Since 2000, DuPage Woodworkers members have made wood toys for less-privileged kids at the holidays. Our members make the toys to be distributed through numerous charitable organizations. In recent years we have constructed 2,500 to 3,000 individual toys, ranging from basic vehicles to things as complicated as construction equipment and even fairy castles.

Our Toy Committee is active in many ways, from purchasing wheels and axles for vehicles to organizing toy-making workshops twice a year. Our members donate the wood and the expertise. We have more than 20 plans (see below) of various kinds of toys.

In recent years we have constructed more than 300 doll beds each year, complete with a doll and often a blanket hand-made by the quilting club one of our member’s wives belongs to. Crayon holders can take the shape of a whale, fish or turtle and come with a set of crayons and a small coloring book.

As noted above, our toys program has been covered by local newspapers and TV stations. The plans that follow are .pdf files, and we welcome anyone to use them. When you print out a plan, be sure to print it at 100%; don't scale to fit. There is a ruler on some of the plans which you can use to check that the scale is correct. We also have some information  related to finishes for toys.

2024 Toy Collection

Thanks to Sara Machi of CBS 2 News Chicago for creating and airing this video on our toy donations. In 2024 we collected and donated around 3000 toys which were given to local charities.

And Ron and Michael Colliander dropped off some toys at the WGN Toy Drive

Here are a few photos of the tables of toys in 2023. Plans for these toys are listed at the bottom of the page. We hold workshops to teach people how to make some of these toys several times a year. Watch the activities listings throughout the year for information on workshops.

The plans are .pdf files. When you print them, be sure to print them at 100%, don't scale to fit. There is a ruler on some of the plans which you can use to double check that the scale is correct.

We also have some information about regulations related to finishes for toys.

Biplane

Larger view
Biplane Plan (.pdf file)

Car

Larger view
Car Plan (.pdf file)
Car (SketchUp file)

City Car

Larger view
City Car Plan (.pdf file)
City Car (SketchUp file)

Coupe

Larger view
Coupe Plan (.pdf file)
Coupe (SketchUp file)

Coupe 2

Larger view
Coupe 2 Plan (.pdf file)

Whale Crayon Holder

Larger view
Whale Crayon Holder (.pdf file)

Fish Crayon Holder

Larger view
Fish Crayon Holder Plan (.pdf file)
Fish Crayon Holder (SketchUp file)

Turtle Crayon Holder

Larger view
Turtle Crayon Holder Plan (.pdf file)
Turtle Crayon Holder (SketchUp file)

Helicopter

Larger view
Helicopter Plan (.pdf file)
Helicopter (SketchUp file)

Sliding Lid Boxes

Instructions and resources

Keeper Box

Larger view
Keeper Box Plan (.pdf file)
Keeper Box (SketchUp file)

Molly-E Tugboat

Larger view
Alternate view
Molly-E Tugboat Plan (.pdf file)
Molly-E Tugboat (SketchUp file)

Panel Truck

Larger view
Panel Truck Plan (.pdf file)
Panel Truck(SketchUp file)

Rocking Horse

Larger view
Rocking Horse Plan (.pdf file)
Rocking Horse (SketchUp file)

Safari and Farm Animals

Larger view
Safari and Farm Animals Plan (.pdf file)
Safari Animals (SketchUp file)

Tanker Truck

Larger view
Alternate view
Tanker Truck Plan (.pdf file)
Tanker Truck (SketchUp file) Larger view
Without doll and quilt
Detail
Original Doll Bed Plan (.pdf file)
Longer Doll Bed Plan (fits Barbie) (.pdf file) Weblog about constructing the router table

Chair

Larger view
Chair Plan (.pdf file)

Chest of Drawers - Three Drawers

Larger view
Chest Plans (.pdf file)

End Table

Larger view
End Table Plan (.pdf file)

Hutch

Larger view
Hutch Plan (.pdf file)

Lamps

Larger view
Lamps Plan (.pdf file)

Table

Larger view
Table Plan (.pdf file)