DIY a Gathered Ribbon Wreath for Halloween

The finished sample of a Halloween ribbon wreath for
 our 18" dollhouse includes felt stickers and a
paper costume.

       To make this version of a Halloween wreath you may use any width of ribbon you have on hand. The length is determined by 'how' ruffled or gathered you wish your wreath to be.

       Also the felt stickers purchased will determine the look of the wreath.

        Mine were made a couple of years ago, but, it seems that these are available every year in some form in the local dollar stores or with craft suppliers everywhere in the U.S. Likewise, the thematic ribbons. I chose a spiderweb design on orange ribbon for this sample.

Supply List:

• ribbon of any width, I used 3" ribbon
• decorative orange, black and white papers
• Halloween felt novelties 
• thin wire or chenille stems (2)
• masking tape
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• white school glue 

Above are detailed photos of the printed spider web ribbon and how it is
attached to the wire form.

       To make a gathered wreath, you will need to first shape the wire according to your own taste. I simply formed the above example into a circle, bent the ends together and then wrapped the wire with masking tape. 

       Thread a needle with matching thread and gather the ribbon up using a straight stitch. Once you have gathered the ribbon into the amount of ruffles you prefer, knot off the thread and hot glue this to the wire form.

       Now you are ready to decorate the wreath.

See the parts and process for crafting our witchy Jack-o-lantern's legs. 
Center, the two strips of paper folded back-and-forth over each other, then glued at the end.
Right, the felt, witch boots attached at the ends of each "leg" with hot glue.

       To make the witchy paper legs, you will first need to cut long, narrow strips of paper the same width and length. Use black and white or orange and black papers to create a bold contrast for this basic accordion paper technique. The effect is best presented with two colors instead of one.  

• See art teacher, Mr. Lundgren, do this here.

Photo details of our finished wreath for the dollhouse.

       Next, cut several triangle shapes for the body; one large triangle for the dress, two smaller ones to suggest arms and then rectangles for the apron. Use white glue to put these delicate paper together. Let dry.     

       Attach the rest of your paper witchy parts with hot glue when positioning these onto the ribbon wreath.

Make an easy Christmas pom-pom wreath for the dollhouse...

The finished mini, Pom-pom wreath is done.

       To make a simple doll-sized pom-pom Christmas wreath collect the following supplies: small green Pom-poms, even tinnier miniature red Pom-poms, matching green and red thread, a needle and a fine wire for a hanger.

       Thread your needle with green thread and sew the larger green Pom-poms together tightly. Now loop the strand together, knotting both the beginning and end to each other to form a wreath-like shape. 

       Thread the needle with red thread and sew the miniature pom-poms into the green Pom-pom wreath, all the while hiding your thread's stitches deep inside the Pom-pom fur. 

       Sew on a thin loop of wire to the backside of the small Christmas wreath and hang it wherever you like inside of the dollhouse!

Make More Doll Wreaths to Hang Inside Your Dollhouse:

• Craft a colorful carrot wreath for Easter!
• Make a paper heart wreath for Valentine's Day
• Craft a pistachio net shell wreath for Fall or Thanksgiving
• Make a Halloween sticker wreath for your dollhouse too!

Craft a Colorful Carrot Wreath for Your Dollhouse!

Left, the finished wreath of carrots compared to a penny
Right, more details of molded carrots after the've been
painted. See a larger carrot made from a chocolate mold
on a doll's cake here.

       This Easter carrot wreath is small enough to look just right in a Barbie dollhouse, but you could hang it as a small wreath inside of an American Girl dollhouse as well. You can also make it larger if you use a carrot chocolate candy mold.

Supply List:

• a small carrot mold 
• cardboard
• green yarn
• white school glue
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• acrylic paints: orange, rust, moss green, light green
• Sculpey or oven-bake clay
• Mod Podge
• thin wire for hanging

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut a wreath shape any size you would like from light weight cardboard. 
2. Smear white glue onto both sides and wrap dark green yarn around and around the wreath until you have covered all of the cardboard. Let dry.
3. Mold as many carrots as needed using oven-bake clay. Bake and cool.
4. Use a hot glue gun to attach the carrots side-by-side.
5. Paint the carrots orange and green, just as you like.
6. Mod Podge the clay surfaces.
7. Tie on a thin wire to hang the wreath from a small tack on the inside of your dollhouse wall or on the outside of the dollhouse front door.

Left, cardboard wreath cut-out. Center, the wreath wrapped with green yarn. 
Right, the oven-bake, molded carrots evenly spaced around the wreath before painting.

Craft a very sweet sticker wreath...

This simple paper wreath hangs in
 our doll's home at Easter time.

       A wreath, like the one shown here, when made from paper and stickers, is a simple project for any young child to make. All he or she will need is a bit of decorative paper, cardboard, white school glue and a few festive stickers. 

       I found a yellow chick sticker made from felt for this wreath version. The stickers "Sweet" and flowers were in our junk drawer at home; tossed inside for anyone's use. 

       I then selected the paper that had identical colors to the stickers. This makes the overall appearance of the wreath look as though it was made together. 

       The outer ring of the wall hanging is more dimensional because I cut a cardboard shaped wreath to sandwich between the papers.

       Don't forget to glue or staple a ribbon from the top of your own sticker wreath to hang it securely inside of the dollhouse.

 

April Song by Helen Rosengren (age 11)

Spring is coming, spring is coming!
Birdies, build your nest!
Weave together straw and feather,
Doing each your best.

Spring is coming, spring is coming,
Flowers are coming too.
Pansies, lilies, daffodillies
Now are coming through.

Spring is coming, spring is coming!
All around, it's fair,
Shimmer and quiver on the river,
Joy is everywhere!

Color these stained glass windows for a dollhouse or doll sized church

        Below are four coloring sheets for stained glass windows. Sometimes large Victorian mansions even had stained glass windows in the front parlor. Print, color and cut them out before pasting them onto your dollhouse or doll sized church walls.

Stained glass includes spiral designs and 3 panes.

Stained glass with fern motifs.

Stained glass with floral and vine motifs.

These leaf patterns are Arts & Crafts designs.

DIY a Christmas Candy Cane Wreath

The finished candy can wreath hangs on our doll's faux stone fireplace for Christmas.
Supplies for this craft found in hobby shops and dollar stores.

       This very simple Christmas candy cane wreath can be made in very little time with just a few simple supplies. Our canning band came with twine already strung through it but you can hammer two little wholes with a nail and string red and white twine through a similar band purchased from a grocery store.

       Then wrap wired white tinsel around the band to make the basic wreath. We made our doll's tiny candy canes with read and white chenille stems from the dollar store. Just cut the stems in the same lengths (1 1/2") and bend the ends of one side only into a hook shape. Hot glue these to the wreath. 

       I wired a small wooden mini ornament of Santa riding a rocking horse to the bottom inside portion of our doll's winter wreath and tacked on a glittery paper bow with hot glue. 

Supply List:

• canning lid band
• red and white twine
• nail and hammer
• wired white tinsel rope
• red and white twist chenille stems
• green paper bow with pearl button
• wooden ornament
• hot glue and hot glue gun
  

Left the supplies needed for this craft. Center, close up of twine hanger. Right, canning band.

A Stained Glass Window for A Doll's Church

        I restored this image of a stained glass window for those of you who would like to construct a doll sized church. I depicts Jesus as The Good Shepherd, with a staff, sheep, lamb, wilderness, and breaking daylight in the background. Doll crafters may also search our other collections of stained glass clip art at the Christian Clipart Review blog linked below. Those images may also be used for personal crafts like: model buildings, dollhouses and journals as well.

• Stained glass window collections at Christian Clipart Review.
• Stained glass window coloring from Color The Bible for crafters who wish to finish their own printable stain glass projects.

"The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want." Psalm 23

Dollhouse window printable includes stained glass...

       Cut and paste pictures of the outdoors from magazines. Then paste the views inside the window frames below, trim off the excess typing paper and adhere the windows to the inside of your dollhouse. The windows are from the Arts and Crafts movement from 1910 to 1925. Dolls like Samantha might have stained glass inserts put into windows in their home.

Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.

Printable Dollhouse Door Hardware: Set 1

        This printable door hardware is for 18" dollhouse crafts. The sets include: door knockers, bolt chain locks and letter box plates. All designs come in both pewter (silver/nickel) and gold (brass) colors. The printables are for home use and student crafts only. Do not redistribute the clip art from alternative websites folks.

Door hardware for 18" dollhouse crafts in greyscale.

Door hardware for 18" dollhouse crafts in brass color.

Easy To Craft Dollhouse Windows

Above you can see the collaged windows in comparison to a 18" doll. The garden view was clipped
 from a magazine and the horses in a field were cut from a book. The larger you make your windows
inside of a dollhouse, the harder it will be to find nicely printed resources to cut for the scenes. 

       

       This particular window design may be moved from room to room in your doll's house. You can also switch out windows like these for paintings or doors. They are backed with foam board so that they are super light weight and then attached with poster tack. (gum rubber) Our sample windows measure 10"x10" and we use them in multiple displays for different sized dolls. Typically, the larger a window is in comparison to the doll, the lower it should be hung nearer to the floor of a dollhouse. The windowpanes cut into our cardboard examples measure 3"x3".

       For this super simple craft you will need: magazines, thin cardboard (for the windowpanes), glue stick, paint or decorative paper, an Xacto knife, foam board, a ruler and poster tack for hanging the windows temporarily to the walls of your dollhouse.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

A Fashionista looks outside her window to see
horses in the field. Our child loved horses

when she was young so this is the view she

chose for our window.

1. You may choose to collect photos clipped from a magazine or recycled book prior to cutting a window template from cardboard. A dollhouse window may be any size you like. But the view out the window should be of something your doll loves to look at. 
2. Clip out the picture you want and mount it onto foam core using a glue stick.
3. Cut a thin piece of cardboard 10"x10" or any size you desire as long as it is the same size of your magazine clipping. 
4. Using a ruler and pencil measure across and down the cardboard, evenly drawing a grid in order to cut out the window panes. 
5. If you cut the panes out using an Xacto knife, you most definitely need the supervision of an adult. These kinds of craft tools are sharp and can easily hurt a child who is underage. So adults or older teens will need to help out. Otherwise, a small sharp scissor may be used to cut out the panes.
6. Paint or decoupage colored paper onto the window template prior to attaching it directly on top of the magazine or book photograph.
7. You can use any glue stick or white school glue to attach the window template after altering it to the color you desire.
8. Apply more white glue or Mod Podge to the window afterwards to give the craft durability.
9. Use a poster tack to hang the window anywhere inside your doll's room!
   

More Window Crafts:

• How to make an American Girl Doll Bedroom Window
• How to cut a window model from foam board
• Cut Miniature Dollhouse Windows from Cardboard
• How to make windows for cardboard doll homes

The same collaged window views displayed next to a 12" doll. Both 12" and 18" dolls
 may use the same windows in different doll house displays. 

Shamrock Trinity Teaching Word Art

"3 in 1" stands for the Holy Trinity Teaching by St. Patrick to the Irish. God is three persons in One.

       Legend credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, using it to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons in one God. This story first appears in writing in 1726, though it may be older. The shamrock has since become a central symbol for Saint Patrick's Day.

       In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number and the Irish had many triple deities, a fact that may have aided Patrick in his evangelization efforts when he "held up a shamrock and discoursed on the Christian Trinity". Patricia Monaghan says there is no evidence that the shamrock was sacred to the pagan Irish. However, Jack Santino speculates that it may have represented the regenerative powers of nature, and was recast in a Christian context. Icons of St Patrick often depict the saint "with across in one hand and a sprig of shamrocks in the other". Roger Homan writes, "We can perhaps see St Patrick drawing upon the visual concept of the triskele when he uses the shamrock to explain the Trinity".

This craft is quick and easy to make. Above you can see the
faux wood paper and cardboard before the fence was assembled.

       For this word art wall hanging you will need the following supplies: scrap cardboard, cardboard letters, glue, green decorative papers, a faux wood paper and wire/string for hanging the word art in your doll's house.

       Cut up small pieces of cardboard to look like the individual boards on a fence. Wrap these with the faux wood paper. Line them up with a crack between each along one longer piece of cardboard and glue them down. 

       Now cover the numbers 3 and 1, plus the word "in" in bright green paper. Position the phrase "3 in 1" on top of the cardboard fence and glue the phrase down.

       Draw and cut little paper shamrocks using some more decorative green papers. Glue these around the fence in a pleasing design.
       Don't forget to add a string or wire to the backside so that you can hang it inside your dollhouse for St. Patrick's Day.

How did St. Patrick use the shamrock?

Make a Paper, Heart Shaped Wreath for Your Dolls

The Valentine wreath hangs over our doll's party table.

       This is the pattern for our doll's Valentine party wreath posted last year. Some of you wrote and requested we include it among our crafts this year. I've also included a link to the crafty mom at Youtube where I learned how to shape roses and include them on the abstract heart wreath. You may wish to visit her Youtube channel for more holiday ideas too. Just follow her web link below.

Supply List:

• decorative scrapbook paper or wrapping paper
• cardboard
• plain red paper for roses
• gold beads for rose centers
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• tacky white glue
• foil leaves
• pattern of abstract heart (printable pattern below)
• wooden toothpicks

Above are details of the wreath in progress.

 Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Cut a variety of circular shapes approx. three inches in diameter from red paper to make the roses. To see video about this process: visit the crafty mom here.
• Then make spiral cuts inside each paper circle.
• Wrap each spiral cut around the end of a toothpick, tipping the bottom ends of the edge of each paper rose with tacky white glue as you wrap. 
• Pull the paper flower from the toothpick and then hot glue a gold bead at each center. Set the roses aside for later along with the prefabricated foil leaves.
• Next print out the pattern below. Cut from it first the red outline of the wreath's trim. Trace around this onto decorative wrapping paper and cut the shape out.
• Now cut the inside pattern from the printable. This is in grey ink. Trace around this abstract pattern shape and transfer the pattern to cardboard.
• Cut the heart shaped pattern from cardboard and wrap it in the same decorative wrapping paper to give this wreath a bit of dimension. 
• Glue the smaller heart inside the lacy larger one. 
• Glue the paper roses to the corners of the wreath along with the foil leaves. (see sample below) 

The pattern above is for personal use only.
Do not redistribute it from other webfiles or websites.

Craft a Pistachio Nut Shell Wreath

The finished pistachio nut wreath.

       The pistachio tree is long-lived, possibly up to 300 years. The trees are planted in orchards, and take approximately seven to ten years to reach significant production. Production is alternate-bearing or biennial-bearing, meaning the harvest is heavier in alternate years. Peak production is reached around 20 years. Trees are usually pruned to size to make the harvest easier. One male tree produces enough pollen for eight to twelve drupe-bearing females. Harvesting in the United States and in Greece is often accomplished using equipment to shake the drupes off the tree. After hulling and drying, pistachios are sorted according to open-mouth and closed-mouth shells, then roasted or processed by special machines to produce pistachio kernels. Read more...

 Supply List:

• decorative ribbon
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• clean pistachio nut shells
• sand paper
• cardboard circle cut out
• needle and thread to match ribbon

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut a circular wreath shape from thin cardboard to be the backside of this nutty little wreath. 
2. Cut also a hole in the middle of the cardboard for the ribbon prior to the assembly of the shells.
3. I had enough pistachio shells for this doll sized wreath after consuming just a snake size bag of the nuts. 
4. Clean the shells and then sand off the back side of each half slightly so that the shells will adhere better to the glue and cardboard.
5. Squeeze enough glue as you go to stick down two shells side-by-side. until you have circled your wreath and filled the space entirely.
6. Add the decorative ribbon and tack a small bow at the top with a needle and thread. 
7. Now hang the doll's Thanksgiving wreath inside their dollhouse just in time for company!

Right, clean and collected pistachio shells. Center, gluing the shells side-by-side. Right the finished wreath without ribbon.

How pistachio nuts are harvested and processed.

Craft a "Boo" Web Wreath for The Dollhouse

My 'Boo' spider web wreath is made from a recycled doily.
This wreath measures five inches across.

       I had just a few old doilies set aside, made or collected by family from former generations. Because some of them could not be repaired I decided to recycle one or two in a few Halloween crafts.

       For this craft, I used the center of a doily only. Doilies will unravel if you are not selective about where you snip the corners. 

        If you are too young to work with this kind of material, you can just as easily replace the webbing with a paper doily instead. In either case, you will need to paint the lace web black. 

       Plastic spiders are common place in the U.S. during the month of October. You can buy them in bulk from a dollar store.

       I used foam cut letters to make the 'Boo' text attached to my web. But these letters may be just as easily cut from construction paper.

Where does the word Boo come from?

• boo (interj.) from the Online Etymology Dictionary
• boo - means... from The Free Dictionary

Pictures of Step-by-Step process 
for doll sized web wreath.

Supply List:

• old doily with the same or similar web pattern
• black spray paint
• bright orange embroidery floss
• embroidery needle
• wire for small hoop
• orange plastic spider
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• tacky white glue (Optional for those who are using a paper doily instead.)
• red or orange foam letters, one B and two o's to spell out "Boo"

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Bend wire to craft this circular shape. The wire form used here measures five inches in diameter. This size of your wreath will be determined by how large your doily is to begin with.
2. Cut apart a doily made from yarn or paper to fit inside inside of a wire form.
3. Spray paint the faux web black.
4. I tacked my cut doily in four places with thread in order to ensure that the web was stretches evenly inside the wire hoop. 
5. Then I went back with an embroidery stitch to attach all the remaining ends. I used orange embroidery for this step. (It doesn't matter which stitch you choose to use here. Just attach the web with the stitch you are most comfortable using.)
6. If you are using a paper doily, glue it to the wire hoop using tacky white glue. Let this dry overnight before continuing on.
7. Use the tacky white glue to paste on the 'Boo' text made of foam cut letters or cardboard. Let dry.
8. I had to hot glue my fake spider to the web because it is made from molded plastic.

Find More Spooky Spider Web Crafts:

• Craft a Ruote Pasta Web
• Draw a Shaded White Spider Web 
• Draw a Design From a Spider's Web
• Just Admiring the Giant, Halloween, Yard Art on A Lovely Fall Day...

Make a Halloween Sticker Wreath for Your Doll House

This simple Halloween wreath project takes only a few seconds 
to put together and costs only two dollars to make if you purchase 
your supplies from a dollar store!

Supply List:

• small Halloween stickers 
• wire garland, orange and black for Halloween
• small wire hook (Christmas ornament hooks)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. If you purchase your wire garland from the dollar store like me, you may need to trim this back a bit in order to get a uniform looking garland that is small enough for a doll sized door or wall. Whether you do this or not has much to do with where you wish to hang it.
2. Twist the garland into a round shape and wire it in place with a few Christmas ornament hooks.
3. Choose tiny stickers with a Halloween theme to decorate the wreath with. I just stuck mine in place without adding any extra glue. However, you may wish to add extra glue if you think the stickers might fall off.
4. Now you can twist on an extra wire hook, in order to hang your doll's wreath on your dollhouse wall or front door.

More Dollhouse Wreaths to Craft:

• Dollhouse Miniature Halloween Wreath
• Simple Chenille Stem Christmas Wreaths

DIY Christmas Tree Letter Art

       Make a joyful sign from cardboard text, scrapbook paper, and magazine clippings for your doll's Christmas decor this coming holiday season. You can copy my contemporary version below using similar supplies or use this same idea to craft the words of your own favorite Christmas hymn.

Above you can see that I used pre-cut cardboard letters for my "joy"
On the right is the finished letter art for a dollhouse wall.

Supply List:

• Christmas scrapbook paper
• pre-cut cardboard letters (optional)
• recyclable magazines 
• cardboard
• white school glue
• hot glue and hot glue gun (optional)
• wire or ribbon for hanging
• Christmas tree cookie cutter (optional)
• tracing paper (optional)
• Mod Podge

       For this craft you will need to cut the word "joy" from cardboard and then paste a decorative paper onto the word to make it 3 dimensional. (use Mod Podge in layers) I've included some Roman alphabet letters below for those of you who would like to draw or trace your own letter versions on cardboard and then cut them out.

       Print and cut out the tree template from below and cover it with Christmas scrapbook paper. Mount the word joy onto the tree with hot glue. Or, if you have a tree cookie cutter at home, you could trace around it's shape onto cardboard alternatively.

       Layer words and letters, "to the world the LORD has come" cut from recycled magazine text with Mod Podge below the "joy" letters.

       Bend and attach a wire or hook for hanging on the backside of the tree with glue or tape.

       Hang this contemporary letter art on the wall of your American Girl Doll house for Christmas.

Christmas tree template by kathy grimm for the "Joy to the world" text art.

lower case Roman letters: a - m, for tracing

lower case Roman letters: n - z, for tracing

Bethal Music Kids for a Christmas Party - 

fun for young teens and kids too!

Simple Windows With Blinds for A Doll's Room

       Simple windows with blinds that will fit into any style of doll house or room. Color the shades and window trim in any color to match your doll's room decoration. If you are careful, you can even cut the blinds out and insert a picture from a magazine behind them.

Our Dolls Host a Valentine's Day Party

       Our dolls are setting up a dining area for their Valentine's Day Party! There are so many things to get done before the sister's guests arrive. 

       You can play a game with the photographs once you print them out. Try to remember the order they appear in under this post. Once you can remember that information, try to remember the order of the things each doll sister says to one another, while they are busy working at preparing their party buffet table. Memory games such as these, help develop pre-reading skills in the very young.

"It is time to set up the buffet table for our Valentines Day Party! First let me straighten the wreath," said Zoe.

"Help me get the table in place, Elula," said Zoe. Elula is quick to help whenever Zoe is in charge.

"Now spread the tablecloth out neatly." Zoe can be very bossy at times because she is so much older.

"What pretty hearts,'' cooed Elula.

"This rose smells soooo sweet too! cried Elula.

"What a silly goose you are Elula; don't knock the vase over. It's too close to the edge of the table."
Zoe loves to playfully chastise her cute little sister.

"Perhaps we need to put a doily under that pitcher, just in case there is a small spill later Elula," says Zoe.

"Here is the basket of silverware," says Elula. "I think this spoon needs washing."

"My tummy is starting to ache! When can we cut this sheet cake?" cries Elula.

"Don't forget the cups, Zoe." says her little sister.

"The cupcakes and sheet cakes look scrumptious!" remarks Zoe.
 "Won't they be wonderful to eat, Elula?

"Humm, I think we're missing something, don't you little one?"
"I think it's the napkins that are missing! cried Elula.
"Oh dear," said Zoe, "Mother will need to make another quick trip to the store!"

See more Valentine Parties for Dolls:

• See a School Valentine's Day Dance Party by SunshineSprinkles
• Doll Valentines Day Party Invitations & Decorations
• Valentine's Day Doll Crafting Party

Simple Chenille Stem Christmas Wreaths

       Nothing says welcome to our home like a cheerful, festive wreath wired to the front door of your dollhouse! Wreaths are so simple to make, you'll want to make more than one.

       Take time and care to attach a tiny hook permanently to your dollhouse door so that you can change out the decorations according to the season or holiday.

Supply List:

• furry chenille stems in green or red
• Mardi-Gras beads or any beads
• ribbon 
• wire for a hook attachment
• hot glue gun and hot glue
  

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Twist the chenille stem into a wreath shape. Hold the initial shape up to the door or wall that you would like to decorate it with. Then you can reshape the wreath larger or smaller if need be.
2. Twist the Mardi-Gras beads around the wreaths and hot glue these to the chenille stems as needed.
3. Shape the ribbons into bows and hot glue these onto the top of each wreath.
4. Shape and hook a small wire to the back of the ribbon for hanging.

More Ways To Craft Christmas Wreaths for Your Doll's House:

• Wrap a Rainbow Colored Yarn Wreath for Your Tree
• Wrap a Hexagon Pipe-Cleaner Wreath Ornament
• Miniature Christmas Wreath and Garland by Kat
• Making Christmas ornament wreaths for the dollhouse! by retro renovation