I KNOW sometimes you post an innocent little doll’s house made from a cardboard box on your blog and it becomes one of your blog’s most searched items via Google. I know that I’m really wishing I hadn’t actually made that doll’s house out of a … beer carton. Yes, there’s been some hugely disappointed Google searchers land on that post.
So, finally, I’ve found some time to upgrade the doll family from its humble abode into a nicer and bigger home – this time via a much classier postal box. Which, quite frankly could have been used to send off a parcel and save me money. But anyway, Google takes precedence.
So, if you came to this blog looking for a doll’s house made out of a cardboard box, here it is:
If you want to see the old one, then make sure you’re sitting down before you check it out. There’s some nudie action happening over there.
Anyhow, here’s what I know about building a grand doll’s house fit for a princess (as opposed to a bogan, as the beer carton house was):
- Take a Bx4 postal box (430mm x 305mm x 140mm) cardboard box.
- Take blank sheets of paper, a ruler and pencil and draw lines horizontally across each. Then make vertical lines between them to make bricks (see photo). Glue these to the entire outside surface of the box.
- Cut a door into the front of the box and draw, then cut out, a window.
- Cut out a piece of coloured paper the same size as the door and glue onto the exterior of the door. Repeat for the interior. If you don’t have coloured paper, you can use white paper and colour it in, as we did.
- For the floor, you can be as creative as you like – felt, white paper with your own pattern, old school paintings or drawings previously destined for the bin, paint or wrapping paper, as we did. Glue in.
- The same applies for the interior walls. We went for a mix of our own homemade wall paper using white paper and crayons for the bottom half and a pale blue paint to match the carpet for the top floor.
- Add some curtains to your windows. We used tissue paper, cutting out a square where the window pane would be, gluing it along the top of the window and then scrunching the ends of the curtains to make pleats. You could also use scrap material or cellophane.
- Add a painting or picture to the wall. Ella drew a beautiful picture of an alien, then I made a crayon frame for it.
- Start playing!
During the weekend, we’ll be attempting to make some furniture for the Little Princess who has taken up residence in the grand doll’s house.
Do your children play with boxes? What have you made together?
I’m linking up with Yay for Home as part of Things I Know.
Lol, I LOVE the idea of a beer carton house. We don’t drink but surely any box is a good box?!
We make lots of boats. I don’t know why but that’s what Mr 2 likes to play in. Mr 6months doesn’t care – apparently they all taste good.
If you like playing with boxes you might like a product called MakeDo – it’s plastic bits and pieces that help you stick the boxes together. Am not doing it justice and not sure of details but sure google could help. (I have no affiliation with the product but bought it for a friend’s son’s 3rd birthday and they love it)..
Boats are a fabulous idea, Kate. Might have to try one of those next.
I have a photo of Ella when she was smaller inside a big box that she turned into a cubby house. It even had a flower box under the window. I might try and dig that out and put that up as a post too.
Am going to have a search for the MakeDo product now. That sounds really interesting. Thanks. 🙂
That is super cute! Although I didn’t mind the beer box version either – it would of fitted in around here quite well 😉
Hehe!! Thanks Nee. Ella is still a fan of the beer box one too! 🙂
Wow, great arts and crafts! I tried doing this once, it collapsed 🙁
Hehe!! Yes, the trick is LOTS of sticky tape! 🙂
Very cool doll’s house. I love the beer carton house idea too. At least the ‘bloke’ of the house would be good with it 🙂
LOL! So true, Tiff. 🙂
AWESOME work, chook!!! I laughed all the way thru this post and considering how sick I’ve been, that’s a real achievement.
Can’t wait to see the furniture!!!
Glad it gave you a giggle, Toni. And really hoping you’re feeling better soon. xx
What a fab idea ! Amazing how boxes can just provide so many great ideas for toys 🙂
Yes, give them the most expensive toy or a box and string and they’ll always go the box and string! Have to admit, I was the same as a kid! 🙂
How’s that for perfect timing?! I’ve been thinking about making a cardboard box dolls house with Erin recently and we have one of those boxes.
Can’t wait to hear how you go with it, Bec. Would love to see a picture! 😉
I popped over from Yay for Home.
How lovely is this idea. We always have boxes lying around – I generally just take them to be recycled but am going to do this for my daughter!
That’s fantastic, Laura. I think most of the fun is in making the house, as opposed to playing with it afterwards. Although, it has had a fair bit of a workout today. Love to hear how you go with your doll house! 🙂
It’s a wonderful idea , my little princess will be very happy both with the making of the house and after that to play with it!
The making of it is by far the best bit of it, Nina. The painting especially!! 🙂
That is one kick ass dolls house!
Thanks Miss Pink. I have a little girl who’s super impressed too!! 😉
My kids like drawing on boxes and making them into shops and things like that. I love the idea of making a doll’s house with furniture too…can’t wait to see it when the furniture fit for the princess is ready for an open house!
Hehe!! Yes, now to try and find some materials for the furniture. Toilet rolls, here we come… 🙂
My kids LOVE to play with boxes. We’ve made fridges, microwaves, ovens, baby beds and cars mostly.
I love to watch them with a plain box and all the wonderful things which they come up with.
Their little imaginations are incredible. It was interesting to see Ella’s suggestions for the house as we were making it. Makes you realise how different adults and children’s minds are.
That is awesome. Might get Mr J on to that one!
Love to hear how you go with it, Lee. I think I had just as much fun as Ella. Shhh, don’t tell anyone! 😉
that is so cute Kellie. It is really lovely and simple. What I love about it most is that it is not overdone, it is just perfect for a little girl just the way it is. So much can be left to the imagination, not all the thinking has been done for her.
You’re quite right on the imagination bit, Gemma. You should have seen her yesterday with some rubber stamps (people), a Kinder Surprise container (a toilet) and the doll house! Wish I’d filmed it!!! 🙂
There is no better toy than a box! We’ve made robots, houses, cubbies, Ships, cars… the list goes on.
And every single one is played with for a very. long. time.
xx
Unlike the flashy, expensive toys that get tossed within a few days!! LOL! I think kids just love having the opportunity to use their imagination to the full extent. Well, I know Ella does. And she has one WILD imagination!! 🙂
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What a clever idea 🙂
Thanks Shae! We had a ball making it! 🙂
[…] · No Comments I KNOW that you’ve all been waiting for the follow up post to the grand doll house. You know, the one where I promised the equally grand doll furniture? Well, the wait is over. Brace […]
Looks lovely. And you can make it together with the kids and have some quality family time. Just Fabulous! Guess what I’m doing this weekend!
Hehe!! Great to hear, Penelopa. x
I love your blog and the creativity you bring to it. Thanks!!!