I really did a lot of searching before deciding on a push toy to draw plans for. I wanted it to be heavy enough, but not too heavy, cute, but not to girly or boyish, and perhaps to serve another purpose along with being a push toy…Tall order, eh?
And then I found it, and it was adorable…and also seemed extremely easy to build…except that it requires a bit of sewing (or non-sewing with the trusty bottle of fabric glue, if you are on my team). Still, I thought all of you are such creative and crafty geniuses that this will be a snap for you! We are going to do this in 2 parts so that I can dedicate a post to creating the pouch for those of us who aren't as talented with those sewing machines that just don't seem to follow directions like a power tool. Perhaps we are missing out on the secret handshake or some sort of password that let's us wield that very special power over those machines. I cannot say for sure. But, I can promise that my no-sew plans version be a snap for those of you who have been admitted to the sewing machine wielding club…and for the rest of us, we shall be able to muddle through it as well!
For those of you who would like to see the original in all it's cuteness here is the link or so that you can fashion the fabric portion of this project…and also for those of you who prefer to purchase, you can by simply following the link as well!
Showcase: Built From These PlansI am so honored each and every time one of you fine friends builds from these very plans! If you have built this piece, please take a moment and showcase your build! We are dying to see your fabulous hard work!
- Tape Measure
- Square
- Sander
- Drill
- Jig Saw
- 1/4 Sheet 3/4″ Plywood or 2' x 4'
- 3/4″ Dowel Rod
- 1/2″ Dowel Rod
- 1 – 1×4 at 6' (or less if you can)
- Drill bit 5/8″ or 1/8″ larger in diameter than the dowels you plan to use for your wheels.
- 4 Wooden Wheels or you can create your own using a 1×4, you want them sized about 3″ in diameter.
- Wood Glue
- Wood Filler
- Sandpaper
- Finishing Supplies – This should be non toxic paint, Low VOC or Water Based Dyes only…
- 2 – 3/4″ Ply at 15 1/2″ x 16 1/2″ Panels
- 3 – 3/4″ Dowels at 11″
- 2 – 1/2″ Dowels at 13 1/2″ Axles
- 4 – 1×4 at 3 or 3 1/2″ circles
**This plan is a push toy only. If your children are still learning to walk and you are hoping to use something like this…this plan is not adequate in it's current state to keep from tipping or rolling away without them. There are some alterations you might make to allow it to be walker worthy, but I prefer not to advise you much on this matter since it is a fairly decent liability! For those kiddos who are walking but not quite professional at it, consider adding a “breaking” mechanism that uses a vinyl or wooden screw to slow the wheels by tightening or loosening it, take a peak at the link to the original for an example of this!
Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.
Right Click on these templates and either Save to Computer or Send them to print. You will want to print A on legal sized paper at full scale, with landscape orientation, and B and C will print on letter sized paper at full scale. This is why they look out of proportion below, it's simply a scale thing!
The image is appropriately sized, so you should be able to simply send to print and choose the proper paper size and direction, and away you go. You will need to align all 3 templates to create the full panel.
You will want to cut the shape of these panels out and then trace the shape using a pencil onto your plywood panels. Note: the exact shape isn't really that important. What is important is that both your panels are as closely matched as possible, even that you can fix with the rails..Don't get too hung up on this step!
Using your Jig Saw, simply carve around the shape. Use one panel to create the second panel. This ensures you have a matching pair. To sand and smooth edges, clamp the 2 panels together and sand, this just further ensures you will have a match pair!
Template A will print on Legal Sized Paper, B and C will print on Letter Sized Paper!
Cut your rails to size, countersink and fasten using 2″ Screws. To create the hole for the Wheel Axles, you will want to use a 5/8″ Drill bit so you have room for your 1/2″ dowel rod to turn. The board across the bottom is optional, but provides a bit of extra weighting and an area for your fabric bin to rest on. Or this can also perhaps be a cute little seat for a teddy bear or dolly!
The wheel axles will not be fastened to the panels at all, they will simply rest in the hole you create.
To create your wheels, simply use a circular object to create a 3 or 3 1/2″ wheel, clamp together and sand to ensure equal size and shape. You will add a depth collar or piece of tape to your 1/2″ drill bit at the 1/4″ mark and create a hole in your circular piece that is 1/4″ deep and 1/2″ in diameter. This will house your wheel axle (1/2″ dowel rod) and should be a tight fit. You may need to use a mallet or something to hammer it down onto the rod. Be sure to glue the dowel rod into the wheel to keep that little guy snug and tight. I recommend, putting one wheel on the axle, then threading the axle through the panels, then attach the other wheel.
Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School
**Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you ONLY use 1 image and provide an ADEQUATE link back to the original source and appropriate plan! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it.
