My favorite craft materials have always been those castoffs destined for the recycling bin: egg cartons, paper towel tubes and oatmeal containers – just to name a few. Cylindrical oatmeal containers have always struck me as perfect for a doll cradle. I think I must have seen that in one of my childhood craft books because it’s what I see every time I look at one! The containers come in several sizes – perfect for various small-sized dolls or stuffed animals.

• Oatmeal container
• Masking tape
• Craft knife
• Plastic coffee can lid
• Permanent marker
• Ruler
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Gesso primer (optional)
• Paintbrush
• Paint
• Cupcake paper and scissors (optional)
• Fabric scraps

Step 1
To start, tape off the area that you will cut out for the cradle opening. Make sure that it is a large enough opening to see your doll. The overhang at the “head” end of the cradle should be a bit larger than at the bottom.

Grownups only: with the craft knife lightly score against the tape around the opening and slowly cut deeper until you have cut the opening piece out.

Step 2
For the cradle rocker base: use the permanent marker and ruler to mark off two pieces of the coffee can lid, a little bit smaller than half the size of the lid.

Step 3
Lay one end of the oatmeal container on top of the cut lid pieces to trace a semi-circle about halfway down. Cut out top semi-circle and discard. Repeat for the other lid piece.

Step 4
Squeeze hot glue along the inner half circle of the lid and press to the bottom of the cradle, about a quarter of the way in. Repeat with the other lid piece.

Step 5
Prime the cradle with gesso (optional but this will quickly cover all the package printing).

Step 6
Once the gesso is dry, paint the cradle in any color or pattern you’d like! I added a scalloped edge.

Step 7
Decorate! I cut the ribbed edges off a paper cupcake wrapper and used white glue to adhere it to the inside of the cradle. You can use stickers, doilies, coffee filters… whatever you’d like!

Grown-ups can do the cutting and hot-gluing and kids can help with painting and decorating. Hit up your stash of fabric scraps for some mini blankets and pillows. You can cut the edges with pinking shears – no need to sew anything.

Make a few unpainted cradles for kids to decorate and you’ll have a great activity for a doll-themed party. Happy crafting!