Our Unicorn Themed Doll Bedroom

The unicorn themed bedroom in our family dollhouse for 18 inch dolls. In this room there
are six pieces of furniture: the side table, canopy bed, a large dresser, a rocking chair,
a storage cabinet with sliding doors and a comfy cushion and a hanging curio cupboard.
There is also a hanging banner above the storage cabinet that I could not squeeze 
into the photo easily. I photo of it is below.

       To begin with, I completely upcycled a four-poster bed for this unicorn themed doll bedroom. Originally, it was painted white (from Our Generation called "My Sweet Canopy") but I chose to decoupage it with a lovely greyish-brown, faux-wood paper.

First I decoupaged the canopy bed once white with pink curtains. Then I painted the 'carved'
floral areas to match the woodgrain papers. After this I cut the mattress from a cushy piece
of foam, covered this with polka-dot sheet flannel and then cut and stuffed a bed pillow
in the same flannel fabric.

The flower motifs on the bed have been painted to match the decoupaged wood papers.
 The comforter is a blue print with unicorns. 

Left, see storage bench, for toys or games, with seat cushion. The sock unicorn and narwhal
 on top of cushion. The unicorn banners with three dimensional parts. Right is the large
 braided rug, for more pictures go here. The floors of this bedroom are made using
 woodgrain contact papers.

Left, bedside table. Right, large wooden dresser.

       The tops of both the side table and large doll dresser feature the following on display: a large handmade lamp, a collection of 'My little Ponies' real miniature glass perfume bottles, a doll cell phone, handcrafted books and a decorative unicorn sculpture purchased at a dollar store.

Interior decoupaged with chevron and floral paper.

       The lavender painted cupboard may be either hung on the wall or displayed on top of the large white dresser. It displays all kinds of 18 inch doll accessories like: a mermaid figurine, nail polish, lipstick, sun glasses and a cup for soft drinks with a handle, a fancy hair comb, perfume, and a cell phone all displayed on the outside, side shelves. Behind the glass front cabinet door are shelves containing a selection of books, head phone for listening to music and a small frame of a doll's friend and puppy.

 

Left, mirror. Center, unicorn felt banner with 3d crown, mane and horn.
 Right, paint your own unicorn picture for the walls...

Fancy laser-cut frames.

     To make the framed unicorn colored picture (photo below), cut from scrap cardboard, the backing and then glue your own colored version of the following coloring sheets (unicorn with rainbow and/or unicorn with princess).

       To make the mirror, we simply cut a cardboard backing and then glued mirrored paper to this before attaching it to a fancy laser cut frame with masking tape.

       Craft the 3D unicorn framed in an oval laser cut frame by backing it with a sturdy piece of cardboard cut to size and mounted inside the frame. Then sculpt the facial features: mussel, horn, and eyes with oven-bake clay. Glue these features as you see them below inside of the frame. 

       Unravel a cotton ball and layer this with white glue to shape a mane around the horn and eyes. Let everything dry and then paint these features to make a unique piece of wall art. 

Paint the wooden unicorn flat using a selection of your favorite colors. Paste on the lace
to further decorate the unicorn.

  

Left, see the shaped clay pieces pasted onto the white cardboard. These were sculpted
with oven-bake clay and then pasted onto the cardboard. Right, see how to paint the
 unicorn one way simply. But, you may paint your own version with the colors you prefer.

More Doll Sized Unicorn Bedrooms:

• American Girl Doll Unicorn Bedroom by Be Chic Forever - The room includes white furnishings with gold gilt trim, tiny unicorn dolls, a blue metal bed, pink star themed linens, contemporary tulle bed curtains, a bookcase, wardrobe storage and a variety of gold accessories like: a telephone, apple, clock, terrarium, signage etc....
• American Girl Doll Unicorn Bedroom by agoverseasfan - Watch agoverseasfan decorate her doll's unicorn bedroom with unicorn toys, a pink and white unicorn theme, cute card quotes and white fuzzy furnishings and rug.

Left is a unicorn pillow with a lace mane and shiny fabric horn. Right, is a coloring page
 printed colored and pasted to cardboard that fit the inside of the fancy frame.

Craft a no-sew royal unicorn banner for your doll's bedroom

The finished unicorn banner.

       We have a unicorn themed bedroom in our large, 18'', American Girl Dollhouse. This is one of several crafts that have been made to decorate the room.

 Supply List:

• one square each of purple and white felt
• scrap yellow felt for crown
• purple velvet ribbon to trim the edges
• a wooden dowel or something similar
• purple ribbon and/or yarn for the hanger
• rainbow colored ribbons for the unicorn's mane
• a black permanent ink marker for the unicorn eye lashes and nose holes
• tiny gems or perhaps glitter glue (optional decorations)
• fabric tack (glue) and/or hot glue for the horn

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut the purple felt into a 9 x 5 inch piece.
2. Make a narrow casing for chenille stems to be inserted through. Fold over one of the narrower ends of the felt 1/2 inch and glue it down to the back side of your unicorn textile banner. 
3. While the glue dries, print, cut out and trace around the unicorn pattern below, on top of the white or ivory felt to shape the royal unicorn head and to also shape the bottom of the banner into a "V." like the sample shown here.
4. Trace around the ear pattern on top of more white felt. Cut two ears and glue these in place.
5. Using a black permanent marker, draw on the unicorn's eye lashes and breathing holes.
6. Now cut the rainbow colors of ribbon in two inch pieces, folding these in half and glue one-at-a time down the ''neck'' of the unicorn on it's backside. As you continue to glue on this mane working downward, make the ribbon shorter. The edges of the ribbon will be hidden behind the unicorn cut-out when it is glued to the banner.
7. Glue the entire unicorn head onto the purple banner. Let dry
8. Cut the horn and crown from felt while the banner is drying.
9. Glue along the side seam of the horn, folding it in half lengthwise to shape a horn. Once this has dried, you can then invert the felt to hide the seam inside. Stuff it with a small bit of cotton.
10. Glue the yellow, felt crown around the base of the horn before gluing it in place between the ears.
11. Glue on the velvet purple ribbon to trim-out the edges.
12. Insert the dowel and cut it to the correct length. Tie the ribbon onto it to hang the banner. 

Left, the purple banner cut from wool; this may be used alternatively if you haven't any
felt. Right, the ivory felt unicorn head with ears.

Left, the front of the unicorn's head with eyes and nose drawn on.
Right, see how the ribbons are attached with glue prior to glue the
entire head piece down on top of the banner. In this way the ribbons
ends will be hidden and neatly tucked under the felt.

Left, the unicorn horn is stuffed with cotton and the crown is wrapped around it.
Right, I found it necessary to hot glue the horn in place.

Above, my patterns for the unicorn banner to be hung in our 
doll's unicorn themed bedroom.

The Pajama Unicorn Costume

This unicorn pajama costume is warm and cozy for our doll's to wear on chilly autumn nights!
I made it by combining parts of a headband with a factory made pair of hooded pajamas.
 You can use the items you have on hand to create cute costumes for pennies!

 

       I made this unicorn costume for a doll by using (My Life brand) hooded pajamas that were already in our collection of doll clothes. Then I carefully removed the horn and ears from a child's headband to sew onto the top of the pajama hood. I removed the stuffing from the ears but kept it in the horn before attaching these permanently to the hood.

      If you do not have printed unicorn pajamas for this simple upcycled craft, you can purchase a pattern by Simplicity for 18" doll hooded pajamas S9425, to make your own. Choose a flannel or fleece with a unicorn print you like. The shapes of the horn and ears are simple enough to sketch out, cut from felt, and then sew on to the top of doll sized hooded pajamas if you do not have a headband to dismantle. 

More Unicorn Themed Crafts:

• Craft the Ultimate Unicorn Cake
• Craft a no-sew royal unicorn banner for a dollhouse wall
• DIY unicorn clothespin dolls here

DIY unicorn clothespin dolls...

Finished unicorn clothespin dolls.

       Unlike many other clothespin crafts, these unicorns are made by turning the full length of the clothespin to the front, leaving the divided parts turned to the side. On the bottom tips of each pin in the front and back you will need to paint two sets of black hooves.

Supply List:

• oven-bake clay
• acrylic or poster paints
• one cotton ball
• white felt
• white fur
• colorful yarn
• white school glue
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• colorful glitter for the unicorn horn

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Using the oven-bake clay shape the nose of the unicorn by rolling out a ball of clay approximately 1/2''. Press this shape into the head of the clothespin gently to shape the part so it fits snuggly against the wooden pin with glue after it bakes. If you use Sculpey this clay part won't shrink during the baking process.
2. Before baking the unicorn nose, take a small toothpick or pencil and press hole for the nostrils and a smile into the clay. Now bake the clay according to the instructions on the package.
3. When the clay is cool, glue the nose of your unicorn in place
4. Cut ear shapes for the unicorn from the white felt and attach on either side of the animal's head.
5. Sculpt a horn shape from the clay and bake. When this is cool, smear on white glue and dip it into the glitter.
6. Glue the horn just above the nose of the unicorn.
7. Unravel cotton ball and smooth a layer of it with school glue about the nose, ears and horn of the unicorn head. This will help adhere the tiny part together better and make the clay parts look as though all of them are "carved" from one piece of wood.
8. Paint the head of the unicorn white.
9. Glue on white fur to cover the rest of the clothespin body.
10. Leave a bit of the clothespin uncovered at the bottom tips for the painting of four black hooves. (see photo)
11. No paint the facial details like: eyes, mouth, inner ears and nostrils.
12. Hot glue a yarn fringe mane between the ears and down the backside of the clothespin approximately two inches.
13. Hot glue on the yarn tail.
14. Glue additional glitter or gems into the yarn mane. (optional.)

Steps for sculpting oven-bake clay elements of the unicorn clothespin dolls.

Unicorn clothespin cuties from different angles.

Craft the Ultimate Unicorn Cake for your doll's Birthday!

Left, the finished unicorn cake front. Right the icing curls from behind.

       Shape, sculpt and decorate this fun faux unicorn cake for your doll's birthday or any other special occasion that you can imagine!  I used tiny buttons and simply sculpted icing curls to fashion a mane for this Unicorn Doll Cake.

Supply List:

• floral buttons
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• oven bake clay
• acrylic paints: favorite colors
• cotton balls
• black permanent ink pen
• masking tape
• decorative paper
• cardboard (scrap)
• lace (icing)
• cap or tiny cup for the cake shape.
• gold glitter.
• newsprint
• white school glue

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. First cover a cap or small cup with masking tape. 
2. Wad newsprint into two pointy ears and one long unicorn horn. Include a toothpick or two inside the horn to give it a bit of strength.
3. Attach the ears and horn using tape and glue to the top of the cake.
4. Unwind several cotton balls and wrap these around the unicorn cake shape with generous amounts of white school glue until you are happy with the cotton batting "icing."
5. Cut a plate for the cake from cardboard.
6. Cover the cardboard plate with white glue and decorative paper.
7. Attach the cotton "iced cake with hot glue to the plate.
8. Generously apply white glue to the unicorn horn and sprinkle it with gold glitter. let it dry
9. Use oven bake clay to twist swirly icing curls and bake these as described on the clay package.
10. After the icing curls cool, hot glue these along with floral buttons around the top of the unicorn cake head and down the back to shape a mane. 
11. Now wrap the front of the head with white lace to imitate fancy icing.
12. Draw on the unicorn's eye lashes with a permanent black ink pen or black puffy paint. 
13. Dab o a bit of creamy yellow acrylic to the icing curls. (optional)
14. Now your dolls are ready to party with a truly one-of-a-kind cake!

Left, center and front show the cotton "iced" cake from all sides.

See up close the finished lace textures and 3D flowers used to
 decorate our doll version of a unicorn cake.

See how to ice an actual, edible Unicorn cake!

12 Magic Changeling Paper Dolls

Cover of "The 12 Magic Changelings"
anthropomorphic paper dolls

The Twelve Magic Changelings 

by M.A. Glen, 1907

The following paper dolls have been cleaned and recolorized by kathy grimm for little ones to print, cut and assemble.

How to Make Mary and Her Lamb:

Cut out the two double figures. Fold on the dotted lines marked AAAA so that the upper part of each of the four figures projects forward as shown in the small picture X. Fold on the lines marked BB where the figures join each other so that the colored surfaces face outward, and then, beginning at the feet, paste the front view of Mary to the back view of the lamb as far as the dotted lines AA. In the same way paste the front view of the lamb to the back view of Mary -- as far up as the lines AA. Now past together the front and back of the upper part of Mary. Then paste together the front and back of the upper part of the lamb. Cut off the letters AAAABB.

Now if the lamb is held by the feet and turned inside out, Mary will appear, and vice versa. Make all the other changelings in precisely the same way.

The Changelings will stand alone. If they do not stand firmly after you have turned them, pinch them slightly along the dotted lines that were marked AAAA.

Don't forget to click directly on the image in order to download the largest available printable.

"Mary and Her Little Lamb"

"Humpty Dumpty and the Egg"

"Tom the Piper's Son and His Pig"

"The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse"

"Silverhair and the Little Wee Bear" or "Goldilocks and the Baby Bear"

"Robinson Crusoe and His Parrot"

"The Lion and the Unicorn"

"The Witch and Her Black Cat"

"Nancy Netticoat and the Candle"

"Santa Claus and the Christmas Tree"

"The Frog Who Would A-Wooing Go and the Lily White Duck"

"Dick Whittington and His Cat"

Sew A Security Blanket for A Baby Doll

This baby doll has a kitten security blanket.

       Here is a simple craft that a older brother or sister will enjoy making for the birthday, Christmas stocking, or even an Easter basket of a younger sibling. Teach them a few basic hand stitches: a straight stitch and a whip stitch to complete the project. But you may need to supply enough materials to make more than just one, just encase they need one for their own growing collection of sewing samples.

Supply List:

• small stuffed animals with heads measuring 1-2 inches across
• A variety of fabrics with interesting, soft, patterns. 
• Matching threads
• Needles and scissors
• matching ribbons, trims, etc...

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Cut off the head of your small stuffed animal leaving a 1/4 inch to turn under with a needle.
2. Cut two 12"x12" swatches per security blanket.
3. Position the animal head approximately in the center of one swatch. Make sure that swatch has it's best side facing up where the head will be sewn on top.
4. Now whip stitch around the neck of the stuffed head, turning 1/4 inch of it's edge under as you sew.
5. Sew around the head twice so that it is firmly attached.
6. Turn the wrong sides of both swatches together, one with an attached head and the other without, and sew a 1/4 inch seam around all the edges leaving 2-3 inches open before turning the two sides inside out. 
7. Use an invisible stitch to close up the opening between the two fabric swatches.
8. Attach ribbons and fur trims for collars.

Left, I purchased a bag of tiny stuffed animals at the flee market for a few dollars. Right,
the heads have been cut from their bodies so that they may be attached to doll blankets.

Left, the top half of a doll's security blanket. Right, the bottom half of a doll's security blanket.
You may choose to make your doll's security blanket from a furry, metallic, or flannel fabric.

Left, a close up of the chihuahua head. Right, a side view of the chihuahua security blanket.

My youngest daughter's childhood doll holds a quilted security blanket with a chihuahua head.

A red head baby doll cuddles her boxer puppy security blanket.

This baby doll  holds a unicorn security blanket.

More Blankets for Dolls:

• Sew a doll's electric blanket for cold winter nights!
• How I made a redwork doll blanket 
• Piece a simple patchwork quilt for your doll's bed