DIY miniature wagon for Sylvanian Families

Our Sylvanian Families collection has pretty much been out and covering the floor for the last few weeks.It’s one of their favourite toys and I thought it might be fun to add to their collection with some homemade additions. Last week we made the cutest little miniature wagon for our Sylvanian Families which was upcycled from an old sweetie tin. I thought I would share it as a tutorial in case anyone else wants to make one.

Miniature wagon supplies

Small sweetie tin
Balsa wood
Dowel
Acrylic paint
Hair pin

How to make a miniature wagon for Sylvanian Families

I recently found an old Cath Kidston tin whilst I was having a clear out. I love Cath Kidston prints but was a little ashamed that it still had the sweets intact and the best before date was 2008! I know I am a terrible hoarder but I didn’t know I was that bad!

Anyway, I threw away the sweets (which looked fine but I didn’t chance it), removed the lid from the tin, and smoothed out the part around the hinges.

I then measured and drilled four holes for the axels to go through. This was set aside and we started on the wooden wheels. 8 discs were cut from the balsa wood (using a 10p as a guide) for the wheels.

These were glued in pairs using wood glue. We left them to dry then drilled holes in the centre of each pair, just big enough so we could thread them on to short lengths of dowel.

Then we put it all together. It was really cute, especially as the wheels go round!

To finish it off we made a small insert to cover the axels, this just made it easier for my daughter to sit her Sylvanian figures inside. We also drilled a small hole at the end of the tin, and pushed through a hairpin, to make a handle. Finally I painted the wheels and the insert white.

It makes for a very cute miniature cart, perfect for my daughter’s beloved Sylvanian babies to get around her little world.