So the dollhouse that I have laboured over for the past month and half is finished! I have not enjoyed a craft project as much as I have enjoyed this one. As you may have read here, I was lucky enough to score this dollhouse about six weeks ago looking like this....
I think I must have always dreamed of doing up a dollhouse as I remember I even bought a few pieces of wooden furniture before I had kids - just because it was cute and I might have a girl (or three) one day!
Just prior to me receiving this wooden house, I ordered a whole heap of Sylvanian Families furniture and two families on behalf of my mother in law for the girls for christmas. The girls had a small wooden dollhouse from aldi (which Mum and Dad gave them a couple of years ago. I had done it up too and have now given it away). Whilst waiting for Sylvanian stash to arrive in the post, I was lucky to score the big dollhouse! Talk about meant to be...
Just prior to me receiving this wooden house, I ordered a whole heap of Sylvanian Families furniture and two families on behalf of my mother in law for the girls for christmas. The girls had a small wooden dollhouse from aldi (which Mum and Dad gave them a couple of years ago. I had done it up too and have now given it away). Whilst waiting for Sylvanian stash to arrive in the post, I was lucky to score the big dollhouse! Talk about meant to be...
Anyway, take a look inside...
The top room is my favourite - the kids' room.
Firstly, I LOVE the wallpaper. It is by Ferm living and is they provided a miniature version free to download here. They also have lots of other mini wallpapers to check out. You can see the wallpaper in real size here. The central 'oh happy day' print is by Sarah Jane Studios, as is the 'be curious' bear print. The other prints are from various artists - check them out on my art board on pinterest. I made all the frames from assorted materials - toothpicks, cut icypole sticks and white cardboard. The 'glass' is thin plastic recycled from an old nappy satchel. The blue cloud is a painted craft piece I had in my general craft box. Lamp shade is cardboard covered in this 'star sugar' which I can no longer find in pink online - but here it is in blue. Lamp legs are paperclips. Mini doll blogged about here. Chair was a Sylvanian piece painted yellow to look like this chair that sits in the girls' room. I made the cushion, powerpoint (!!), painted the chest of drawers - we already had these.
The beds were cut down from a larger double bed that came with dollhouse. I added the bed ends and rounded the edges and painted them. Quilts were made using cut pieces on vialene. The right quilt is a mini version of Isabella's quilt and the left is of Juliette's (real version not yet completed!).
I made the little dress and hook, blackboard, cot, quilt, pom pom bunting and blanket above wardrobe. Op-shopped 'toy box', painted green cupboard from a piece I already had. Wardrobe came with dollhouse. Mohair rug is a piece of teddy bear mohair from my sister's stash. Carpet is also some acrylic fur from my sister's stash.
I made the blackboard with cardboard and blackboard paint (and yes that is real chalk! - just splintered it from big stuff). Deer badge I already had. Teddy came with a little 'hello kitty' toy from supermarket.
I made the coathangers from bent coloured paperclips.
The book case came with house - I painted and inserted scrap booking paper on shelf backs. Red horse on drawers in this pic is a painted craft piece I already had. Bambi book made by printing thumbnail image and sticking on folded cardboard, then covering with sticky tape. Bead toy made from fimo and earring wire. Mr Men book and xylophone blogged about here. Rug made using wound wool on a cardboard circle and glued down (found idea here). Shoes were from girls' existing small doll accessories. Mohair bear made using teddy bear mohair stuck on wooden craft bear piece. Vintage print blue wallpaper behind shelving is from here.
Now let's go downstairs to the 'parents' room'...
I also love the 'wallpaper' in this room. It is actually fabric. It is by Joel Dewberry and is called Modern Meadow in Sunglow. I bought it here a while ago and had some left overs I was saving for just the right project. I think it looks great as wallpaper - I'd like some myself!
The bed is a modified one that came with house. I painted it. I made all the bedding except for mohair rug - teddy bear fur again. Another painted green cupboard. Little clock is Sylvanian. Thimble was a christmas gift from the UK.
I found the scrabble letter ages ago and it has been sitting in my jewellery box. Wedding pic from my wallet - in scrap booking frame from Reject Shop. Dresser was one the girls already had. I painted it, put paper at back and stuck on green beads as drawer handles. Jewellery dish is a shell. perfume and nailpolish bottles made from beads. Vase is a wooden bead. Chair came with house - I added padded seat. Eye chart printed from net. I made the purse from some suede and an earring clip. The floor has just been spray varnished - I found spray varnish invaluable for this project.
I pulled apart a cheap compact mirror (with two mirrors inside) which I used here and in bathroom. I glued beads around this one. Clock I made inspired by one that I originally found from this most awesome dollhouse.
And through to the kitchen...
Wallpaper is scrapbooking paper from Spotlight. Table and chairs are Sylvanian (painted white). I refashioned the fridge from another piece of old dollhouse furniture. I painted it white and added the handles which are cut matchsticks coloured with silver texta. Isabella made the broom! Made from a toothpick and some taped cut string - cute. Vase is a wooden bead with some picked weed/grass from our backyard. Bear print can be found on my art board on pinterest. Frame made from cut icypole sticks.
Teapot, cup and saucer, flour tin, detergent, plates, pumpkin all from Sylvanian country kitchen set. Tram scroll printed from net. Clock made with fimo, cut pins and earring pieces. Idea came from here.
Stove and dresser also Sylvanian. I added the red gingham. Vintage signs printed from here. I made the apron. Issie did the mini art above the fridge.
The couch, chair, coffee table, side table, phone, fireplace and firedogs are all from the Sylvanian families lounge set. The ottoman is a padded and covered plastic milk bottle top. Lamp came with the house - I covered the shade. Pencils are toothpics in bead holder.
Framed pics of the girls - printed passport size and framed in cardboard and plastic glass. Wallpaper is scrapbooking paper from Spotlight. Coat rack made from a cut craft stick and bent earring wire. Bag was plastic blue - over the top I know, but I even painted the bag to look like my handbag!!! I made the cushions. Newspaper and holder are Sylvanian.
I painted the miniature artworks (blogged here). I also made the candlesticks from beads (with cotton threaded through for wiks - mind you!). 'Bowl' is a random piece from my craft box.
Ooh yeah I made a sewing machine! From white fimo, press studs, a dismantled earring and a sewing needle. Cotton is threaded on a piece of toothpic. And yes, that needle is threaded. Lamp made from a button tool (stem), teddy bear joint and covered glue stick lid. Scissors are fimo. I have added two pull out cardboard boxes for craft supplies (in case those little squirrels have a flash of inspiration) since the above photo was taken. They pull out from the table cavities. Here is a bird's eye view...
Need to freshen up? The bathroom is just next door...
I painted the walls yellow. The marble flooring is a laminate tile from Bunnings The wallpaper is scrapbooking paper from Spotlight. Towel rack came with house. Towels are scraps of wool flannel. Toilet, dunny brush, basins, bath and shower are all Sylvanian.
The shelf is a random piece of wood I found. I made the cosmetic and shampoo bottle and facewashers. Owl is a painted button. Large mirror from compact.
You can see the 'tiled' roof here. Red poster paint which has black penciled lines. I spray varnished over the top.
A bit of a novelty having the house outside for photos. The girls LOVE playing with it and spend at least an hour a day playing and making up stories with their little families. It has to sit up on low table inside as Emily finds it amazingly interesting...as does Rosie the kitten. Vaccuming will never be the same with all those little bits - is that a piece of fluff or a toothbrush?
Look hard and you will see the residents!
I had sooo much fun with this project. I reckon our three girls have at least eight years of playing with the dollhouse ahead of them - with Emily being only 11 months. I have already considered an extension! But Stefan says NO! Being a carpenter he could make a two storey side wing on the side for a laundry and boys room? Perhaps I should give some other projects some love instead. Also, the shape of the house would be compromised... but it is tempting!!
Anyway, signing off from my longest ever post!! I hope you enjoyed it and that you will stay tuned for a little miniature GIVEAWAY I will be having in a few days!!
Do you have a favourite room or item? Do you have a dollhouse (not for yourself obviously - or maybe you do)?
Linking up here today.
Just a little post script....some useful materials and sites I used:
Materials:
White paint; spray varnish - so much better than liquid as you can spray everything with no mess; wood glue for wooden furniture; super glue for little beads; frames, etc; fimo.
Sites:
www.domesticblissnz.blogspot.com (Mousehouse - best dollhouse I have seen)
www.blackbirdhasspoken.blogspot.co.nz (another awesome dollhouse with lots of DIY)
www.jennifersprintables.com (heaps of free wallpaper and printables)
www.1inchminisbykris.blogspot.com (tutorials on making heaps of furniture)
