Dinosaur Bookends

I came up with this project after I got a new gray bedspread for my room. After making a few glittery animal jars, I wanted to have another piece that matched. I also had some extra silver spray paint to use up. The result was a fun accent in my room that got to feature my favorite books!

What You’ll Need:

• Two large plastic figurines

• Spray paint (any color)

• Sandpaper

• 2 x 4 piece of wood

• 4 wood screws

• Super glue or tacky glue

• (optional) 1-2 felt pieces (any color)

Directions:

1. Cut the wood into 4 pieces. The size can also be determined by how large your figurine is (My bookends were 8” long for the bottom piece and 7.5” long for the upright piece.)

2. Place the boards in the shape of an “L” and use the wood screws to secure.

3. Use the sandpaper to smooth any rough spots on the wood. Wipe off any dust remaining.

4. With the bookend shape finished, use the glue to attach the figurine. The figurines can face each other or apart, depending how you want to place them on the wood. Allow time for the glue to dry.

5. Once the glue is dry, prepare the spray paint in a secure area. Carefully spray a smooth coat over wood and figurine, trying to get all the nooks and crannies of the figurine.

6. Depending on how well the paint covers, an additional coat or two may be needed.

7. Optional: After the spray paint dries completely, roughly measure the base of the bookend. Cut a piece of felt a little smaller than the measurement (so it will not peak out) and glue to the base. This will protect the bottom surface and make it smoother to move the bookends.

8. Take your chosen books and display in your new bookends!

Here are some photos of the final product:

What I like about this idea is that it could be used with many different figurines, other toys, and color combinations. I purchased the dinosaurs at Michael’s craft store for a dollar each. The wood was also just a few dollars, so this project is a lot cheaper to make than what most bookends cost.

I had it a little easy because I had an uncle help me out with cutting and assembling the wood. If cutting wood may be an issue, try finding smaller pre-cut pieces at a home improvement stores. Most home improvement stores will also cut wood for you for free or a small fee. The size of the bookends are flexible depending on what you desire, so make sure to have your measurements ready before you cut anything!