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Make a Rainbow Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse

by Jean Van't Hul
December 13, 2011

How to Make a Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse

I’ve seen a lot of great DIY dollhouses around the web lately, and when a friend’s birthday came up, we decided to create our own version of a cardboard dollhouse as a gift.

This sweet rainbow house was created from a cardboard box, an Artterro “creativity kit,” and some rainbow Christmas lights.

Maia had so much fun creating it and so fell in love with the finished product that we are already planning another that she can keep.

Here’s how to make the dollhouse…

Materials to Make a Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse

Make a Rainbow Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse

MATERIALS

  • Cardboard box
  • Decorative papers
  • Transparent contact paper (also called sticky back plastic)
  • Colored tissue paper or film
  • String of mini colored lights
  • Scissors
  • X-acto knife
  • Glue stick
  • Tape

INSTRUCTIONS

First I created the dollhouse shape out of the cardboard box by cutting off two of the flaps, taping them to the other two, then taping those into a gabled roof (make sense?).

Then I cut out a door and a couple of windows with an x-acto knife. Maia immediately requested a second door and another window, which I also added.

MosaicArtterro

Then Maia decorated the dollhouse…

The materials Maia used to decorate the dollhouse are from an Artterro creativity kit and also an Artterro art journal kit (she pulled out the decorative papers).

Artterro sells eco art kits, is one of my blog sponsors, and sent us a couple of their products to try out.

Maia had a friend over when the package arrived and they both dived in immediately and made interesting collaged pieces inspired by the beautiful materials (printed papers, wool felt shapes, and beads) and the pictures on the instruction brochure. While the instructions and photos showed hand-sewn creations, the girls found it easier to use glue.

(By the way, I think these kits would be enjoyed by any age, not just kids!)

Decorating the Homemade Cardboard Dollhouse

After the initial art kit binge, there were still some of the beautiful papers left, so Maia used them to decorate the cardboard dollhouse.

Decorating the DIY Cardboard Dollhouse

She added designs with sharpies around the stained glass windows (which are simply the suncatchers she made the other day taped to the inside of the windows).

How to Make a Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse

We also got out the contact paper and colored tissue paper so she could add another stained glass window to the house.

(As you can see in the background, Daphne worked on her own paper and cardboard collage while Maia made the dollhouse.)

A Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse

Finally, we ran out to the store to pick out some colorful mini Christmas lights to light the house from the inside.

ArtterroCardboardDollhouse_JV_16 Both girls spent a looong time admiring the lighted “rainbow” house that evening. And the dollhouse was a hit with the birthday girl when Maia presented it the next day.

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a village of these cardboard dollhouses, with a string of Christmas lights running through them?

Update :: We did make a village of lighted cardboard dollhouses!

More Art Kits for Kids by Artterro

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How to Make a Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse with Kids

Artterro’s Creativity Art Kit Giveaway

Creativity_samplesWhiteLR 5AJKs

Readers who leave a comment to this post by Wednesday, December 14th at 11:49 pm EST will be entered to win an Artterro Creativity Kit and an Artterro Art Journal Kit (color of your choice). Winners will be chosen by random number generator and announced on Thursday morning. Giveaway closed.

The random number generator gave me #27, so Sarah M. wins the two Artterro art kits. Congrats, Sarah! I’ll send you an e-mail…

These look like so much fun! I know my kids would love to try these out! And what a beautiful doll house your daughter made-I’m sure the friend loved it.

Disclosure: The Artterro creativity kit and art journal kit were provided to us for free; all opinions expressed are my own.

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