How to Make a Coatrack for a Baby Doll

When you outgrow your baby doll, save it from the landfill and make a useful coat rack instead.

This "interesting" coat rack, designed by Natasha for a Design Sponge DIY contest, is made from the dismembered limbs of a baby doll. If your baby doll has outlived its usefulness, save it from the landfill by "upcycling" it and creating a useful coat rack in the process. Upcycling is the process of turning junk into amazing art pieces. The baby doll coat rack will give you a much needed place to hang your extra clothes this winter.

Things You'll Need

• a 2 x 4, about 2 feet
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Hacksaw or handsaw
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Paint and/or lacquer
• Paint brush
• Baby doll with hard plastic limbs
• Craft knife
• Epoxy adhesive

Instructions

1. Measure 2 feet of the 2 x 4 and mark it with a pencil. Saw this piece off with a hacksaw or handsaw. Your piece of wood should measure 2 in. x 4 in. x 2 ft.

2. Sand your wood with fine grit sandpaper. Pay special attention to the edges. You want a completely smooth surface with no splinters that can snag clothing or injure fingers.

3. Paint or lacquer the wood. If you do paint the wood, consider giving it a topcoat of lacquer to prevent scratching and create a nice finish. Leave the wood to dry.

4. Use your craft knife to dismember the baby doll limbs. Cut the arms and legs as close to the body as possible. Always cut away from yourself to prevent injury.

5. Cut off all extraneous pieces of plastic on the tops of the limbs to create as smooth a surface as possible. Use the craft knife to shave off plastic that is protruding. Always cut away from yourself to prevent injury.

6. Arrange the limbs on the wooden surface. Space them out evenly. Mark the position of each limb with a pencil by tracing around it. Place epoxy on the painted wood surface as well as on the tops of the limbs. Leave the epoxy until tacky.

7. Press the limbs onto the wood. Leave to cure for at least 24 hours. Hang up your rack in the desired place.

Tips & Warnings

• Screw long screws into the limbs from the back of the board so that your coat rack can hold more weight.

• Wrap a piece of colored twine or rope around each limb where it is attached to the wood to finish it off nicely.

• Screw the rack into the wall or hang it from keyhole hangers.

• Use caution when cutting with the craft knife (always cut away from yourself).

References

• Design Sponge: DIY Project: Natasha’s Babydoll Coat Rack