Craft: How to How to Customise Your Wooden Camera

Add Personality to Your Wooden Camera

Looking for a fun way to give your Make Me Iconic wooden toy Iconic Camera a little extra personality? This easy and creative project is perfect for anyone who loves vintage vibes, a touch of nostalgia, or simply wants to make their toy collection feel more unique.

With just a few simple materials, you can transform your Loose Change wooden camera into something truly one-of-a-kind. Whether it’s for your child’s imaginative play or to add a styled touch to a shelf or play space, this little upgrade makes a big impact.

It’s a lovely way to combine creativity with play, giving kids (and grown-ups!) the chance to personalise their toys and make them feel even more special.

What You’ll Need:

To give your wooden camera a personalised upgrade, you’ll only need a few simple items most of which are easy to find or may already be at home:

✔️ Make Me Iconic Camera – from our Loose Change range
✔️ 2 x small screw eyelets – available at any hardware or craft store
✔️ Camera strap – vintage, thrifted, or new (we love Sunday Isle for a fresh option!)

These pieces come together to create a simple but effective transformation. The eyelets allow you to securely attach your strap, while the strap itself adds both function and style giving your camera that nostalgic, vintage feel while making it easy for little ones to carry around during play.

It’s a small upgrade that makes a big difference, turning a beautiful toy into something even more unique and personal.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Pick Your Strap Style
   I used a couple of old camera straps I found at the local op shop – they had that authentic vintage charm. One even came from my granddad’s old camera bag (thanks, Granddad!). But if you prefer something new, places like Sunday Isle have beautiful handmade straps that work perfectly too.

2. Attach the Eyelets
   Simply screw in a small screw eyelet to each side of the wooden camera. Take care to find the centre of the side for balance. I was able to screw them in by hand using a bit of pressure—no drill required! The wood held beautifully and didn’t split.

3. Line Them Up Evenly
   Make sure both eyelets are at the same height on each side of the camera for an even hang. Eyeballing it is okay, but a quick measure helps if you want it just right.

4. Add the Strap
   Thread your chosen camera strap through the eyelets and secure it as needed. And voilà, your pimped-up wooden toy camera is ready for action!

Why We Love This Little Craft Project

Not only is this a quick and satisfying DIY, but it also gives your wooden toy camera a whole new look and feel. With just a few simple additions, you can transform it into something that feels more realistic, personal, and full of character.

Kids will love slinging it around their necks and stepping into the role of a little photographer, capturing moments, going on “photo walks,” and adding a whole new layer to imaginative play. It encourages storytelling, creativity, and confidence, all through something so simple.

It also doubles as a beautiful styling piece. Whether placed on a shelf in a playroom or nursery, or used as a prop for photos, it adds a charming, nostalgic touch that blends play and design effortlessly. It’s one of those small projects that delivers big joy, both in making and in using.

Bonus Ideas

• Paint the camera in custom colours for a truly personalised look, soft pastels, bold brights, or even a vintage-inspired palette
• Add your child’s name, initials, or fun stickers to make it feel extra special and uniquely theirs
• Switch up the straps to match different moods or outfits, neutral tones, colourful prints, or retro styles all work beautifully

This is one of those super simple projects you’ll want to come back to again and again. It’s perfect for creating slightly different versions for each child, letting their personalities shine through in their own unique way. And if you have more than one little adventurer at home, it’s a fun way to make sure everyone has their own special camera for all their imaginative photo-taking adventures.