| Making your own doll house is a great way to spend | | | | Doll houses are made for playing, so focus on making |
| some quality time with your children and to encourage | | | | it durable. You can also make it fancy if you and your |
| their own creativity. It's also a great way to teach | | | | kids want, but durable should come first. They'll have |
| them the value of reuse. Actually making the doll | | | | much more fun with a doll house that lasts years, |
| house, though, can be frustrating when you're not sure | | | | rather than one that falls apart after a couple of play |
| how to go about it. | | | | sessions. |
| Here are 5 helpful tips for making your own doll house | | | | Cardboard is a convenient and inexpensive building |
| without the frustration. | | | | material, but isn't known for being durable. The edges |
| 1. Plan Your Doll House | | | | of cardboard are danger spots, as young arms might |
| Most of us aren't blessed with the ability to play it by | | | | reach over a wall into a doll house. You can reinforce |
| ear on a large project and have everything turn out. | | | | the edges with wood scraps from any other projects |
| You should have a good idea what you want the | | | | you might have going on to create an edge that will |
| finished product to be, and how everything will fit | | | | hold up to abuse. |
| together. Know where you need to cut, why, and | | | | 4. Use What You Have |
| clearly mark "this side up" where needed to keep | | | | It's tempting to go to the craft store and buy |
| yourself oriented. There's nothing worse that getting | | | | everything you need for a doll house new. But it sends |
| most of the way done, only to realize that one of the | | | | a better message to your children, and is cheaper, to |
| pieces won't fit because it was upside down! | | | | use materials you already have around the house. |
| If you do wing it, keep detailed notes about what you | | | | An empty paper towel tube, for example, can become |
| did so that you can repeat the process when your | | | | a dining room chair or a painted column. Be prepared |
| neighbor wants one for their kids. | | | | to learn from experience what works and what |
| 2. Involve Your Children | | | | doesn't. For example, old popsicle sticks might work as |
| Unless the doll house is being made as a gift for one | | | | the surface and legs of a dining room table, or the |
| of the children, it's best to involve them in the entire | | | | sides of a stroller. But craft sticks are cheap enough |
| process. The act of making something from scratch, | | | | and far more durable. |
| of constructing it and seeing it take form is very | | | | 5. Accept What Comes |
| healthy for a child and encourages their own creativity | | | | The chances are good that something won't go |
| and confidence. While it's tempting to think that it would | | | | according to plan. Rather than fume about it, just |
| be faster to just do it yourself, involve your kids and | | | | accept it as something new in the plan and continue on |
| enjoy the experience, no matter how long it takes. | | | | as best as you can. If the window isn't exactly where |
| Do be safe, and keep track of the scissors and | | | | you wanted it, well the view's probably better from the |
| exacto knife at all times! | | | | new location anyway. |
| 3. Make It Durable | | | | |