Transform a Curio Cabinet for Barbie

       The curio cabinet is a miniature duplicate of a much larger version that once hung in my girl's bedroom. This doll sized curio measures 8"x7" and will be a perfect place for our fashion doll's to display their porcelain collections in the future. I'm going to hang this cupboard in the bedroom of our doll's house but it would look just as nice in a dining room or kitchen if you's like to display your own somewhere else.

       Our family doll's prefer a much less sombre decor, however. So I have decided to liven this curio cabinet up a bit with some paint and decorative scrap papers. 

       As you can see, I also need to replace a finial knob on the top of this little cabinet. I found a wooden bead inside my button collection that suited this purpose and painted it lavender after gluing it in place.

Left, Before this small curio cabinet was stained and it's formerly displayed miniatures.
Right, After it has been painted and papered to display Barbie's miniature porcelains in a lavender bedroom.

Supply List:

• a doll size curio cabinet 
• lavender and white acrylic paints
• lavender papers: figures, patterns and flowers
• Mod Podge
• sandpaper
• tiny paint brush

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Dust and sand down the surfaces of the curio so that it may be easily painted and papered.
2. Paint the outside shelving lavender and the inside shelving behind the glass door white.
3. Measure and cut papers to fit neatly into the inside wall of the curio shelves. I used a purple and white chevron patterned paper for the outside shelf walls. Then I cut and pasted a water lily printed paper with the same color combination behind the shelves inside the cabinet.
4. After pasting these in place, I then applied a second coat of Mod Podge onto the paper surfaces for a durable finish.

More Interesting Curio Cabinets Displays: 

• I love these fashion doll vignettes featuring Barbie's period clothes!
• Julie Conner's Art & Antiques Shop for Barbies 
• Use a Vintage Display Box for Barbie's Living Room

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

Decoupage A Llama Dresser

A recycled child jewelry box, saved from the dump.

       Broken jewelry boxes make excellent doll furnishings when they have been upcycled with a bit of sandpaper, fabric and glue. I purchased this one from a local Goodwill for $3.00. Then I took a trip to a sewing shop down the street to select a fabric to use for both decoupage and sewing our doll's bedding. Repeating the prints and colors of the same items within your doll house rooms will help these spaces look professionally designed.

Supply List:

• recycled child jewelry box
• sandpaper
• Mod Podge
• coordinating paint, fabric and paper
• beads for knobs
• spray paint in the color of your choice
• ruler and paper for making simple patterns
• hot glue gun and glue
  

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Scrub the jewelry box with soap and water. 
2. Use sandpaper to smooth out the finishes and prep these for new applications.
3. Spray paint the new doll dresser in the color of your choice. Use plenty of newspapers or cardboard boxes to spray paint with so that the working surfaces don't get paint on them. It is best to spray paint outdoors so that you don't breath in so many fumes!
4. Measure carefully the sides and drawer fronts of each part of the former jewelry box that you intend to cover with fabric or paper.
5. Cut out the papers and fabric for the decoupage process. 
6. Brush Mod Podge directly onto the surfaces that you have cut coordinating fabrics and papers for. Stick on the papers or fabrics, positioning these carefully. 
7. Now Coat that applied layer of fabric and or paper with a finishing coat of more Mod Podge.
8. Hot glue small beads to the dresser drawers and swinging cupboard door if these need new handles.
9. After everything dries, your doll will have a lovely dresser to store her clothing in.

I chose to decoupage my doll's dresser with blue llama fabric and plaid paper.
I used a orange spray paint to contrast with the blue fabrics and paper.

More About Upcycling Boxes:

• How to Line a Box With Fabric 
• Refinishing An Old Silverware Box

Apartment Dollhouse Modernized with Elevator

      The four-story, step-back construction of this pressed-wood or plywood dollhouse gives it more room than the average dollhouse, without taking as much floor space. One side of each room is open and only one wall of each room is provided with windows. The elevator shaft is incorporated with the chimney and has a door on each floor. A crank projecting from the basement wall operates the elevator by the braking action of a clothespin on the axle. A balustrade around the terrace and a tin awning add to the appearance.

Vintage doll apartment plans.

 

More Apartments For Barbie:

• Hope buys every dreamhouse for Barbie she has ever wanted!
  

Sew Groovy Textile Art for A Doll House

I chose to layer square patterns on top of the circles
 in this modern version of a doll tapestry.

       Anyone can use a doll house craft like this one to show off a few of their own needlework skills. 

       The fancy trim work on this miniature tapestry is much easier to make than it looks. All you need are some unusual yarns to tack around the shapes, to give it texture and pizzazz!

       Parents could supply their young ones with fabric glue and make this project a no-sew application if they need to.

       I made this modern tapestry for our doll house using the following supplies:

Supply List:

• three or four interesting, fuzzy yarn scraps
• a fabric scrap, modern dot pattern
• embroidery floss
• beads for the hanger
• a long wooden skewer or dowel
• hot glue
• fabric glue (optional)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Cut and layer shapes with yarn trims onto one piece of select fabric for this tapestry.
2. Use either threads and a needle for the craft or fabric glue if you do not know how to sew yet.
3. You can choose to use any sewing stitch or color combinations to make an abstract version of this craft similar to my own example.
4. After you have finished your design, fold over a piece of fabric measuring approximately 1/2 inch at the top of your tapestry and sew it to the backside with a whip stitch or glue it in place if you prefer. This will create a long, narrow pocket for you to insert the dowel rod or wooden skewer.
5. Hot glue beads at either end to hold the wooden dowel in place. Now you can tie a yarn at either end to hang the doll sized tapestry on any wall in your own doll house.

Left, Hot glue beads at either end to hold the wooden dowel in place.
Center, Cut and layer shapes with yarn trims onto one piece of select fabric for this tapestry.
Right, Use either threads and a needle for the craft or fabric glue if you do not know how to sew yet.

Assembling A Plant Stand

Three different views of the same tiny plant stand.

       Our doll house needs some faux plants to brighten up the corners! I will show you how to cut your own plants from paper in the future, but for now, you can make a few select things with artificial plant picks. Plant picks are sold in hobby stores, flower shops and craft outlets in the United States. You can also find them at dollar stores. Try to select the smallest plants so that the arrangements you craft are to scale.
       To make this potted fern you will need the following supplies: fern pick, votive candle holder, small decorative rocks, white school glue, paper mache pulp, brown acrylic paint.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Clean the votive candle holder with warm water and soap. Be sure to remove all wax residue before continuing.
2. Fill the bottom of the glass votive holder with small decorative rocks and then pour a layer of white school glue on top of these. Let this layer dry for several days.
3. Mix a small amount of paper mache pulp according to the directions on the label of the package. Add a bit of brown acrylic paint to the pulp to color it to look like dirt.
4. Layer this brown pulp on top of the decorative rocks.
5. Take the fern pick and separate the leaves so that you have multiple fronds, each with their own wire, to stick into this sticky pulp "dirt."
6. Arrange the wired fronds into a pleasing plant formation inside the votive candle holder.
7. This plant arrangement will take about a week to dry. Put it in the sunshine if possible.

Left, votive candle holder and glass insert. Center, the artificial fern fronds separated from the pick.
Right, the decorative rock bits help to hold the wire fronds in place and also look attractive.

• DIY paper and aluminum foil houseplants for miniature dollhouse
• Assemble plants for a dollhouse or a miniature farm stand

Shelving for A Car Themed Bedroom

These motor trend, racing champions came with silver packaging that is perfect for displaying tiny cars on inside
 of our doll's playroom or bedroom. You don't always need to make something new for a doll house. Try recycling
something that you have found instead. All this shelf needs is a back made of cardboard and a few attachments
 for hanging.

       Here is an easy way to decorate the walls of a car themed bedroom inside a doll's house.   
       Our small boy doll just loves cars and old hot rods! So I decided to make his bedroom shelves by gluing cardboard to the backside of the packaging our tiny cars came with. Then I attached a tiny hook to the doll house walls and a small wire to the backside of the shelving unit. Now Barbie's toddler can display his tiny car collection on the walls of the doll house.

• Create a Minion Room Theme Inside of a Doll House
• Sisters Dollhouse Sophie & Chloe Bedroom Tour
• Disney inspired princess rooms for dolls
• Assemble a car themed toddler bed for a doll

Convert a Convertible For A Doll

In the U. S., beds that are bigger than cribs and cradles, but have a mattress smaller than a twin sized mattress, are called toddler beds. Most car themed headboards are designed as toddler beds, however there are a few that will accommodate a twin mattress.

      I recycled an old VCR rewinder shaped like a sports car for this next project. Although it was missing a few parts, I thought it would be a very nice car bed for a small doll. All it needed was a bit of cleaning, bedding and a place inside a doll's bedroom in order to serve a new purpose.

       Do not over stuff the mattress in this case, the heads bump up the padding and make sure that the cording is safely removed. 

       I sewed a simple blanket using a car novelty print for this little bed. Now the finished bed looks as though it were made for a child's room in a doll house. Little car beds are not as popular as they once were during the 1980s but the children still love to play pretend with miniature versions of these.

See Life Size Versions of Car Beds:

• 15 Racing Car Beds For A Child's Room
• Build a Race Car Bed for Your Child's Bedroom
• Imagine Sleeping in a Corvette Bed

Knot A Felt No-Sew Throw for Your Doll

Like fleece, felt does not either unravel when you cut it
or fray while you are handling it.

       Here is a doll sized version of a popular no-sew fleece throw blanket.

       The primary difference between the two crafts is the material used and way in which the two materials are tied together.

       Felt is substituted for the fleece because it is easier for a young person to tie it, when it is cut so small, and the tying method used is the same overhand knot children practice while learning to tie their shoes.

Supply List:

• two 9"x12" felt rectangles (22.9 cm x 30.5 cm ) any color you choose
• scissors
  

Step-by-Step:

1. Cut a 2"x 2" square from each end of the rectangle.
2. Cut fringe around the outside edges of both rectangles measuring approximately 1/4".
3. Layer the fringed rectangles on top of each other.
4. Now tie corresponding fringe from front to back, in an overhand knot, twice, working your way around the entire circumference of both layered rectangles, until you run out of fringe to knot.

Detail photos of the felt fringe both loose and tied.

Painting and Upholstering A Doll's Bedroom Bench

       What a big difference a little paint and fabric can make. It's was so easy to transform this little wooden bench into something bright and cheerful for a doll's bedroom. 

       I chose to cover my doll's bench in blue and orange. Blue and orange are complimentary colors. This means they are opposite of each other on the color wheel. Decorating your doll's rooms according to particular color wheel combinations will ensure that your color choices are tasteful combinations. Many interior decorators use color wheel combinations to design aesthetically pleasing rooms.

• The Color Wheel
• Color Theory 101: Making Complementary Colors Work for You

Supply List:

• cardboard
• paint for the bench
• a small wooden bench (from resale)
• hot glue gun and hot glue
• just a bit of fabric 
• felt scraps
• clear acrylic sealer
• typing paper (for pattern)

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Clean the bench with a mild dish soap and set it in the sunshine to dry.
2. Sand the surfaces of the bench lightly so that an additional paint will adhere to it's surface.
3. Dust the bench before painting it with any color you prefer. I chose to paint mine with a pale blue color.
4. After the paint dries you could rub down that sides with a bit of clear acrylic sealer. However, do not put any of this where you intend to glue upholstered pieces. 
5. Cut a paper pattern of both the seat and the interior back where there will be upholstering. You can do this by measuring these areas. If you have a fancier rounded cut bench like mine, simply press the typing paper along the edges of your bench in order to transfer the shape onto the paper.
6. Now cut out the transferred design where the creases are. Fit these paper patterns to the frame of the bench exactly before cutting out the cardboard template to match.
7. Cut identical felt pieces to glue directly on top of the cardboard templates. Glue these onto the cardboard and let them dry.
8. Now turn the fabric with it's right side down on top of a table. (The finished side of any fabric is called it's 'right side.') Place your cardboard pieces with their felt sides facing down on top of this fabric. Cut around the templates leaving 1/2 inch of excess fabric to all sides so that this may be folded over the edges of the cardboard and glued in place.
9. Use hot glue to firmly fold the upholstered fabrics around the edges. Try to work as neatly as possible. Although, no one will see the backsides of either cardboard pad, too much excess fabric will make you project a bit lumpy when done.
10. Trim away excess fabric on the backsides of the upholstered cardboard templates.
11. Now hot glue the cardboard templates onto the wooden bench.

A Walking Toddler Doll

Description of Coloring Page: pin curls, balancing hands, toddler doll, frilly dress, Toddler Dolls

Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

The Reading Dolly

Description of Coloring Page: book, reading, stripped stockings, lace collar, china doll, school girl doll, Childlike Dolls, porcelain or china dolls

• Naming The Doll by Caroline Morgan
• The Naughty Doll
• The New Doll by Seegmiller 

Don't forget to drag the png. or jpg into a Word Document and enlarge the image as much as possible before printing it folks. If you have a question about this coloring page, just type into the comment box located directly below this post and I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can.