A Day in a Girl's Life
  • | Grace's Blog |
  • | Team MnG |
  • | Gracie in the Kitchen ♥ |
  • | About the Author |
  • | Sign some ♥! |
  • | Disclaimer |

DIY Project: Cardboard Dollhouse

6/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Ever since we had a kid, hubby and I had begun appreciating toy sets that came with kiddie meals at fastfood chains.  Though we are not too fond of fastfood (unhealthy choice), we do sometimes give in especially if we need food on the go or if we spy some toys that we think G would love.

So far, we’ve collected dragons, aliens, Barbie’s and books (and belly fat, if I may add). Just recently, I saw Jollibee was offering Hello Kitty mini room sets with their kiddie meals.  I must admit that McDonald’s offer more enticing toys but the HK set was too cute to pass up.

There were only 2 room sets so one lunch date was all it took for M and I to complete the series. Little G loved it. So much so that she requested for more ‘rooms’ and that is why I came to do her cardboard dollhouse.

Mind you, I was leaning towards a wooden dollhouse but that would take more planning so I resorted to using cardboard and spending a weekend to tend to our child’s whim. This post is all about the things I used to create my weekend project.

The main thing about this project is that this is just temporary.  With the main structure made only from karton, the life span of this dollhouse would only be short-term. You can’t really expect it to withstand the force that is a 3-year old toddler who hasn’t fully grasped the concept of “fragile”.  So I decided to let my OC-ness slide a bit and decided not to invest too much on the design and little details. I decided to use recycled materials and little junk lying around the house so it wouldn’t be too painful if G wrecked it to pieces.  I also wanted to use this as a practice run (in making miniatures and decorating) should we decide to have the wooden dollhouse made.

The house itself is made of cardboard. Used cardboard would be fine. I made some slits on the walls and floors then glued them together to make it sturdier. Cutouts were made for the doorways and windows.  I didn’t bother to paint the outside, except for the roof, since G didn’t really take notice of it.
Picture
We have an assortment of wall coverings. Most of the walls were covered with either plain white paper or colored paper; the floor were covered with brown Japanese(?) paper.

Colorful tapes or washis as well as punched out shapes was also used as wall décor.

The couch in the living room was made from stacked cardboard pieces and then covered with cloth (from one of my old pambahays). The “rug” is a silicone coaster. Plant holders are from G’s toy castle accessories.  The photo on the wall is from G’s thank you sticker, leftover from her first birthday, stuck on a piece of cardboard.
Picture
Table and chair sets were made from popsicle sticks while the stove top oven in the corner was made from cardboard. Buttons were used to resemble the ‘stoves’.  The low lying pink cabinet is from the Jollibee Hello Kitty set.
Picture
The wall character on the entertainment room was cut out from a paper bag.  Stack of drawers were made from matchboxes that was then covered with scrap gift wrapper.  Dried glue was used as drawer knobs. Other items in the room were also from the Jollibee Hello Kitty set.
Picture
Picture
Close up of the drawers
The toilet was made from shampoo bottle caps glued together. An old transparent container was cut and used as a bath tub.  Wall mirror is a piece of cardboard covered in foil with the edges trimmed with washi tape (lace design).  The sink bowl is a cap of the plastic capsule of the toys that came from the Zaini surprise eggs.  This was glued onto a cardboard sink covered in gift wrapper. The faucet is a bendable straw that was painted white.
Picture
The bedroom wall was lined with decorative tape for the stripes design. The bed frame was made from popsicle sticks.  A foam cutout was  covered with fabric to resemble the mattress and beddings as was the pillows.  The bedside table was made from popsicle sticks that was decorated with a strip of washi.  The “books” are chips of colored popsicle sticks glued together.  All other items are an assortment of G’s toys.
Picture
Here’s the final look.  I know it looks bare and I meant it that way since I saw how G had kept piling all her small toys (finger puppets included) inside. So I guess was the house won’t be running out of occupants soon. :)
Picture
I’m ok with how it turned out. So now I have a happy squealing kid who kept on asking for more (?!) dollhouses. Considering I spent almost nothing (financially) on this project made me more curious on what other dollhouse furniture could be made from recycled materials. My miniatures fascination had been re-ignited and I’m looking forward to making our heirloom (?) dollhouse. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Author

    Picture
    Hi! My name is Grace. Thanks for visiting my blog - an online journal for my thoughts and opinions; musings on friendship, love, lifestyle.. whatever, whenever :D

    Read more about the author
    *****

     
    Archives

    July 2015
    June 2015
    July 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010


    only search A Day in A Girl's Life

     
    Categories

    All
    All In A Days Work
    Arts Crafts & Home Eco?!
    Baby Georgie
    Babywearing
    Bento Diary
    Going Green
    Gracie In The Kitchen
    Its A Girl Thing
    Life And What Nots
    Life And What-Nots
    Looklet: My Style
    Mcnp
    Mi Amore
    MnG: A Wedding Diary
    Mommy Talk Phils
    Movies And Tv
    My Favorite Things
    My Loving Family
    N@W
    On The Road To Motherhood
    Picture Blogs
    Places To Discover
    Puppy L♥ve
    Random Thoughts & Ramblings
    Reading Materials
    Reviews
    Sense Of Style & Well Being
    Something To Smile About
    Sound Trip
    Style Diaries
    Tech Talk
    The Firsts Are Always Memorable
    Travelogy
    Tummy Cravings
    Weddings At Work


     Subscribe to my feeds

    RSS Feed


    carbon neutral 

shopping offers, coupons with kaufDA.de
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.