Hi mamas,

A few days ago I was at the Recycling Center dropping off cardboard when I saw one of those school cubby units next to the bulk trash pickup. It needed some attention, but I was thrilled to get it. I cleaned it up and painted it, and now my kids have the perfect place to hang their backpacks and school stuff!
All it cost me was the price of the paint. Later on I will stencil it too, but I don't have the colored paints for that right now.

I'm a happy mama. Here are before and after pics:

http://littleboppers.com/fpdb/images/cubbybefore.jpg

http://littleboppers.com/fpdb/images/cubbyafter.jpg

THat is awesome! Good for you, Mama! Not only did you get something useful for free, but you saved it from adding to the landfill! ;cool:

Did you know that new, those are about $300? I so want one for our play area.

You are one lucky mama!

Did you know that new, those are about $300?

Yeah, I did know that (I worked in a day care for a while and we would get the furniture catalogs)! I've ALWAYS wanted one of these (well, at least ever since my oldest child first started going to preschool) but figured we'd never be able to afford it. I've tried simulating one by using a bench with a shelf over it, but it didn't have dividers to keep each kids' things separate. This is WAY better!

When I saw this one by the dumpster I was beside myself with joy. LOL I knew what a treasure it was. Besides being scuffed up, it's in great shape. It's soooo sturdy, that I know it will stand up to all the moving we have to do (we're military).

Thanks for sharing in my joy!!! :D

- Anne

That is so cool! Awesome score!

Woah! That is so awesome! I bet you kids love it too!

Too cool! :thumbsup:

FWIW, there are directions in the Tightwad Gazette on how to make one similar. :) DH promised to make me one... eventually! *lol*

:thumbsup:

way cool, anne!

That is a GREAT find! And a great remodel too... :D I just love it!! If you look at the design they are pretty easy to make. Pine is cheapest that would hold up and I think that if you did not want to paint it pine would be best... if you did want to paint it, a really cheap material keeps poping to mind... it looks like wood... takes dark stain like a dream and it is VERY cheap. Called MDF, Medium-Density Fiberboard. The stuff is made up of the peices that could not be salvaged as boards and is very hardy. I could make that for about $40... but the price of paint is AMAZING! That looks great in your hall there too. :D

WOW!!! You did a great job on that mama! Mannnnnnnnnn why can't I find stuff like that when I go to take things to the recycling center or dump?

Lucky duck! :thumbsup:

That is way too cool! I mean wow! :eek: Very envious of your find! :D