Home made toys crafted from pound shop goodies!!!

[Dalis_mum]

Right, on my way home from Hell, sorry, I mean Hull, I stopped off in town and had a rummage in the £1 and 99p shops for things I could turn into hamster toys. I think I hit the motherload on naturalistic toys. There were lots of plastic things too but they wouldn't have gone with the style of my setup.

I came away with 2 hanging baskets, a hessian 'vegetable sack', some raffia (natural papery string) and a glass biscuit jar,

Attachment 29614

Firstly I turned the wicker hanging basket into a house.

I removed the chain and plastic lining. Cut down one side of the metal support rungs and bent back the wicker against the next rung until it snapped off. Et voila house!

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Next I turned the rope hanging basket into a... baskety swing thing.

I simply removed the plastic lining and because Dali is in a tank and thus doesn't have bars to hook it too, I used a bit of the raffia when it camt to hanging it up.

Attachment 29618

Finally I made a hammock/bridge from the hessian sack and some raffia.

I folded the sack in half so it would be an ok size for the tank and not unravel. Poked my finger through each corner so I could tie some raffia through then used the other ends of the raffia to suspend from the supports on the tank.

Attachment 29619

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I plan to put some hay or something in the jar when I drop by wilkos after work tomorrow.
I replaced some of her other toys with the new ones!

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Total cost £3.99 and about 10 minutes of my time.

[Dalis_mum]

Since the photos didn't all attach I shall do it bit by bit

Right, on my way home from Hell, sorry, I mean Hull, I stopped off in town and had a rummage in the £1 and 99p shops for things I could turn into hamster toys. I think I hit the motherload on naturalistic toys. There were lots of plastic things too but they wouldn't have gone with the style of my setup.

I came away with 2 hanging baskets, a hessian 'vegetable sack', some raffia (natural papery string) and a glass biscuit jar,

2015-02-21 15.02.13.jpg

Firstly I turned the wicker hanging basket into a house.

I removed the chain and plastic lining. Cut down one side of the metal support rungs and bent back the wicker against the next rung until it snapped off. Et voila house!

2015-02-21 15.04.45.jpg
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[Dalis_mum]

Next I turned the rope hanging basket into a... baskety swing thing.

I simply removed the plastic lining and because Dali is in a tank and thus doesn't have bars to hook it too, I used a bit of the raffia when it camt to hanging it up.

2015-02-21 15.10.06.jpg

[Dalis_mum]

Finally I made a hammock/bridge from the hessian sack and some raffia.

I folded the sack in half so it would be an ok size for the tank and not unravel. Poked my finger through each corner so I could tie some raffia through then used the other ends of the raffia to suspend from the supports on the tank.

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[Chi]

Top job! I'm also from hull ��

[Dalis_mum]

Thanks.

I am not from Hull. I had to go for a university interview. I wont be going back. I was kicked, spat on, spoken to like I was scum by an older man who should know better and called a profanity. I wont ever be venturing to east riding again! Staying in the westerly white rose county. Mighty Leeds!!!

[velma]

Nice DIYing
Love the hanging basket I have some hessian scraps but it's pretty loose weave so I'd be a bit worried about a toe getting stuck. But then I do worry about everything so probably me

And jeez, I think you were truly on the road to hull....

[RubyDG]

Those turned out really well! I think I'm definitely going to have to take a trip to Poundland or whatnot and try and find some similar items.

[Dalis_mum]

If, unlike me, your hamster doesnt chew plastic there's lots of things that would require no work to become houses and climbing frames. Look in the children's toy section, the gardening section and kitchenware section especially.

[Chi]

Yes hulls not a great place lol