Becoming a Nana inspired this DIY Koala Nursery Shelf—a sweet, space-saving feature that fits my grandson’s Australian native animal theme. I couldn’t find a shelf that matched the look we wanted, so I repurposed a toddler play table and used my Cricut to add layered koala details. It’s budget-friendly, sturdy enough for books and décor, and the faux-leather backing adds cosy texture you’ll love.

I’m thrilled to be joining the Do It Over Designers Blog Hop, hosted by Ann from The Apple Street Cottage. Each month, we upcycle or transform something old into something fresh. You’ll find the other makers’ projects at the end—go have a stickybeak for more clever ideas.

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How to make a Koala nursery shelf (Cricut Project)

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Materials & Tools

• Repurposed toddler table (or 18–19 mm plywood offcut)
• Cricut cutting machine + Cricut Design Space
• Koala SVG or layered design (purchased from Etsy)
• Grey faux leather (for koala pieces)
• Optional: flocked HTV
• Faux leather or vinyl sheet (for the arched backing)
• Crafter’s Pick The Ultimate Glue or Tacky glue
• Jigsaw
• Wood clamps
• Wood glue, staple gun + 6–8 mm staples
• Upholstery tacks (decorative)
• Drill/driver, countersink bit, small wood screws
• Keyhole hanger/bracket, self-adhesive Velcro
• Orbital sander and Sanding disc (120–180 grit),

Cutting the shelf

Plan the Design and Prep the Tabletop

I began with a white-painted toddler table top, which saved time on prep. The tabletop had a few surface marks, but I planned my cuts to avoid those areas.

Before I got started, I chose a design from Etsy and sized it in Cricut Design Space, cutting the decal to use as my cutting template. With the vinyl positioned on the board, I measured carefully and divided the remaining wood into two pieces: a larger section for the shelf base and a slimmer strip for the front lip to keep books and décor from sliding off.

To create the arch, I used a homemade compass suited to larger projects. I found the centre of the board, drew a guideline, and followed it to make a precise, symmetrical cut.

Here’s where I made a rookie mistake—I skipped masking tape along the cut line, and the plywood splintered. If you’re cutting plywood, run masking tape on both sides of the line for a cleaner edge. I cut the arch with a jigsaw; with the tape in place, the finish would have been much smoother.

In the image below, you can see the effects of not applying masking tape before cutting.

Assembling the shelf

I applied wood glue along the front edge of the shelf, positioned the lip, and clamped it tightly until the glue dried for a strong, secure bond.

Once the glue had cured, I attached the back to the shelf base. I pre-drilled pilot holes and secured the joint with wood screws. I always recommend drilling pilot holes first—it prevents splitting and gives a clean, professional finish.

Adding the fabric

To give the shelf a unique, textured finish, the back is lined with faux leather before the koala details go on. For adhesive, I used Crafter’s Pick The Ultimate Glue—reliable across multiple surfaces, and it dries clear for a clean result.

The faux leather was cut to match the arch, leaving a 3 cm allowance to wrap and staple on the back. After brushing on a thin, even coat of glue, the piece was laid in place, bubbles smoothed out, and left to dry completely before the next step.

Once the glue had dried, I stretched the faux leather tightly over the arch and secured it by stapling it to the back. To add a decorative touch, I finished the look with upholstery tacks around the arch, giving the shelf a stylish appearance.

Adding the design

I used my Cricut machine to cut out my designs, first uploading them into Cricut Design Space and resizing them to fit perfectly. The software breaks down the design into different layers for easy cutting.

Assembling the design

I initially cut the design from flocked HTV vinyl, but I worried that ironing it onto the textured faux leather might distort the design due to the fabric’s ripples. I was also concerned about scorching the faux leather or the heat affecting the glue underneath. In the end, I decided to cut the shapes from grey faux leather, which I knew would adhere securely with Crafter’s Pick The Ultimate Glue.

To fuse the layers, either a heat press or a regular household iron can be used. In this project, an iron was chosen, working one layer at a time. Parchment paper and a cotton pillowcase were placed between the iron and the vinyl for protection. The iron was pressed down for 30 seconds, with 10-second checks to ensure proper bonding. This process was repeated for each layer.

Follow the same process for all the images. I used a scrap of faux leather for the brown strip at the bottom and secured each image with fabric glue. To hang the shelf, I attached a keyhole bracket to the back and added self-adhesive Velcro to keep it firmly in place, preventing any sway when items are added.

The finished Koala nursery shelf adds a charming touch to his room.

More Diy shelf ideas

I created a pallet wood display shelf that also functions as both a hat rack and a key holder. You can find more Cricut project ideas for inspiration here.

This wooden Christmas tree shelf fits neatly in a corner and serves as a year-round shelf, so you won’t need to store it after the holidays.

Do over designers’ blog hop

As I mentioned, this is the ‘Do It Over’ Designers Blog Hop, and there are some incredible projects to explore! Be sure to check out the links below for some inspiring ideas.

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Little Vintage Cottage

Modern on Monticello

Pandora’s Box

Purple Hues & Me

Southern Sunflowers

Unique Creations by Anita

Sum of Their Stories

Color Me Thrifty

Vintage Style Gal

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

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