Time to pick up your toys in 30 seconds or less.
 

Something I made for my GD. I cut up a badly made dress - it just happened to be pieced. On the long side I put some handles straddling the center of each side - then I put a loop on one side and an old spool on the other side - between the handles - lined it. Lay it out flat to play with little toys. When ready to put it all away, you fold the sides in thirds then grab the handles and hang it up.
To play with the toy toter open it up and play - nicely defined play area.
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Fold one end in thirds.
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Then the other
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put the spool through the loop and pick up by the handles - less than 30 seconds to pick up the toys.
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Use some ugly old double knit polyester, an old towel, canvas with roads drawn on, that ugly quilt that didn't turn out, pieced blue jeans, something pretty with lace edges, what ever works for you - any size.

What a creative handy item!!! Necessity is such a creative motivator! I love your signature saying!!!!

Thanks for sharing what a great idea.

What a great idea!! Thank you for sharing.

What a great idea! Now, could you please tell me how to get my GDS to play with his toys only in one place?!?! LOL :D

They catch on real fast when they can keep Legos creations together and still put them away quick. I would start at a table with just a few things. Show them how fast it can be put away. I made some of those when my son was 4. He hated to put away his Legos. It drove me crazy to step on them at night. At first, I just took away anything that was found off the mat. The next trick was to keep his little sister away from his mat. I made her some too. Start small - just a few things. It helped to have a hook to hang the mat on.

Thanks, Miriam! I'll make him a mat and give that a try. I recall stepping on DDs legos when she was small. I used to confiscate them. I recently found a few I'd put away many years ago and returned them to her. She got a good laugh out of it. Now it's her turn! :)

Love your idea, will make one for the camper, the grand kids can pick out the fabric......

Great Ideal Thanks :)

Pure genius! It's very timely for me because I just recently bought a Bob the Builder panel on eBay, and I was wondering what to do with it. My grandson will be able to roll his little cars around on the street scene on the panel and then easily put them all away. Love it! Thanks for sharing this idea!

I wish I had a Bob the Builder panel... My little GS thinks he IS Bob. He wears the hard hat and the bib overalls. I recently found Bob's little plaid shirt at the thrift store - it is waiting for Wilbur's birthday. He has never seen a tool he doesn't love.

If you can convince the kid to use the mat they are very handy. It is so easy to change out a set of toys. I think we stayed up all night one night making a mat with streets back in the day. Instead of a button or a spool to hold it you can also use velcro. I betcha some ponies would go on a mat real nice too.

What a fabulous idea for the wee ones!! Now if I can only remember it when the grandkids start coming along...

You can make one out of a circle too. Cut a large circle, put bias tape around the edge and then some loops for a draw string. You can also put in grommets and a draw string. I found it hard for my son to deal with the string when he was playing - that was why I came up with the fold over mat.

Great idea, thanks for sharing!

how clever to think of that. Several would be great to have on hand...boys and girls would both like one I bet. Real cute and looks so good 'pulled together'. Thanks for sharing.

Vickey Stamps

It can be any material and any size. It is best to tuck the toys into the center - nothing falls out that way. The button and loop are only a precaution. Even a bath towel works but something to match up with the toy would be helpful. Now days there are fabrics with all kinds that could be quilted or appliqued into the mix. I did not use batting in the one I made but it might even things out a bit to have something in the middle - then again just a plain hemmed fabric might be just the ticket.

I wish I had thought of that when my kids were small.

Great ideas...wonder how they would work for "big kids'" (like me) to put travel stuff into. I can see the round one with pockets that open toward the perimeter but nearly meet at the bottom to put stuff into. Lots of ideas brewing. Thanks for giving my brain a jump start.

OK everybody post pictures when you get one made!!!

Miriam.................you REALLY should patent this and make a fortune! Hurry before someone else does it! It's a great idea.

Too late I betcha. Make a few up - way too easy to do.

While I don't have little ones with toys anymore I can take something away from this. I love the spool closing idea and will use it next time I make a tote/purse... :)

Thanks again for sharing this idea! I have finished mine in time for my next visit to my GS and posted the pictures here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...n-t197941.html

I made another one for DGS just fold on the lines. Oh and I need to add a button to the front for the loop to close it:
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here is it open
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The mats work well if they aren't too big. If the mat is too big it drags when you carry it. But a big mat does have some advantages...

I had to dig this up because we have another grand baby on the way. It seems to me this design should work very nicely as a portable changing mat. I'll be shopping for PUL fabric to make it waterproof. I love the elegant simplicity of your design, and how versatile it is. Thanks, again!

I'm glad you like it. I'm betting for a change pad you could put a couple pockets on it.

Nice - there's a great one on Etsy here that has pockets in it.

Hi! I'm the owner of Bee Sew Happy Boutique, thanks for sharing my car caddy! I've worked hard to perfect the design of this item. It is handy for being on the go with your kids :)

VERY cute idea.

Thank you. I worked very hard back in 1980 to perfect my design...

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

what a great idea, and such a creative use for a play mat!

Wow! what a great idea..Thank

miriam
Thank you for your post. I will be having a grand baby soon (my first) and have been making thing for baby. I think this is a wonderful idea. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I would greatly like any other ideas anyone has. It has been a long time since I have had a "little one" (daughter is 37) so I need all the help I can get.

That is a great idea, No little ones around anymore but I will tell my GD because she has a two yr old.

These would make a nice last minute gift.

great idea///////////////

I remember this post, how could I have forgotten about it? Such a great idea. Passed it on to a friend with 3 little ones. She loves the idea.