Project #13: Make Wooden Toy Food

Wooden toy food is such a classic toy. Not to mention that it goes great with our emerging home-built toy kitchen (check out our first kitchen piece, the stove).  But what really makes it great is how you can make it with a box of scrap wood. Whenever we build something in the workshop, there's inevitably some leftover scrap. No matter what shape or size results, we throw it in the scrap box. Who knows when it will come in useful?

Well (as promised), here's a great way to clean out the scrap wood box. It just takes a little bit of imagination, some sanding, and whatever paint you have on hand. And it will probably take a couple of nights because of having to allow your paint and putty to dry.

Make Wooden Toy Food

Materials Needed:

• Scrap wood
• Screws
• Medium to fine sandpaper
• Paint (non-toxic)
• Wood glue
• Wood putty
• Clear sealant (non-toxic)

Tools Needed:

• Saw (circular, jigsaw, or miter saw will work fine)
• Drill
• Paintbrushes

Cost: Under $20 (maybe even free!)
Time: Two Nights
Skill Level: Easy

Instructions:

1. Decide what foods you'd like to make. You can get inspiration from a number of websites. My favorite pre-made wooden food designer is Melissa & Doug.  Check out all those cute little food sets! If you're like me, and giving your child a kitchen appliance for each birthday/holiday, you might choose items associated with that appliance. So, with a refrigerator, you might give cheese, milk, or orange juice.
2. Cut your scrap wood pieces with the saw. Be sure to follow all manufacturer's safety precautions when operating power tools!
3. Sand each component piece (some food will require multiple pieces to build) heavily with sandpaper. Sandpaper wrapped around a block of scrap wood works best for hand sanding; an electric sander makes things a lot easier (and faster). Be sure to remove all harsh/sharp corners and edges. even if it causes the shape to be a little less accurate overall, the safety of your child must be top priority!
4. Assemble component pieces with screws and wood glue.
5. Fill screw holes with wood putty. Use a scraper or sharp edge to smooth, even with surface of wood. Allow to set/dry.
6. Apply a coat (or two) of paint, adding writing or decorations as desired. You might use items in your own pantry as models for colors, designs, and fonts. Don't worry about being too elaborate; just convey the main design of the item through your painting. Allow to dry.
7. Spray with a coat or two of clear sealant. (Toymaker's Finish is safe for use on children's play things.) Allow to dry.

This is a really fun, cheap way to create fun toys that really foster the imagination of your child. What can you come up with? Here are some items I've completed so far:

Remember, the idea here is not to be perfect, but to be creative and handmade. That makes it all the better! What food items have you made out of wood?