# Upcycled Animal Book Stands This DIY Project Transforms Old Toys into Creative Bookends By Tana Makmanee | Published 2013-02-17 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/animal-book-stands References: [houseofearnest](http://www.houseofearnest.com/hand-made-lacquered-animal-bookends/) If you're looking for a creative and practical way to get rid of your old yet nostalgic toys, then these [animal book stands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/penguin-x-moebe) are a great way to turn those precious toys into something useful for your home. Bookends are a fantastic way to neatly stack your books or items together on a shelf, they keep everything nicely organized and easily accessible. While finding a [pair of bookends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/industrial-bookstand) that fit your personality and style can be difficult, turning your precious [childhood animal toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miniverse-make-it-mini-animals) into a pair of stands is a great way to make use of items you already have. This DIY activity is easy-as-pie, and simply requires you to super glue your desired toy onto a piece of brick, then paint it with some high gloss lacquer. Featured on the blog 'House of Ernest,' these bookends are completely customizable to your taste, and are a great way to showcase your precious playthings for all to see. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 26% | Activity: 31% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Home](https://www.trendhunter.com/home) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Upcycling:** Businesses can explore upcycling projects like these animal bookstands to create innovative and sustainable products using waste materials. - **DIY Home Decor:** Entrepreneurs can develop products and services that cater to the growing market of DIY home decorators looking for unique and personalized items for their homes. - **Nostalgic Design:** Companies can capitalize on the trend of nostalgic design and create products that invoke memories and emotions from customers, like these bookends made from childhood toys. ### Where This Applies - **Furniture:** The furniture industry can incorporate upcycling into their manufacturing processes to create sustainable and eco-friendly pieces for environmentally conscious customers. - **Toy:** The toy industry can explore partnerships with home decor companies to create unique and nostalgic products like these upcycled animal book stands. - **Craft:** Craft businesses can offer DIY kits for projects like these bookends, tapping into the growing market of consumers looking to personalize their homes with handmade decor. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Toy Block-Inspired Wooden Bookshelves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rotating-picture-book.md) - [Whimsical Theater-Themed Bookends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wicked-bookend.md) - [Block Puzzled Book Nooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-book-nook.md) - [Book-Themed Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/booksy.md) - [Landscape-Inspired Bookends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waves-and-sun-bookends.md) - [Versatile Book Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/penguin-x-moebe-book-stand.md) - [Minimally Engineered Bookends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/firm-book-end.md) - [Book-Storing Side Tables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bookgroove-bookrack.md) - [Modular Wireless Speaker Bookends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beat-bookend.md)