Making a couch for a dollhouse

The first thing I did was cut this box in half.

This is one of the pieces I will be making the couch out of.

I paint the couch with my fingers with dark brown paint.

I then take cardboard and cut the pieces that I need for the couch, you can see them in the photo.

I then cut pieces of quilt batting and hot glue the pieces onto the cardboard.

I then cover all the pieces with felt or you can use any type of material you want to.

I hot glued the back piece on, then the cushions and then the side pieces.

I then hot glue a piece of lace around the bottom as a skirt.

I also glue on another piece of lace over the back of the couch. I then added legs to the couch, I had used four dice and painted them gold.  Just use your imagination and it will soar!

Making a miniature steam trunk out of a black velvet box that can be sent to a service man etc.

This is the black velvet box I started with.

This is what the inside looked like.  You can take the inside out and replace it with a piece of cardboard on the bottom.

The first thing I did was paint the whole exterior of the box.  I used flour, wood glue, and also the paint color brown I wanted to use.  I mixed it all together with a Popsicle stick in a plastic throw away container which was from my Italian ice.  You will need to put a Popsicle stick in the opening to keep the box from gluing down the top. Next picture I will show you the items I used.

In this picture you can see what I mixed together.  I first mix glue with the paint, then I add flour just till you get a thin pudding feel.  I use more glue than paint.  I never measure amounts.

I like to get the straps ready that are for across the top of the trunk and the handles.  These are for the top of the trunk, the next picture is for the handles.  Depending on the size of your box the length will vary and width.

These are for my handles.  Next I need them to look like real leather pieces.  I first paint them with the same brown color minus the addition of flour and glue.  Use just the paint color I use my fingers for painting them.  I also keep bending them to help them look realistic.  

I then take black paint and paint two lines coming up the back and over the top of the box.  This also helps to see where the straps will get glued onto.  This is the back.

In this picture you can see I painted across the top and down the front.  I also painted lines around the outer edges of the box to help with the look and down the corners.

I then hot glued the handles to the sides.

Then I glued the top straps on to the back and across the top.  Follow the lines you drew.

I only glued the strap on top to the edge of the front of the box.  Do Not glue down the strap in the front area so you can open up the box.  In the picture you will see two silver looking strap holders.  I was tired of putting staples into the stapler and I always had small loose pieces so I used them for the strap holders.  I took two staples which were together and my hammer and banged them down over the straps. Again use your line to help line everything up.

I'm showing you what you will need next for the fake nails which will be hot glued Down.  I take my wire cutters and cut the button looking top off the metal things.  Don't throw the metal pieces out you will need the metal pieces too.  You can use any of these kind of things, they don't have to be these size. These are used for putting papers together for a report.

Here's the back with the button parts glued down with hot glue.  I push them down into the glue, you have alittle bit of the metal sticking out on top it helps putting them in.

Here is across the top with them in it.  As you can see I also used some of the metals pieces next to the buttons.

I found these steam trunk labels on google or yahoo I don't remember which I used.  I looked up steam trunk labels images I liked these ones which I printed out.

I used mod podge to glue them down into place.  I also painted on a layer of mod podge all over the whole box to give it a nice leather shine.  Don't worry about the white glue it dries clear.

Here's what it looked like all covered with mod podge.

I figured I would show you another one I did that the mod podge is dry already.  Get creative, this box can be used for so many things now.  A gift to someone special, an engagement ring box makes a new way to ask that someone special to marry you.  Use your imagination.  Send one to someone in the service and put something in it let them know home is just a trip away and that you are thinking of them. Put some pictures in it of the family, send it on a trip. Unique idea.  All I ask is if you use my idea give me credit showing you how to make a memory.

How to make an entertainment center and a solar light tv for dollhouse

I use wooden jewelry boxes for the bookcases next to the entertainment center.  This is what I use for making bookcases also.  In this picture are two drawers out of a jewelry box.  I took off the pulls.

I use wallpaper or scrapbooking paper for wallpaper for the back wall.

I cut pieces of scrap wood for the size of the shelves for inside the bookcases.

In this picture you can see I covered the shelves tops with the same paper.  Now for gluing in the shelves I use tacky glue.

Here are the shelves in the bookcases, however I paint the bookcases the colors I want them to be before I glue in the shelves.

This is what it looks like after painting it and gluing in the shelves.

These are pieces off of a cheap elastic bracelet and little pieces off a chain belt.  I will be using them towards the end as you will see.

I also need this little box made of wood that will be turned into a tv.  This is the bottom of a wooden box that had hinges on it which they sell in the craft store.  I'm painting this black also to match.

This gives you an idea of what they all look like at this point.

I printed out a picture off the internet of the lion king for the screen of the tv.  I cut out this picture the size I need.

I then drilled a hole in the back of the wooden box this is where I will be putting the solar light top into.

This is the top of the solar light I need just the light part to fit through the hole.  I buy them from Walmart for 97 cents.

I glue the lion king picture over the opening area on the box.  I then need to put pieces of trim around the picture.

This is where I get thin wood trim from.  I find them all over you can see the small slats of wood.

This is what it looked like after pieces were glued together and trim around the picture screen.  I even put trim in the areas where the bookcases meet up with the tv, more finished look.

If you look on the top of the bookcases I glued on the pieces I showed you earlier from a cheap bracelet and a belt.  I also added a little decorative piece on top of the tv.  I buy these from flea markets in my area.

Here's a better look of the piece on top of the tv.

This is how it looks in the back, now to put in the solar light.  This solar light does not get glued in you need to recharge it with the sun in order for it to work.  I keep the whole light stake so I can stick it in the ground outside to charge it.

I tried to get a picture of it lit up on the tv screen, it looks nicer in person.  You can see what the doll is watching on tv.  You can also make a copy of a family picture on the copier and use that for in the tv so you child can see the family light up at night.

Here it is in the dollhouse.  Check out my other ideas for a dollhouse and use your imagination it can take you anywhere.