The End of Whitefoot's Worries

' You  never  can  tell !  You  never  can  tell !
Things  going  wrong  will  often  end  well. ' Whitefoot

       The  next  time  you  meet  him just  ask  Whitefoot  if  this  isn't  so. Things  had  been  going  very  wrong for  Whitefoot.  It  had  begun  to look  to  Whitefoot  as  if  he  would  no longer  have  a  snug,  hidden  little home  in  Farmer  Brown's  sugar-house.  The  pile  of  wood  under  which he  had  made  that  snug  little  home was  disappearing  so  fast  that  it began  to  look  as  if  in  a  little  while there  would  be  no  wood  at  all.
       Whitefoot  quite  lost  his  appetite. He  no  longer  came  out  to  take  food from  Farmer  Brown's  boy's  hand. He  stayed  right  in  his  snug  little home  and  worried.
       Now  Farmer  Brown's  child  had not  once  thought  of  the  trouble  he was  making.  He  wondered  what had  become  of  Whitefoot,  and  in  his turn  he  began  to  worry.  He  was afraid  that  something  had  happened to  his  little  friend.  He  was  thinking of  this  as  he  fed  the  sticks  of wood  to  the  fire  for  boiling  the  sap to  make  syrup  and  sugar.  Finally, as  he  pulled  away  two  big  sticks, he  saw  something  that  made  him whistle  with  surprise.  It  was Whitefoot's  nest  which  he  had  so cleverly  hidden  way  down  underneath that  pile  of  wood  when  he had  first  moved  into  the  sugar-house.
       With  a  frightened  little  squeak, Whitefoot  ran  out  scurried  across the  little  sugar-house  and  out though  the  open  door.
       Farmer  Brown's  boy  understood. He  understood  perfectly that  little  people  like  Whitefoot want  their  homes  hidden  away  in the  dark.  ''Poor  little  chap''  said Farmer  Brown 's  boy.  ''He  had a  regular  castle  here  and  we have  destroyed  it.  He's  got  the snuggest  kind  of  a  little  nest  here, but  he  won't  come  back  to  it  so long  as  it  is  right  out  in  plain sight.  He  probably  thinks  we have  been  hunting  for  this  little home  of  his.  Hello!  Here 's  his storehouse!  I 've  often  wondered how    the    little    rascal    could    eat so  much,  but  now  I  understand. He  stored  away  here  more  than half  of  the  good  things  I  have given  him.  I  am  glad  he  did. If  he  hadn't,  he  might  not  come back,  but  I  feel  sure  that  tonight, when  all  is  quiet,  he  will  come back  to  take  away  all  his  food. I  must  do  something  to  keep  him here."
       Farmer  Brown's  boy  sat  down to  think  things  over.  Then  he got  an  old  box  and  made  a  little round  hole  in  one  end  of  it. Very  carefully  he  took  up  Whitefoot's  nest  and  placed  it under the  old  box  in  the  darkest  corner of  the  sugar-house.  Then  he carried  all  Whitefoot's  supplies over   there    and    put    them    under the  box.  He  went  outside,  and got  some  branches  of hemlock  and threw  these  in  a  little  pile  over the  box.  After  this  he  scattered some  crumbs  just outside.
       Late  that  night  Whitefoot  did come  back.  The  crumbs  led  him to  the  old  box.  He  crept inside. There  was  his  snug  little  home! All  in  a  second  Whitefoot  understood, and  trust  and happiness returned. 

Back and Next

Whitefoot Grows Anxious

 'Tis  sad  indeed  to  trust  a  friend
Then  have  that  trust  abruptly  end.' Whitefoot.

       I  know  of  nothing  that  is more  sad  than  to  feel  that  a friend  is  no  longer  to  be  trusted. There  came  a  time  when  Whitefoot  the  Wood  Mouse  almost  had this  feeling.  It  was  a  very, very anxious  time  for  Whitefoot.
       You  see,  Whitefoot  and  Farmer Brown's  son  had  become  the very  best  of  friends  there  in the little  sugar-house.  They  had become    such    good    friends     that  Whitefoot  did  not  hesitate to  take food  from  the  hands  of  Farmer Brown's  boy.  Never  in  all  his life  had  he  had  so  much to  eat or  such  good  things  to  eat.  He was  getting  so  fat  that  his  handsome little  coat  was uncomfortably tight.  He  ran  about  fearlessly while  Farmer  Brown  and  his son  were  making maple syrup  and  maple  sugar.  He  had even  lost  his  fear  of  Bowser the  Hound,  for  Bowser  had  paid no  attention  to  him  whatever.
       Now  you  remember  that  Whitefoot  had  made  his  home  way down  beneath  the  great  pile  of wood  in  the  sugar-house.  Of course  Farmer  Brown  and  Farmer Brown's   boy   used   that   wood for the  fire  to  boil  the  sap  to  make the  syrup  and  sugar.  Whitefoot thought  nothing  of  this  until one day  he  discovered  that  his  little home  was  no  longer  as  dark  as it  had  been.  A  little  ray  of light crept  down  between  the  sticks. Presently  another  little  ray  of light  crept  down  between  the sticks.
       It  was  then  that  Whitefoot  began to  grow  anxious.  It  was then  he  realized  that  that  pile  of wood  was  growing  smaller  and smaller,  and  if  it  kept  on  growing smaller,  by  and  by  there wouldn't be  any  pile  of  wood  and  his little  home  wouldn't  be  hidden at  all.  Of  course  Whitefoot didn't  understand  why  that  wood was  slipping  away.  In  spite  of himself  he  began  to  grow suspicious. He  couldn't  think  of any  reason  why  that  wood  should be  taken  away,  unless  it  was to look  for  his  little  home.  Farmer Brown' son was  just  as  kind and  friendly  as  ever,  but  all  the time  more  and  more  light  crept in,  as  the  wood  vanished
       ''Oh  dear,  what  does  it  mean? '' cried  Whitefoot  to  himself.  ''They must  be  looking  for  my home, yet  they  have  been  so  good  to  me that  it  is  hard  to  believe  they mean  any  harm.  I  do hope  they will  stop  taking  this  wood  away, I  won't  have  any  hiding-place at  all,  and  then  I  will have  to go  outside  back  to  my   old   home in  the  hollow  stump.  I  don't want  to  do  that.  Oh, dear!  Oh, dear!  I  was  so  happy  and  now I  am  so  worried!  Why  can't happy  times  last  always?'' 

Back and Next

Farmer Brown's Son Becomes Acquainted

       It  didn't  take  Farmer  Brown's little boy  long  to  discover  that  Whitefoot  the  Wood  Mouse  was  living in  the  little  sugar-house.  He caught  glimpses  of  Whitefoot peeping  out  at  him.  Now  Farmer Brown's  son  is  wise  in  the  ways of  the  little  people  of  the  Green Forest.  Right  away  he  made  up his  mind  to  get  acquainted  with Whitefoot.  He  knew  that  not  in all  the  Green  Forest  is  there  a more  timid  little  fellow  than Whitefoot, and he thought it would  be  a  fine  thing  to  be  able to  win  the  confidence  of  such  a shy little  chap.
       So  at  first  Farmer  Brown's  boy paid  no  attention  whatever  to Whitefoot.  He  took  care  that Whitefoot  shouldn't  even  know that  he  had  been  seen.  Every day  when  he  ate  his  lunch,  this child  scattered  a  lot  of crumbs  close  to  the  pile  of  wood under  which  Whitefoot  had  made his home.  Then  he  and  his father  would  go  out  to  collect sap.  When  they  returned  not  a crumb would  be  left.
       One  day  Farmer  Brown's  son scattered  some  particularly  delicious crumbs.  Then,  instead  of going  out,  he  sat  down  on  a  bench and  kept  perfectly  still.  Farmer Brown  and  Bowser  the  Hound went  out.  Of  course  Whitefoot heard  them  go  out,  and  right  away he  poked  his  little  head  out  from under  the  pile  of  wood  to  see if  the  way  was  clear.  Farmer Brown's  son  sat there  right  in plain  sight,  but  Whitefoot  didn't see  him.  That  was  because the boy  didn't  move the  least  bit.  Whitefoot  ran  out and  at  once  began  to  eat  those delicious  crumbs.  When  he  had filled  his  little  stomach,  he  began to  carry  the  remainder  back  to  his storehouse  underneath  the  woodpile. While  he  was  gone  on  one of  these  trips,  Farmer  Brown's son   scattered  more crumbs  in  a line that  led  right  up  to  his  foot. Right  there  he  placed  a  big  piece of  bread  crust.
       Whitefoot  was  working  so  hard and  so  fast  to  get  all  those  delicious bits  of  food  that  he  took no  notice  of  anything  else  until he  reached  that  piece  of  crust. Then  he  happened  to  look  up right  into  the  eyes  of  Farmer Brown's child.  With  a  frightened little  squeak  Whitefoot  darted back,  and  for  a  long  time  he was    afraid   to   come   out   again.
       But  the  boy  didn't move,  and  at  last  Whitefoot  could stand  the  temptation  no  longer. He  darted  out  halfway,  scurried back,  came  out  again,  and  at  last ventured right  up  to the  crust. Then  he  began  to  drag  it  back to  the  woodpile.  Still  Farmer Brown's son  did  not  move.
       For  two  or  three  days  the  same thing  happened.  By  this  time, Whitefoot  had  lost  all fear.  He knew  that  the young  boy would  not  harm  him,  and  it  was not  long  before  he  ventured  to take  a  bit  of  food  from  this young  boy's  hand.  After  that Farmer  Brown's  son  took  care that  no crumbs  should  be  scattered on  the  ground.  Whitefoot had  to  come  to  him  for  his  food, and always  Farmer  Brown's  boy had  something  delicious  for  him to eat.

Back and Next

Whitefoot Sees Strange Things

       Whitefoot  had  spent  the  winter undisturbed  in  Farmer  Brown's sugar-house.  He  had  almost  forgotten the  meaning  of  fear.  He had  come  to  look  on  that  sugar-house  as  belonging  to  him.  It wasn't  until  Farmer  Brown's  little boy came  over  to  prepare  things  for sugaring  that  Whitefoot  got a  single real  fright.  The  instant  Farmer Brown's  boy  opened  the  door, Whitefoot  scampered  down  under the  pile  of  wood  to  his  snug  little nest,  and  there  he  lay,  listening to  the  strange  sounds.  At  last he    could   stand   it   no   longer  and crept  to  a  place  where  he  could peep  out  and  see  what  was  going on.  It  didn't  take  him  long  to discover  that  this  great  two-legged creature  was  not  looking  for  him, and  right  away  he  felt  better. After  a  while  Farmer  Brown's  son went  away,  and  Whitefoot  had  the little  sugar-house  to  himself  again.
       But  Farmer  Brown's  child  had carelessly  left  the  door  wide  open. Whitefoot  didn't  like  that  open door.  It  made  him  nervous. There  was  nothing  to  prevent those  who  hunt  him  from  walking    right    in.       So     the     rest    of that   night    Whitefoot   felt    uncomfortable and  anxious.
       He  felt  still  more  anxious  when the  next  day  Farmer  Brown's  son   returned  and  became  very  busy  putting things  to  right.  Then  Farmer Brown  himself  came  and  strange things  began  to  happen.  It  became as  warm  as  in  summer.  You see  Farmer  Brown  had  built  a fire  under  the  evaporator.  Whitefoot's  curiosity  kept  him  at  a  place where  he  could  peep  out  and watch  all  that  was  done.  He  saw Farmer  Brown  and  Farmer  Brown's child  pour  pails  of  sap  into  a  great pan.  By  and  by  a  delicious  odor filled  the  sugar-house.  It  didn't take  him  a  great  while  to  discover that  these  two-legged  creatures were  so  busy  that  he  had  nothing to  fear  from  them,  and  so  he  crept out  to  watch.  He  saw  them  draw the  golden  syrup  from  one  end  of the  evaporator  and  fill  shining  tin cans  with  it.  Day  after  day  they did  the  same  thing.  At  night  when they  had  left  and  all  was  quiet inside  the  sugar-house,  Whitefoot stole  out  and  found  delicious crumbs  where  they  had  eaten  their lunch.  He  tasted  that  thick  golden stuff  and  found  it  sweet  and good.  Later  he  watched  them make  sugar  and  nearly  made  himself sick  that  night  when  they  had gone  home,  for  they  had  left  some of  that  sugar  where  he  could  get at  it.  He  didn't  understand  these strange  doings  at  all.  But  he  was no  longer  afraid.

Back and Next

Whitefoot Spends A Happy Winter

Whitefoot The Wood Mouse by Thornton W. Burgess

Whitefoot finds a hole...

       In  all  his  short  life  Whitefoot the  Wood  Mouse  never  had  spent such  a  happy  winter. Whitefoot is  one  of  those  wise  little  people who  never  allow  unpleasant  things of  the  past  to  spoil  their  present happiness  and  who  never  borrow trouble  from  the  future.  Whitefoot  believes  in  getting  the  most from  the  present.  The  things which  are  past  are  past,  and  that is    all   there    is    to    it.      There    is no  use  in  thinking  about  them. As  for  the  things  of  the  future, it  will  be  time  enough  to  think about  them  when  they  happen.
       If  you  and  I  had  as  many things  to  worry  about  as  does Whitefoot  the  Wood  Mouse,  we probably  never  would  be  happy at  all.  But  Whitefoot  is  happy whenever  he  has  a  chance  to  be, and  in  this  he  is  wiser  than most  human  beings.  You  see, there  is  not  one  of  all  the  little people  in  the  Green  Forest  who has  so  many  enemies  to  watch out  for  as  has  Whitefoot.  There are  ever  so  many  who  would  like nothing  better  than  to  dine  on plump  little  Whitefoot.  There are  Buster   Bear   and   Billv   Mink and  Shadow  the  Weasel  and  Uncle Bill Possum  and  Hooty  the  Owl and  all  the  members  of  the Hawk  family,  not  to  mention Caw-Caw  the  Crow  in  times  when other  food  is  scarce.  Reddy  and Granny  Fox  and  Old  Man  Coyote are  always  looking  for  him.
       So  you  see  Whitefoot  never knows  at  what  instant  he  may have  to  run  for  his  life.  That is  why  he  is  such  a  timid  little fellow  and  is  always  running away  at  the  least  little  unexpected sound.  In  spite  of  all  this  he is  a  happy  little  chap.
       It  was  early  in  the  winter  that Whitefoot  found  a  little  hole  in a  corner  of  Farmer  Brown's sugar-house     and    crept     inside    to     see what  it  was  like  in  there.  It didn't  take  him  long  to decide that  it  was  the  most  delightful place  he  ever  had  found.  He promptly  decided  to  move  in and spend  the  winter.  In  one  end of  the  sugar-house  was  a  pile of  wood.  Down  under  this Whitefoot  made  himself  a  warm,  comfortable nest.  It  was  a  regular castle  to  Whitefoot.  He moved over  to  it  the  store  of  seeds  he had  laid  up  for  winter  use.
       Not  one  of  his  enemies  ever thought  of  visiting  the  sugar-house  in  search  of  Whitefoot,  and they  wouldn't  have  been  able  to get  in  if  they  had.  When  rough Brother  North  Wind  howled outside,   and    sleet    and    snow    were making  other  little  people  shiver, Whitefoot  was  warm and  comfortable. There  was  all  the  room he  needed  or  wanted  in  which to  run  about  and  play. He  could go  outside  when  he  chose  to,  but he  didn't  choose  to  very  often. For  days  at  a  time he  didn't have  a  single  fright.  Yes  indeed. Whitefoot   spent   a  happy  winter there.

Contents

1. Whitefoot Spends A Happy Winter, above
   
2. Whitefoot Sees Strange Things
3. Farmer Brown's Boy Becomes Acquainted
4. Whitefoot Grows Anxious
5. The End of Whitefoot's Worries
6. A Very Careless Jump 
7. Whitefoot Gives Up Hope
8. The Rescue
9. Two Timid Persons Meet
10. The White Watchers
11. Jumper Is In Doubt
12. Whitey The Owl Saves Jumper
13. Whitefoot Descides Quickly
14. Shadow's Return
15. Whitefoot's Dreadful Journey
16. Whitefoot Climbs A Tree
17. Whitefoot Finds A Hole Just In Time
18. An Unpleasant Surprise
19. Whitefoot Finds a Home At Last
20. Whitefoot Makes Himself At Home
21. Whitefoot Envies Timmy
22. Timmy Proves To Be A True Neighbor
23. Whitefoot Spends A Dreadful Night
24. Whitefoot The Wood Mouse Is Unhappy
25. Whitefoot Finds Out What The Matter Was
26. Love Fills The Heart Of Whitefoot
27. Mr. and Mrs. Whitefoot
28. Mrs. Whitefoot Decides On A Home
29. Making Over An Old House
30. The Whitefoots Enjoy Their New Home
31. Whitefoot Is Hurt
32. The Surprise
    

Mouse's Tail by Helen Pettes

A  little  Mouse,  so  clean  and  neat,
Would  wash  his  face  and  scrub  his  feet
And  take  the  very  greatest  care
Of  his  sleek  coat  of  shining  hair,
While  never,  never,  would  he  fail
To  brush  his  beautiful  long  tail
And  titivate  his  ears.

Now  in  this  house,  Oh  big  and  fat,
Was  that  sly  monster  called  "The  Cat"
But  most  untidly,  she
Forgot  to  put  her  comb  and  brush
In  proper  place,  and,  in  a  rush
One  day  to  find  them,  she  did  fail,
And  in  a  rage,  bit  off  the  tail,
Of  our  poor  little  Mouse!

Said  little  Mouse,  with  falling  tears,
And  fairly  shaking  with  his  fears,
''Please,  Mrs.  Cat,  give  back  my  tail
My  beautiful  long  tail!"
Said  Mrs.  Cat,  as  smooth  as  silk,
"Bring  me  a  saucer  of  warm  milk,
And  I'll  give  back  your  tail,
Your  beautiful  long  tail."

To  Cow  went  Mouse  with  bright  tin  pail.
"Please,  Mrs.  Cow,  fill  up  my  pail,
With  milk,  so  Cat  will  never  fail,
To  give  me  back  my  nice  long  tail,
My  beautiful  long  tail."

Said Mrs. Cow "First  bring  me  hay,
Then  your  request  I  will  obey,
And  fill  your  pail  with  milk."
To  Farmer,  straight  as  flying  arrow,
Went  Mousie  with  his  small  wheel-
barrow.

"Please,  Mr.  Farmer,  fill  with  hay
My  barrow,  for  the  Cow  did  say,
That  she  for  it  would  give  me  milk
To  give  the  Cat,  as  smooth  as  silk,
So  she  will  give  me  back  my  tail,
My  beautiful  long  tail."

Said  Farmer:   "My  barn  door  is  locked.
Bring  me  a  key,  we'll  not  be  balked,
I'll  open  straight  the  door,
And  then  upon  the  floor
I'll  fill  with  sweet  new  hay
Your  barrow,  to display"
Mouse,  with  his  pocketbook  in  hand,
Went  to  the  Locksmith,
big  and  grand.

"Please,  Mr.  Locksmith,  bring  a  key,
And  I'll  to  Farmer  give  it;
His  barn  unlocked,  he'll  fill  with  hay,
My  little  barrow,  to display.
Then  to  the  Cow,  without  delay,
I'll  bring  the  hay  and  give  it.
She'll  give  me  milk  to  give  the  Cat,
Who'll  give  me  back  my  tail,
My  beautiful  long  tail."

Said  Locksmith:  "I  must  have  a  file
With  which  to  make  a  key.
Get  me  file,  the  key  I'll  make
With  pleasure  for  your  own  small  sake!"
Down  to  the  ground  bowed  he.

With  satchel  on  his  arm,  went  Mouse
Down  to  the  brawny  Blacksmith's  house.
"Please  Mr.  Blacksmith,  make  a  file
For  Locksmith - in  a  little  while
He  then  can  make  a  key.

The  key  to  Farmer  then  I'll  take,
His  barn  door  soon  unlocked  will  be,
The  hay  he'll  give  me,  then  will  make
The  Cow  to  give  her  nice  warm  milk,
To  coax  the  Cat,  as  smooth  as  silk,
To  give  me  back  my  tail,
My  beautiful  long  tail.

Said  Blacksmith: "I  must  have  some  coal
To  build  a  fire  to  make  a  file.
Down  in  the  earth  through  a  dark  hole
You'll  find  the  Miner  digging  coal.
He'll  give  you  quite  a  pile."

Poor  Mouse  took  now  his  little  cart,
Down  in  the  dark  earth,  like  a  dart
He  ran  to  Mr.  Miner.
'Please  Mr.  Miner,  give  me  coal.
How  dark  it  is!  Upon  my  soul,
Your  cap  lamp  is  some  shiner!

If  I  the  coal  to  Blacksmith  bring,
He'll  make  a  file,  the  cutest  thing!
So  Locksmith  then  a  key  can  make,
The  barn  door  open,  Farmer'll  take
My  barrow,  fill  it  up  with  hay
While  I  to  Cow  will  blithely  say,
Give  me  your  nice  warm  milk,
To  coax  the  Cat,  as  smooth  as  silk
To  give  me  back  my  tail,
My  beautiful  long  tail."

The  Miner  filled  his  cart  with  coal.
Mouse  wheeled  it  to  his  goal.
The  Blacksmith  made  his  fire  to  glow,
He  beat  his  iron  high  and  low,
And  fashioned  him  a  file.
The  file  then  made  the  Locksmith's  key,
The  Farmer's  barn  door  opened,  he
Did  fill  the  barrow  full.

The  hay  he  gave,  the  Cow  did  eat.
She  filled  the  pail  with  nice  warm  milk
Said  Mouse  to  Cat,  as  smooth  as  silk:
'Now,  give  me  back  my  tail
My  beautiful  long  tail!"

Untidy  Cat  said:     "Dearie,  me!
Where  ever  did  I  put  it.
And  straightaway  up  and  down
the  house
She  madly  then  did  foot  it
''I  guess -''  when  Mouse's  tears
she  saw,
"It  must  be  in  the  upper  drawer!"

The  bureau  she  ransacked.
(I  think  had  she  been  soundly  smacked
When  she  was  but  a  kitten
She might  have  lost  untidiness,
Her hide,  not  heart,  been  smitten.)
Now,  here  she  was  in  such  a
mess!
The  milk,  alas!  was  getting  cold,
And  Mouse  at  last  began  to
scold.

Cried  Mrs.  Cat,  "Ha!  here's  the  place.''
And  raced  to  open  closet.
She  pulls  down  boxes  on  her  face
(A  bone  falls  and  she  gnaws  it!)
Said  Mouse,  "for  shame!"
His  gathering  tears
He  tries  to  keep  from  falling.
(If  Cat  had  been  in  Mouse's  place
One  sure  had  heard  her  squalling!)

Said  Cat,  "Of  course,  the  second  drawer!"
Alas!  the  tail's  not  in  it.
"Oh,  wait!    Don't cry!   I'll  surely  find
That  tail  in  just  a  minute!"
Mouse  whistled  "Yankee  Doodle"  now
To  keep  his  courage  flying.
Cat  hustled  'round,  pretended  Mouse
Should  never  think  of  crying!

Ah!  here  it  is.    The  very  place!
In  tissue  pink,  I  wrapped  it!"
And  from  the  lower  drawer,
her  face
All  shining  glee,  she  snapped  it!
"Hurrah!"  she  cried.  "Take  back
your  tail!
The  cause  of  all  this  trouble!"
Mouse  snatched  his  tail,  pink-
wrapped,  all  pale.
He  starts  to  run  and  double.

"Ah!  this  way  home.  I'll  get  the  glue!"
'Tis  done!    Cat  drinks  her  milk - ''Mi-e'-ou!''
While  Mouse  parades  his  nice  long  tail,
His  beautiful  long  tail!

DIY A Cityscape for New Year's Eve

A cityscape backdrop by night made with chalk pens and a black painted cardboard screen.

       The screen above folds up and out in multiple directions to display a festive backdrop during our doll's New Year's Eve party. The dolls use it to dress up their party space behind the buffet and also to take selfie's in front of during the dance. 
       Young folks can make one of these in any size or configuration by cutting long pieces of cardboard and joining them with wide masking tape. Each piece can be a different width, but all of the parts should measure the same length for a more formal, uniform screen. Once you have shaped the screen as you like it, cover both the front and back with black acrylic paints. Let dry.
       Do not apply a sealer or Mod Podge yet, the chalk pens work much better on the chalky like surfaces. Wait until you have finished marking the windows and stars and firework displays before finishing the screens with a glossy sealer. 

• See printable ''chalk-work'' signs for a New Year's Party celebration at our Doll's Grand Hotel
• Make party hats for the event too!
• Here are just a few suggestions for horderves thus far: deviled eggs, charcuterie boards and oysters on the half shell...

Music Suggestions for a Dolly New Year's Eve Party:

• Kids Bop Kids - just for children's parties and here for dance videos

Details of chalk pen work up close: lots of tiny squares and dots make a charming night-time view.

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.

Craft a bird feeder for your doll's outdoor play...

       Our doll's bird feeder is eighteen inches tall. It stands outside for photographing, but there is a garden next to our large dollhouse where it will be placed eventually. 

       A bird feeder like this may be any size really. Just make one with the materials you have on hand! You can purchase tiny mushroom birds at a hobby shop to display on the feeder if you like.

Left the bird feeder not yet complete. Right it's all painted.

Supply List:

• cardboard tube
• tiny bit of birdseed
• aluminum kitchen foil
• masking tape
• decorative faux wood paper
• birch bark
• tissue paper
• gravel or small rocks for weight
• green acrylic paint
• white school glue
• extra cardboard
• square wooden dowel
• Mod Podge
• recycled water bottle

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Clean out the water bottle and cut off the lower half of it for use. Approximately three inches from the bottom. 
2. Score the top edges of the bottle so that these may be shaped down into a roundish base using masking tape.
3. Fill the empty parts of the bottle using gravel or sand. 
4. Insert a narrow cardboard tube, nestling it around the gravel, inside the bottle opening. 
5. Use the masking tape to firmly attach these two parts.
6. Insert a square wooden dowel far down the cardboard tube. 
7. Stuff the openings inside the tube with kitchen foil. 
8. Using a cut square of cardboard, cut away a hole in its center to slip it onto the square dowel. The cardboard should then rest on top of the tube making a platform for the bird feeder. 
9. For the sides of the feeder, cut narrow strips and firmly attach with masking tape.
10. Fill this small platform with real bird seed and then flood it with white school glue. Let it dry overnight.
11. Cut the roof of the feeder from scrap cardboard and attach it over the end of the square dowel using glue and masking tape. 
12. After all of the parts are firmly dry and attached, wrap the surfaces with bark, faux wooden papers and tissues for texture.
13. Paint the tissue green. 
14. Brush on Mod Podge to keep the surfaces looking good.

More Doll Gardening Crafts:

• Build a workspace for dolls who love to garden
• Make your doll a watering can too!

Decoupage paper candy dishes for doll trick-or-treaters...

Finished treat bowls for doll sized trick-or-treaters.

       Fun little paper mache treat bowls are easy to make! You will need paper candy clip art, Mod Podge, white glue, masking tape, tissue paper and recycled packaging shaped like serving bowls to make this Halloween craft.     

       Our bowls were formerly made to pack battery operated press lights. There are all kinds of packaged products that look like ''bowls'' so start searching...

       Cover the recycled packing with masking tape. Then layer orange and purple tissue papers with Mod Podge on top of the packing. 

       Once the bowls are covered, stuff the bowls with tissues and cover these. Layer candy clip art on top and decoupage it permanently to the surface. 

Left, candy clip art. Right, recycled packing used for small bowls.

Fun Video To Entertain Trick-or-Treaters:

• Dad builds scary front door to save candy from trick-or-treaters
• How to make flying porch ghosts
• How to create some Halloween fun for kids in your backyard!

DIY Front Doors for The Dollhouse

The standard size door for a barbie dollhouse is 5 inches by
13 and 1/2 inches. The standard door size for an 18 inch doll
 of any kind is 9 inches by 22 inches.

         ''The first impression is generally lasting and therefore much depends upon the appearance of the front entrance. Great care must be used in the selecting your front door. It should harmonize with its surroundings.''

       If you are building your own dollhouses with outside decorations, you may eventually need to consider the front or back doors. 

       Just right, you can see two examples of dollhouse doors constructed from foam core. Both doors have windows that were cut from magazines and then hand-colored with watercolor paints. 

       On the left is the green door intended for Barbie dolls and on the right is our 18 inch door for an American Girl dollhouse. 

       Both doors have decoupage elements. and both have ''button'' locks. 

       I also glued small pegs into the foam core wherever I might need to hang a wreath or garland in the future.

       I realize it to be difficult to find door hardware and windows in magazines for this kind of decoupage, so I have included a few printables below to help young crafters make this project.

• See also easy to craft dollhouse windows for Barbie and American Girl dolls here.

Left, the door in progress, Center the knob made from wire and cardboard. the lock above is the
back of a  button, Right, tiny wooden hangers glued into the foam core so that wreaths and
 swags may be easily hung from door in the future.

 

Door window details cut from magazines. The door knob, just left, from an
 ink pen and the knob is a button.

Printable small window inserts for a dollhouse front door.

A wood-stained, arched front door entrance.

Color a classic mantel design for your dollhouse...

        If you're anything like me, you will enjoy coloring your own dollhouse details. The following fireplace mantels may be printed, sized in any common software program, painted and then mounted to your own dollhouse walls. Every design comes from a particular historical period. 

       Return here again to see additional designs later.

 Provence French Style:

• French Countryside Provence - Rustic and Classic by The Prince Home
• What is a French Fireplace Mantel?
• Miniature Provence Lavender Doll House Set

• Hacienda style homes and courtyards by Homypedia
• Spanish style architecture in a dollhouse by Tastemade

• Look inside an Italian Villa in Minnesota by Principle Design
• Italian home inspired by Tuscan villages  by Luxury Homes

1. 900 year old viking church by Mobile Instinct 2
2. Norwegian wood architecture by Visit Norway

• Tudor houses described in ten minutes by Tudor World History Channel
• Tour Wealden Hall House by Harry Rogers
• Free plans for a Tudor dollhouse at my Christmas blog

Build a custom fireplace surround for Barbie's dollhouse

I will purchase a battery operated
 votive for the firebox later.

       This elegant fireplace has a built in shelf where dolls can position a T. V. or display just above the firebox. The firebox has two columns flanking both the left and right as well as a mosaic, base for the ''faux gas logs'' to stand upon. Most of our doll fireplaces have been wood burners, however, this particular one is based upon a cleaner, gas version designed for a semi-formal living room. Students can build this version using a tall narrow box and printed papers.

Supply List:

• faux wood paper
• decorative paper for the deep shelf
• white school glue
• masking tape
• decorative pebbles 
• a tall cardboard box, approximately 12 -14 inches in height and 5 inches wide and 3 - 4 inches deep
  
• extra cardboard
• 2 cardboard tubes
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Approximately locate the large shelf halfway inside of the vertical standing box. The shelf should project beyond the opening of the box by one inch.
2. The cardboard tubes will support the shelf and mark the ending of the extended cardboard base for this fireplace design.
3. Glue these elements in place and then wrap a wider length of cardboard around the edge of the shelf to make it look as though it has volume.
4. Cover all of the surfaces with masking tape prior to decoupaging these.
5. Glue in white typing paper inside the firebox to give it a clean finish.
   
6. Layer a classic striped paper inside the shelf above the firebox. 
7. Cover the remaining fireplace with faux wood paper.
8. Pool the glue at it's base and fill it in with decorative mosiac pebbles. Let these dry overnight.
9. Decorate the shelf as you wish or craft a television set to position over the firebox. Here is a cardboard television set and here is one made from a foam craft sheet.
   

See the custom built fireplace for Barbie and her friends from different angles.

How to Make The Trifold Lapbook and Others

File folders come in a wide variety of colors.

       Lapbooks come in many folded designs but the basic trifold, as seen here, is perhaps the most preferable fold taught to young elementary aged students. For this fold all you will need is just one file folder.

The trifold lapbook is easy to store and easy to alter for display in the classroom.

 

       Use the center fold as a guide while folding the side flaps to line up with it from both the left and the right. Once you have made these side panels, the center fold will no longer be of use.
       You can cut one singular piece of cardboard from a cereal box to span the back of the file folder. Glue this in place across the back of the folder using white school glue. 
       This added cardboard support will allow the student to stand the trifold lapbook on it's own and display for their classmates and parents, the work done for whatever project the teacher has assigned. 

 

One standard sized cereal box will provide ample cardboard to adhere to the back of the trifold.

       A lapbook assignment is an excellent unit of study to display during an open house at school or for a first parent-teacher conference. Display the individual interests of each young student on top of their assigned desk along with an example of their best handwriting, an art project and a few photos showing their participation in group educational projects among their peers. Never leave out test papers, graded essays or worksheets for other students to see. These should be kept private, for parents eyes only.

This is the first page click on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 to see more methods of folding file folders into lapbooks coming soon.

Craft a vintage tape recorder for those 1960s and 70s dolls!

        My Dad had a tape recorder similar to this one back in the 1970s. It had a small speaker, a place to insert a tape to record and play and seven buttons across the bottom. When each button was pressed the recorder would: record, rewind, fast forward, play, stop or eject the tape. The recorder also had a handle.

       To make our 18 inch doll tape recorder's cassette tapes, I purchased a set of cassette tape stickers online and layered these on cardboard cut-outs.

       To make the pretend tape recorder for a doll, read the directions below.

Supply List:

cassette tapes and pretend tape recorder

• tape cassette stickers
• plastic woven screen
• cardboard
• metal tape
• white school glue
• Mod Podge
• black and red paper
• black acrylic paint
• skewer

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Cut multiple layers of cardboard approximately 2'' x 3 3/4''. 
2. Glue and stack these together until the thickness of the tape recorder is approx. 1/2.''
3. Paste on a sticker of a tape cassette or draw one of these and position it in the center of the recorder.
4. Above the tape cassette, position a small speaker. Cut plastic weave in small square, glue this down. Cut a cardboard frame and paste this around the edges of the weave. Let dry.
5. Cut small rectangular buttons, seven of these and glue them along the narrow end of the recorder beneath the tape cassette. The last button should be red; it is the eject button.
6. Shape a handle using a skewer or toothpick sandwiched between cardboard and then paste this to the end of the recorder where the buttons are located.
7. Paint the recorder black.
8. Cut metal trim from tape and apply it to the recorder around the speaker and above the row of buttons.
9. Seal the finished tape player with Mod Podge.

The details on the black surfaces are easier to see under different lighting. 

Kids Figure Out Old Technology:

• The first encounter with a cassette tape
• A Short Film About Cassettes...

The Roger's Clothespin Family

The Roger's family clothespins include: a father, mother, baby brother, a pet dog and a pet cat.

        Vintage "clean grip" plastic clothespins from the 1950s did not stain wet laundry while it was hung on the line! However, our set was destined to have a new life of their own down from that laundry line in a place where clothespins become real toys for real children.

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