Refinish A Doll's Rocking Chair

Left, this fashion doll mamma rocks her small baby to sleep in a coordinating cradle. (see how it was upcycled here)
 Right, the finished rocking chair with an upholstered cushion neatly glued to it's seat is ready for play.

       I found a very strange, decorative faux planter at resale. However strange it's parts, it will be charming in our family's doll house! The rocker fits the Barbie dolls perfectly. I gave it a modern paint application, two-toned, and glued together a tiny upholstered cushion to replace the potted plant. Now it looks like something our dolls need in their nursery!

The finished, painted rocker is ready
for a new upholstered cushion.

Supply List:

• a rocking chair, playscale size
• acrylic paints, multiple colors
• sandpaper
• cotton batting or similar materials
• fabric for the seat cushion
• hot glue and hot glue gun 
• clear acrylic varnish
• light weight cardboard
• pencil and paper for tracing

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Thoroughly sand the surfaces of the rocking chair so that new paint will adhere to the parts.
2. Using a small paint brush, color select parts of the rocker in different bright colors. I chose to paint mine in turquoise, hot pink, Kelly green and black.
3. Seal these surfaces with clear acrylic varnish and let the rocker cure/dry over night.
4. Trace the hole shape in the middle of the seat using a pencil and paper.
5. Cut out the circular shape and trace around this on top of the cardboard. Draw a second line around this traced circle 1/4" larger than the first. Cut along this outside line.
6. Take this cardboard circle and fit it to the opening in the rocker's seat. It should be a bit larger and cover the hole sufficiently.
7. Now trace around this cardboard seat onto the decorative fabric that you have chosen to upholster it with. While cutting this fabric out, cut approximately 1/2" larger than the size of the cardboard seat. You will need the excess fabric to stretch around the edges of the cardboard as you go.
8. Take a small bit of cotton and glue this to the center of the cardboard seat.
9. Center the decorative fabric on top of this cotton and gently pull it around the underside of the cardboard seat. You can use a bit of masking tape to secure the fabric while you pull it around all of the seat.
10. Now take a hot glue gun and secure the fabric to the underside of the seat cushion neatly. Trim the excess fabric as you proceed.
11. After you are satisfied with this cushion, hot glue it to the seat of your rocking chair.
    

Left, the hole where a artificial plant once was inserted will need to be covered with an upholstered cushion.
Right, the surface areas are in excellent condition. All these need is a bit of sanding before I paint them.

Above you can see how this little rocker was once used as a strange, decorative planter.

More About Rocking Chairs:

• The Rocking Chair by Chris
• Rocking Rainbow Toy Chair
• The Helinox Rocker for Campers