Rainbow Bins for Your Car Inspired by Disney Pixar’s Inside Out

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InsideOutEmotions #CollectiveBias

Two months ago, Charlie and Jack spotted Fear from Disney Pixar’s Inside Out on an advertisement outside. Every single time we passed it, they would remind me that the movie was coming out and exactly what day it would arrive in theaters. To say they were excited to learn more about their feelings would be an understatement.

Meet the characters of Inside Out: Joy, Fear, Anger, Sadness and Disgust – the emotions that live in each of our minds

We managed to convince daddy to head to the movies on Father’s Day. So we brought along our new plush friends from Walmart and made sure to take a picture in front of the huge poster there before the show (don’t mind the quality – phone style).

The  movie was as amazing as expected and I mostly identified with Disgust (oh hey, Mindy Kaling). The boys selected their favorites and we are still waiting for daddy’s hair to burst into flames. We talked with the boys after the movie about what emotions feel like and different circumstances in life that might cause different emotions. With boys, they usually express themselves in a physical way, so we talked about the importance of using our words to express how we are feeling.

Since seeing the movie, the boys bring their characters EVERYWHERE so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give them a special space in our car. We created rainbow bins that fit perfectly between the car seats, are stackable, and provide additional storage for books, snacks, and our favorite #InsideOutEmotions.

See how closely they snuggle? That must be how it is in my mind…overcrowded!

I grabbed some beautiful colorful tulle pieces from Walmart in colors to match the characters. About 1 yard of each will do. I also picked up two stackable bins from the kitchen and organization section – approximately $3 each.

Next, I grabbed a helper and set to work.

1. Fold your tulle in half a few times and then cut a strip that’s about one inch wide. I fold the tulle so that the strip is relatively uniform and I don’t feel like I’m chasing it with my scissors.

2. Begin with the bottom row and weave the pieces in and out – making a basket weaving effect. Charlie had a great time doing this part. We practiced the colors of the rainbow (ROYGBIV) and he worked on hand-eye coordination as well as fine motor skills. It also kept him busy – mama approved!

3. Be sure that your colors match up and weave in the same direction. Step 3 shows you what two rows completed look like.

4. The inside will have corners that seem longer. On the other side of the bin, the fabric will be on the outside and create a nice finished look.

5. Finish the tulle stripe by tying in a bow. Finish each row in the same way.

6. When finished, snip the folded end of each bow creating a fluffier effect. This was my favorite part.

Ta-da! Your rainbow bins are complete and ready for some Inside Out snuggles. These bins are great because they work well in the car, in the trunk, and make a great addition to your toy shelf.

Hey Anger! Check out the beautiful rainbow underneath and the puffs on the front. The bins are a perfect addition to the backseat.

Even better, the bins double as a character bed and Disgust seems like she could use a nap.

With stacks of bins, you can add in whatever you need for short or long road trips. Books, coloring pages, art supplies and they will easily fit in the bottom and be more accessible in the top bin. If you need more space on the seat, bins will fit nicely below their feet.

You can also print our How Do You Feel flashcards to help them express their feelings while you’re driving. Sometimes, it’s easier for kids to show how they are feeling rather than trying to find the right words. They can either grab their flashcards or a character and you know right away how they are feeling in that moment.

These flashcards are simple to put together and make a great addition both in the car and in your home. By laminating them, you can use a dry erase marker and use them over and over again. I created a set for each boy and make sure to bring them along when they might be struggling to express themselves. A picture says a thousand words.

You need our printables: cover page + characters: {Fear | Disgust | Joy | Sadness | Anger} (print and laminate), a hole punch, and binder rings that can be found in the craft section.

The flashcards can be used over and over again to express feelings and emotions.

I even took the opportunity to express myself a little bit over the mess the boys had created!

Ready to snag your own Inside Out toys? Head to Walmart in the toy aisle and look for the end caps with Inside Out goodies. Plan to buy one of each because they are just too cute to try to decide between.

We’re already counting down until the DVD release. Until then, we plan to snuggle up with our #InsideOutEmotions and travel with them in style.

How will you help your kids show their emotions Inside Out?