Craft: My up-cycled drawers using Lego

Upcycled drawers using Lego pieces

The fact that I'm sitting here writing this blog means I've finally finished my Lego Storage unit - YAY!!  On this journey, I've realised that I'm not a big Lego fan at all, but both the boys in my life are, and although I've made this for my son, I think my partner has got more joy from it.

My bargain purchases from a local facebook page

I purchased these two little stools/magazine holder/drawers (no idea what they really are) for £7.50 the pair (bargain!) and as soon as I saw them I knew they would be used for storing my son's new found love of Lego.

The first job and probably the easiest was stripping down the units.  I took the padded tops off and kept one of the boards.  Removed the wheels and the magazine racks at the side and finally took off the tiny knobs on the front.

Units stripped back ready for painting

With the units stripped right back I used B&Q's Colours chalkboard spray to cover the edges of the units and the fronts of the drawers... and because I didn't cover the rest of the drawers I got fine mist all the way along the drawers!   So they got painted too!

Chalkboard Paint

Now because I took the knobs off I was left with little tiny holes in the drawers and as I wasn't putting the knobs back on the drawers I found tiny 1x1 pieces of Lego to cover the holes.

Covering holes with Lego

The drawers didn't really need this extra step, but I didn't want the hole showing through my new handles.  I picked up some curved pieces from eBay and used the dreaded Kragle on them and once set I glued these around drawers to make new handles for our storage unit.

Future handles from eBay

Kragle attack

Adding new drawer handles

Finished Drawers

Finished updated drawers

Now for two tiny little units, this section took a while!  It's all about sourcing the Lego.  In the end, the best place to get the Lego - is from the store or online.  You can purchase the exact pieces you need and at a fraction of the cost the post and packaging costs on eBay!

Once the old board was back on the unit minus the padded cover  I purchased a couple of base plates and cut them to fit my box - yes, I cut up Lego, I'm sure that's a no-no on some level, but needs must.  I didn't like the look of the lid so I then gave it an extra layer of Lego - and that was a headache!  I decided to have my son's name on the lid and ended up drawing the lid and working out exactly what pieces I needed were so the wording didn't look elongated or just plain wrong.

Working out exactly where I want the wording.

Once the top was completed I set about covering the backs and sides with more Lego and Kragle and even used Lego pieces to hold together each of the base pieces until the glue had set.

Creating the back covering

Completing the back and sides

Once all the sides were glued I used no more nails to glue the two sections together to make one complete storage unit for our Lego.

So there we have it, my summer project that went on a bit, but I have to admit I do love the finished product.

Up-cycled Lego Unit

Up-cycled Lego Unit

Up-cycled Lego unit