What do you get for the hippy family in your life?
That’s the question you’ve been asking yourself all week. Your friends invited you to their baby’s first birthday party and the day of the party has quickly arrived. They’ve been very clear that they don’t want to fill their home with plastic toys that might be toxic and definitely will break early and often. So they asked everyone to either bring a toy that fits their family’s values or just some seeds for their growing garden.
Well, there was no way you were going to show up with just some seeds, but that did give you an idea!
Their request reminds you of Bridgewood Toys’ wooden blocks – so you painted a set with seed and grass-like patterns. Plus, you know that these heirloom toys fit your friends’ values – they’re sustainable, durable, and meaningful. Not to mention, now your friends can now bond with their baby by teaching them how to make toys.
But more than just making toys, they’re planting the seeds of collaboration and creativity in the child…and above all else, those are some of the greatest values you can share with this beautiful new life.
Supply List
Boho Blocks are easy to create and yet look adorable in a playroom! One of the best parts of this design is that it is okay if the toys are imperfect. In fact, the imperfection adds to their sweet charm.
For this tutorial, we created Hazy Purple, Meadow Green, and Baby Rose Pink Love Letter Toys with black accents. But it is easy to customize this same design by switching out and using different colors. For instance, how about trying Butter Yellow, Snowy White, and Pastel Blue with Pastel grey accents? You could try millions of color combinations; which one will make your little one smile?
This tutorial presumes that you are familiar with ‘The Basics of Toymaking.’ If you haven’t already, check out these short tutorials to learn how to quickly and easily make beautiful toys.
How to Make Boho Blocks
1
Prep the Blocks
Check each edge of the wooden toys. If there are any rough edges, sand them smooth and wipe them clean.
For detailed instructions and tips, see the “Prepping the Blocks” Tutorial.
2
Mix Your Paints
Our “Mixing Your Favorite Colors” Tutorial will teach you how to get the perfect shade.
We used the following colors in this example, but you are welcome to use YOUR favorite combinations!
- Combine Rosy Red and Butter Yellow to create Baby Rose Pink.
- Combine Mary Blue and Rosy Red to create Hazy Purple.
- Combine Mary Blue and Butter Yellow to create Meadow Green.
3
Paint One End Grain
For this set, you will be painting ONE of the end grain of three blocks in each color, as detailed below.
- Paint one of the end grains of three of the blocks Baby Rose Pink.
- Paint one of the end grains of the next three blocks Hazy Purple
- Paint one of the end grains of three of the blocks Meadow Green.
Do not paint the opposite end grain of any of the blocks. When finished, you will have ONE side of each block painted – three blocks of each color.
4
Apply the Star
- Cut out and center the stars on the unpainted end grain of the wood.
- Using the techniques from ‘Toymaking Basics,’ gently scrape Cozy Black Paint over the star and peel to reveal your perfect image.
- Repeat on the painted end grain on the opposite side of the toy.
- Repeat for the rest of the set.
At the end of this step, you should have stars on both end grains of all of your blocks.
Note: Normally, we would advise sealing the star side of the blocks at this point. But we have also noticed that the next step sometimes causes paint to overlap the edge. It would be better to finish the next step and wait for the paint to completely dry before sealing the stars.
5
Paint 1/3 of the Block
- Take your foam applicator or perfect brush and lightly dip it into one of the preselected paint colors. In our picture examples, we are using the Hazy Purple.
- On all four long-grain sides, paint a little less than 1/3 of the block, connecting the top painted part of the block to the new paint.
- We like to use ‘swirly’ strokes. These soft strokes create a cloud-like effect on the bottom edge of the painted lip.
- Start shorter than you might like to go. This way, you can look at the toy and slowly adjust the painting length if you want the paint to go further down the side of the wooden toy.
- Set on a dry end grain to dry.
- Repeat for the rest of the set, using the appropriate colors for each block.
6
Seal the Stars
- Seal the star sides of the toys using your foam applicator or perfect brush to apply two thin coats of toy-safe sealer to each end grain side of the block.
- Set on a side to dry.
7
Separate Your Blocks
Set one pink, one green, and one purple wooden block in three separate groups. You will use a different style of black detail paint on each of these three groups. You should have three groups with one pink, one green, and one purple block per group.
8
Dotted Lines
- Dip your detail brush into the Cozy Black paint.
- Lightly paint long, streaky ‘dots’ in a line down the side of the toy. Continue to create the line of dots along one side of the toy.
- Slightly overlap the edge of the colored paint. Do not go all the way to the top.
- When finished, flip to the opposite side and create another set of dotted lines on one side of the toy.
- Continue with the other two blocks in this group.
- Set on a dry, sealed star side to dry.
9
Wavy Lines
- Dip your detail brush into the Cozy Black Paint.
- Lightly paint short, wavy lines horizontally along the side of the toy.
- Slightly overlap the edge of the lip of colored paint but do not continue the wavy lines to the top. Cover the whole side with short, loose wavy lines. Do not crowd them close together.
- When finished, flip to the opposite side and create another set of short, wavy lines on one side of the toy.
- Continue with the other two wooden blocks you set aside.
- Set on a dry, sealed star side to dry.
10
Long Lines
- Dip your detail brush into the Cozy Black Paint.
- Lightly paint long lines up and down along the side of the toy.
- Slightly overlap the edge of the lip of colored paint but do not continue the long lines to the top.
- Cover the whole side with long lines. Do not crowd them close together.
- When finished, flip to the opposite side and create another set of long lines on one side of the toy.
- Continue with the other two blocks you set aside.
- Set on a dry, sealed star side to dry.
11
Seal the Last Four Sides
- Once dry, use your foam applicator or perfect brush to apply two thin coats of sealer to the last four sides of the toys.
- Set on a dry and sealed star side to dry.
- Cure for 72 Hours.
- Although the sealer will be dry to the touch very quickly, the underlayers still need to cure and dry.
- Store the toys a finger-width apart and on a gallon plastic freezer bag to avoid ‘gluing’ them to each other or the drying surface.
- Turn daily to ensure even curing on all sides of the wooden toys.
12
Playtime!
After the toys cure, they are ready for gift wrapping and playtime! Making toys is lots of fun, but playing with your loved ones is even better! This is the time to go and create special memories with your little ones. Go! Be Present. Be Happy. Be With Your Loved Ones.
