How to Make Miniature Household Items for Dollhouses Out of Recycled Items

I love making things, and I love recycling; and I ultimately enjoy being able to combined both of these hobbies. So when I started building my first dollhouse; I realized that there were so many things that get thrown out that are perfect for dolls to play with. Here are some ideas on how to recycle your garbage into miniature treasures.

One of the most versatile and unexpected items that I love to save and create with are empty coffee creamer containers. These little containers can be painted silver and a piece of wire can be attached to them as a handle; this way they can be used as a bucket or pail. You can paint them black or orange and use them as pots for flowers. You can even add a nice little border or trim to make them look pretty. You can also paint then several different colors and make them into lamp shaded. A needle, pin, or piece of wire can be glued to a couple beads in order to make into the base of a lamp. Attach the top of the wire to the bottom of the creamer and you have a lamp.

Empty battery packages make nice televisions as well. The best part of these mini TVs' is that you can change the picture when ever you like. All you need is to cut the plastic edge to the clear box is smooth, and use black electrical tape to tape around the sides. You can also extend a border across the bottom and paint buttons onto it. Next take a picture from a magazine, or draw your own picture, and glue it to the back of the television. Lean your television up against a wall or paint some cardboard black and attach it to the back using tape so you cal lift it and change the picture inside the television.

Another fun miniature recycling project is for the artist in all of us. It is simple and fun to make. You will need a few match sticks or toothpicks. Cut them into smaller pieces and color each one with a different color marker. Next put them all into a little match box that has been painted black. Write crayon on the top in white paint and display half open.

I hope this article has helped you to make many little things for your dollhouse; I also hope that when you are throwing things away you think about what else they could be used for before you trash them.

How to Make a Miniature Clay Fruit Bowl for Dollhouses

I love making miniatures, and I have a lot of fun with it. I make miniatures for my own dollhouse, and I sell some miniatures on my art site to other dollhouse enthusiasts. These little treats are fun and easy to make. Here are some detailed instructions on how to make your own fruit bowl.

First you will need to get your clay together. You will need a medium size ball of yellow clay, a little ball of red clay, a little ball of orange clay, a medium size ball of purple or green clay, a small ball of black clay, and a small ball of white clay. Next you will need a sewing needle; I like to have a pointy needle and a dull needle handy. A kitchen knife is also very useful; it does not have to be very sharp.

Each fruit is very simple to make and can be made with very few steps. Here is a simple walk through on fruit making.

Bananas are a lot of fun , and you can make one or a whole bunch. First roll your yellow out into a tube, and cut equal sections about 3/4ths and inch long. Press the tube lightly on a hard surface to give it 4 edges. Now bend the tube into the crescent shape of a banana and pinch the ends so that the banana tapers. You can now add a little black blob to the end to make a stalk, and you can push several bananas together to create a bunch.

To make an apple you must pinch one end of the red ball of clay. Now set the ball on a hard surface with the narrower end down. You can then press the round end of the needle into the top creating a little hole; also make sure to push down around the hole so it resembles an apple with a dip in the top. Now use a little black to make a stem and push it into the hole. Use the flat part of the needle to give the bottom rounded edges. This can be accomplished by pressing the needle flat across the bottom 2 or 3 times.

The make an orange simply poke several holes into the orange ball of clay. Make sure to poke one hole slightly bigger than the other holes. You can fill that with a little bit of black as well.

Finally my favorite fruit to make is the grapes. Make a small ball out of 1/3rd of the purple or green clay. Next make many smaller balls and attach them to the bigger ball in any playful form you want.

How to Make Miniature Dishware for Dollhouses

 

Dollhouses need dishes. What would a doll do without a pitcher and some cups? What would a doll eat off of without plates? Dolls need the basic kitchen utensils too; so I have compiled some simple instructions on how to make some basic kitchen utilities.

Plates are easy and fun to make. You can make plates out of cardstock or out of clay. Both require the use of a quarter. To make paper plates trace a circle slightly bigger than the quarter on the paper and cut it out. Next place the paper on top of the quarter and center it. Push down the edges of the paper with your finger and run the wrong end of a pen around the edge of the quarter to make crease. In order to make clay plates cut out a circle of cardstock the size of the quarter and a size slightly bigger than the quarter. Now glue both papers together with the circle centered. Next flatten a ball of clay and press it onto the circle with the small circle in. Trim the edges so that the clay matches the paper. Bake like this and remove paper when it is cooled.

Next you can make cups using simply clay and a colored pencil, and you can also make paper cups for barbecues and dollhouse parties. Roll a piece of clay into a ball and push the pencil into it; next push it on a hard surface so the bottom is flat. Roll a little tube of the same clay for a handle and attach it to the side of the mug; you can twist one end to create a unique handle. Bake with the pencil inside, and pop it off the pencil when it is slightly cooled. You can also make paper cups buy simply cutting strips of paper and rolling then into a tube. Next cut a circle slightly larger than the opening of the tube and push it into the bottom of the cup. Remember to glue this so it does not pop out.

The last most important part of making this place setting is the pitcher. To make the pitcher take a medium size ball of clay and a wooden dowel, a thick marker, or some other item that can create the hollow body of a pitcher. Now push the dowel into the ball of clay and press the bottom down on a hard surface to flatten it. Next add a handle to the pitcher. Now take a skewer or dull tipped needle and push it into the top of the pitcher where it is opposite of the handle. Pull the clay outward gently in order to create a spout. This will give the clay enough play to be pulled off of the dowel and baked standing up.

I hope you enjoy all of these fun dollhouse projects and remember to play!