please stop by & say Hello, if you have the chance. (And follow)
Kristina
http://www.yomichaelmichael.com
Love your cheerful and inventive ideas for your kiddos.
Your images are so charming. Enjoying my Wow us Wednesday visit to your blog.
I love the tinker toys. We are not quite transitioned to a true “big boy” room in our house so I’m looking for ideas! Found your beautiful post via Southern Lovely
Oh my gosh, Tinker Toys are vintage, please don’t say. I remember them like yesterday. Sad, sad, sad that just about all you can find now days are plastic toys.
Great finds Aimee! I’m heading to a couple of yard sales tomorrow (yeah Saturday!), so here’s hoping I score as well as you did
Came over from Feathered Nest. I have been looking for some vintage tinker toys for a project. I still would like to steal the tackle box from your son. I do not care if that sounds mean. I crave that box! I will even throw in a knife for his collection.
These vintage toys are really so lovely, i am a big fan of them!