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…
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.
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!)
After the initial art kit binge, there were still some of the beautiful papers left, so Maia used them to decorate the 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).
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.)
Finally, we ran out to the store to pick out some colorful mini Christmas lights to light the house from the inside.
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
- Art Journal Kits for Kids
- Art Dolls Kit
- Bookmaking Kit
- Needle Felting Kit
- Canvas Storybook Kit
- Bubble Wands Kit
- Felt Bug Kit
Pin It for Later
Artterro’s Creativity Art Kit Giveaway
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.
Alice S
December 13, 2011 at 6:01 amYour girls did a great job on the dollhouse! I would love to win the kit so that my son and daughter could make one of their own.
molly
December 13, 2011 at 6:10 amWonderful Jean. Did you use mini lights with a battery or is there a plug on the other side of the house?
Mary
December 13, 2011 at 6:11 amLove the lighted idea and all the materials combined for the box dollhouse. My kids would love this project. So timely with all the Christmas boxes around.
Mom and Kiddo
December 13, 2011 at 6:25 amI love the idea of putting a light in the house. What a lovely idea for a gift.
Fran Williams
December 13, 2011 at 6:42 amOh how I wish I lived close to my grandchildren in Palo Alto, rather than thousands of miles away in Tasmania. We could craft all the time!!!! Love your blog.
Elsa
December 13, 2011 at 6:45 amThe house looks really lovely, well done!
Joy
December 13, 2011 at 6:52 amI love reading your blog. It keeps me inspired to pull out open ended art materials when I’ve found myself stuck in a rut.
Val
December 13, 2011 at 6:55 amBeautiful job, girls!
Susan
December 13, 2011 at 7:04 amVery Nice! we love a good art project with a used box!
Sara
December 13, 2011 at 7:30 amGreat idea! I now have an idea of what to do with my amazon.com boxes I have laying around.
catt
December 13, 2011 at 7:33 amWhat a wonderful idea! My kids love crafts and I love this blog because I get so many ideas. Thank you!
Whitney
December 13, 2011 at 7:37 amSo cute. While I was reading this my daughter was saying “Oohh, pretty dollhouse”.
Molly
December 13, 2011 at 7:42 amGorgeous – my daughters made a “snow” covered cardboard house last year on a snow day. Time for some rainbows to brighten up a cold and dreary winter!
Stephanie D
December 13, 2011 at 7:58 amOh, I would love the art kit, so many things we could do with that!
[email protected]
December 13, 2011 at 8:01 amGorgeous! What a fun craft!
kt
December 13, 2011 at 8:10 amFabulous construction project. And a super fun craft kit too. Thanks for the opportunity!
Lorian
December 13, 2011 at 8:13 amGorgeous! I’t’s so cozy… It’d be nice to be small enough to walk inside :)
Jackie
December 13, 2011 at 8:29 amThanks for all of the fun ideas! We’ll definitely be giving this one a try! Merry Christmas!
Kim
December 13, 2011 at 8:29 amWe would have a great time with the art kit!
Angela B.
December 13, 2011 at 8:32 amLove this idea! My girls would spend hours creating.
Jenny
December 13, 2011 at 8:33 amoh YES! my daughter would love this as she loves all things RAINBOW and is fascinated with fairies!! looks like a rainbow fairy house to me!! thanks for a chance.
sophie bennett
December 13, 2011 at 8:40 amwe would love this – its beautiful x
Padma Kondapeta
December 13, 2011 at 9:11 amWow…would love to create one with my daughter. The mini Christmas lights are a nice touch!
Karla
December 13, 2011 at 9:18 amWhat a great kit! My 6-year old would love this…and a great idea for gifts.
Ann
December 13, 2011 at 9:19 amWe will do this over break with leftover christmas boxes. They love little villages and these will last longer than the gingerbread houses. Lights are a great idea. Art kits look super, thanks.
Sarah M
December 13, 2011 at 9:24 amThese 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.
Sarah M
Annette
December 13, 2011 at 9:37 amVery nice work. The art kits look cute too!
erica
December 13, 2011 at 9:45 amGreat idea. I’ll have to try it with all the cardboard boxes we have laying around:) And, thanks for the intro to Artterro. I love the bubble wand kit:)
Wendy
December 13, 2011 at 9:46 amWow! What a great house they made! The art kits are awesome! My daughter would love them.
Gaby
December 13, 2011 at 9:48 amVery cute! I am sure the birthday girl was over the moon when she saw this house :)
Sarada
December 13, 2011 at 9:49 amWhat a fantastic little house, I love this idea of adding christmas lights and coloured paper, so pretty.
Kathy
December 13, 2011 at 10:36 amThis is so adorable. My daughter would love it!
Jennifer
December 13, 2011 at 10:44 amThat’s a fabulous idea! I haven’t seen kits like that before – really interesting!
Elissa Pugh-Arguello
December 13, 2011 at 11:02 amI love this! I can’t wait to try it with my little guy!
elissapugh at gmail.com
Kristin
December 13, 2011 at 11:04 amWhat a cute idea! My toddler would love to make something like this.
Tamrah T
December 13, 2011 at 11:11 amMy two would really enjoy crafts like these.
[email protected]
December 13, 2011 at 11:34 amVery cool we’ve made big catdboard houses but not little ones. The lights are the piece de resistance
Cherise Kennedy
December 13, 2011 at 11:36 amThat looks like so much fun!!
stephanie
December 13, 2011 at 11:41 amgreat kits and a clever craft! thanks for the chance!
Marcia
December 13, 2011 at 11:45 amooh! These would be so much fun!
katie
December 13, 2011 at 11:47 amMy girls would so love doing this! I think we will do it in a few days when we have a day at home so they can make it then play with it all day.
Alena
December 13, 2011 at 11:54 amVery creative kits. My little girl would love to explore one of the kits (and her mama, too).
Christine
December 13, 2011 at 11:55 amVery inspiring–thanks!
Melanie
December 13, 2011 at 11:59 amI love this idea! It reminds me of using a big cardboard box…just on a smaller scale. So sweet!
Kerstin
December 13, 2011 at 12:00 pmWhat a fun project!
sarah
December 13, 2011 at 12:03 pmwow, what fun! we just raided the recycling bin and made an awesome cash register out of some boxes the other day. we’ll have to try a house next!
The Orchard
December 13, 2011 at 12:10 pmFantastic prize! Thanks so much!
Kari
December 13, 2011 at 12:15 pmThanks for the giveaway! I may buy one of these if we don’t win–I think my 6-yr-old would love a kit!
Tracy
December 13, 2011 at 12:22 pmWow! So cute but simple, thanks for sharing
Wlkrmlss
December 13, 2011 at 12:23 pmShe makes it look so easy!! I’ve been looking for crafts that my girls can do.
Elisha
December 13, 2011 at 12:27 pmThat house is fantastic! My 7 year old son (with a little help from Dad) made a cardboard haunted house for halloween! He painted it brown and decorated it with bats and skeletons. This is a fantastic idea for a gift!
Janie
December 13, 2011 at 12:38 pmI love it! My daughter just got an undecorated wooden doll house for her birthday from her god parents. I think we may need to decorate it with my stash! But of course, we would love the arterra kit, too!
Love your blog- I use ideas from you all the time in my art therapy practice with children with disabilities.
Annette
December 13, 2011 at 12:43 pmGreat doll house. The art kit is perfect for my daughter.
Lisa
December 13, 2011 at 12:48 pmI teach preschool, and for each child’s birthday, we make a homemade gift of something we think he/she would like. One child requested a dollhouse. This one is a great inspiration!
Julie
December 13, 2011 at 12:53 pmLove the Artterro kit idea great way to decorate.
Steph
December 13, 2011 at 12:55 pmWhat an adorable dollhouse! I think we may have to create one of these while we are on Christmas break. Thanks for sharing the idea.
Jamie
December 13, 2011 at 1:13 pmWe did gingerbread houses last night, might be a house-making week for us, this looks magical!
Beth Morris
December 13, 2011 at 8:14 amThis is a great idea. My daughter just used a box to create a winter wonderland, this might be next on her agenda. I love the patterned fabrics. Just up my 9 yr olds alley!
Rose
December 13, 2011 at 1:14 pmAs much as my children love playing with plain empty cardboard boxes, I can imagine they would go nuts decorating one of these! This project is going to the top of our “Activities to Do” List. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kelly
December 13, 2011 at 1:23 pmoh lovely! My 6 year old would love to use one of those kits to decorate a large pile of boxes from a recent move :)
Molly Hyde-Caroom
December 13, 2011 at 1:33 pmI just saw these kits for the first time the other day and I love them! I also love the idea of the “rainbow house and can’t wait to make one of our own! What a fabulous idea! Thanks for the opportunity to win this wonderful kit and for all the inventive ideas that you give to us!
MG
December 13, 2011 at 1:36 pmHow wonderful! This is an adorable project to do with my daughter and nieces. I just LOVE your site, and refer to it every day. Thank you!
tasha
December 13, 2011 at 1:37 pmAbsolutely brilliant! Genius! Amazing! Gotta try this ASAP! My boys will dig this beyond all measure!
Dana
December 13, 2011 at 1:37 pmI love what your daughter did with this set. I, too, was looking at these kits the other day, thinking they might be nice gifts for friends and cousins. I love how open-ended they are, and I’m sure my very creative kids would be thrilled to try one out!
Anne in NC
December 13, 2011 at 1:40 pmWhat a great giveaway! And what an inspirational dollhouse!!
Anna
December 13, 2011 at 1:52 pmSuch a great idea. My girls would love that!
Julie
December 13, 2011 at 2:03 pmThese kits look nice, they always have something in them that I would never think of like the felt shapes. I can see how any age could have fun with it.
tine
December 13, 2011 at 2:10 pmI recently purchased a large cardboard house for my children to decorate for Christmas. I like the idea of adding other materials rather than the usual paint, markers and crayons.
Eileen
December 13, 2011 at 2:11 pmLOVE the dollhouse-what a great project! I’ve never heard of Artterro Art Kits, so we’d love to try one out! Thanks for the chance to win.
Jean Van't Hul
December 13, 2011 at 9:15 amThere’s a plug on the other side of the house. You could use the battery lights, though, of course. Might be better even.
erin
December 13, 2011 at 2:17 pmthis is a terrific idea! thanks for sharing.
Lyudmyla Tarelkine
December 13, 2011 at 2:20 pmOh! We want to try that too!!! So beautiful!!
liisa
December 13, 2011 at 2:23 pmThank you so much for this great post, can’t wait to get started. Love projects like this that can be done over multiple days.
Chandra
December 13, 2011 at 2:24 pmthat looks like fun
Vanessa
December 13, 2011 at 2:33 pmI think I must make this for my niece for christmas. the lights are a great idea – they immediately enliven the house, making it look cosy and inviting.
marjaneh-esfahani
December 13, 2011 at 2:37 pmI like youe doll house,it’s very creative.
I want to win that so i give it to my grand daughter.
Andrea D.
December 13, 2011 at 2:38 pmMy little girls would love this. Thanks for the chance to enter.
Sara J
December 13, 2011 at 2:41 pmOne more awesome craft to add to my list… this may have to be bumped to the top so my daughter’s cowgirls have a place to live when they’re not at the stable :-)
Karen
December 13, 2011 at 2:48 pmGreat idea! We have plenty of boxes around to try it out.
Liba
December 13, 2011 at 2:53 pmMy kids would love this! What a great idea.
Amanda
December 13, 2011 at 3:21 pmWe’re definitely going to try this. And thanks for the chance to win of the kits. I just noticed these at our local art store. They look great!
Becc
December 13, 2011 at 3:24 pmThis is such a great idea! We still have a cardboard box castle made two school holidays ago and it is still my son’s favourite toy! The idea of lighting up the stained-“glass” windows is so very simple – but so clever!!! thanks againm,Jean xxx
Juise
December 13, 2011 at 3:32 pmAww, it came out so cute! I am going to have to make one for sure with Kaia, she will adore it. And that looks like a FABULOUS kit, I love how open ended it is!
Julie A.
December 13, 2011 at 4:07 pmThese kits look so fun! I also love the lit up dollhouse!
Melissa B
December 13, 2011 at 4:21 pmWhat imagination to create the rainbow house! I’ve been looking at Artterro kits online and would love to win one for my 6 year old.
Indrani
December 13, 2011 at 4:33 pmWhat a great idea.. I think my toddler would love a cardboard firehouse :D
miryam
December 13, 2011 at 4:37 pmthanks for all the inspiration!
Megan Custy Lee
December 13, 2011 at 4:48 pmThis is a great idea! Can’t wait to try it with my 7 yr old. Thanks!
[email protected]
December 13, 2011 at 4:52 pmHow Fun!! My toddler would love this! Hope I win :)
Jackie
December 13, 2011 at 5:16 pmLove the dollhouse! I am going to start making one with my daughter tonight! I hope to win an art kit!
[email protected]
December 13, 2011 at 5:21 pmloooooooove it! Please enter me in your drawing. My girls are always creating little houses for their dolls, barbies, fairies in the garden etc etc. This is a great inspiration!
Julie
December 13, 2011 at 5:48 pmThat is adorable! And such a special, meaningful gift, too.
meg
December 13, 2011 at 12:53 pmThe lights and “stained glass” make it so much more fun. I’m going to have to try this!
Elizabeth B
December 13, 2011 at 5:56 pmWhat a sweet project and gift! My girls would love this, too.
Stacy
December 13, 2011 at 6:32 pmAnother great idea, thanks!
Heather Collins
December 13, 2011 at 6:41 pmOh beautiful. I love the selection of Artterro’s products!! We would be thrilled to try any of them. Thanks for sharing!!
Roseanne Kibblewhite
December 13, 2011 at 6:50 pmthis is a fantastic idea… might have to have a go with my two.. love the lights too!
Rachel
December 13, 2011 at 6:54 pmWhat a cute idea! We have tons of boxes around with holiday shipments coming in. Would be great to put them to creative use!
Carla
December 13, 2011 at 7:07 pmcute! I have made playhouses out of cardboard boxes before,but never a teeny dollhouse, great project!
danielle hittle
December 13, 2011 at 7:31 pmLove, love, love the dollhouse! What a beautiful project!
Moriah
December 13, 2011 at 2:46 pmlove this! of course with a little boy, it will more likely be a “fire house”. we live close to a fire station so any box quickly turns into the same. I love the tea light idea!
Michelle
December 13, 2011 at 7:48 pmooooooooooooh…this would be loads of fun!
krissy
December 13, 2011 at 8:04 pmI saw the sidebar you posted for this vendor and ordered two other kits. After reading this entry, I wish I could have purchased this kit, too!!!!!
Alex
December 13, 2011 at 8:24 pmPretty! Thanks for the chance!
Terrill
December 13, 2011 at 9:47 pmyes, please! perfect for a cold NH winter.
[email protected]
December 13, 2011 at 10:44 pmI think my child would really enjoy this project. Thanks!
Laurie
December 13, 2011 at 10:48 pmIt’s amazing what you can do with a simple cardboard box!
Frances Lam
December 13, 2011 at 10:55 pmThis is lovely. I do so much with my son. It would be nice to create something this awesome with my daughter!
Paige
December 13, 2011 at 11:04 pmThanks for all the holiday art ideas! We made salt dough ornaments today – so easy! Can’t wait to try this out with all the boxes from Christmas.
jennifer
December 13, 2011 at 11:10 pmwow! what a terrific idea. so nice and more special than any store bought one.
roseann
December 13, 2011 at 11:12 pmwhat an awesome idea! i love it!
Karin
December 14, 2011 at 12:10 amI love great art supplies. Thanks for the giveaway!
Agnes
December 14, 2011 at 2:44 amI love how the suncatcher looks in the dollhouse! We have lots of cardboard boxes in the garage–I keep saving them… would love to try this with my kids.
Robin
December 14, 2011 at 2:48 amThis is beautiful! So much better than the plastic doll houses that you buy at the store, and the Christmas lights are a nice touch! I may be making one myself before Christmas!
Epiphius
December 14, 2011 at 3:18 amSo fun!
Lisa
December 14, 2011 at 7:31 amMy little guy isn’t quite there yet, but this looks like a great project!
Lizabeth P.
December 14, 2011 at 8:00 amLove the doll house…so sweet. My 5 yr old DD is having a friend over to play today. Perhaps we’ll work on this…or color some snowflakes! Thanks for the generous giveaway!
katie
December 14, 2011 at 8:35 amNeat idea…could even do more holisay decorationa to make gingerbread house! Never have seen this art kit. I know it was sent to you but can it also be found in stores. Eould like it as we do an art activity every day!
jane
December 14, 2011 at 9:05 amGreat idea for this time of year.
Sarah
December 14, 2011 at 10:04 amI love it! What a fun idea. I wish my seven year old would get out of his seven year old funk. Before seven I couldn’t keep up with his crafting he was making so much of everything. Now I have to remind/nag him to make the three ornaments he wanted to make for a swap.
Holly Schwartz
December 14, 2011 at 12:42 pmLove the dollhouse!
I made a cardboard oven for my daughter. It was a lot of fun.
Would love to win the art kit!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Holly in Kentucky
krystal
December 14, 2011 at 1:49 pmI’m so doing this with my daughter! She would love this :) Maybe we’ll make it Christmas themed :)
Amy Fields
December 14, 2011 at 2:36 pmWhat an awesome idae! We would make a barn for my son’s tractors since he is not to into doll houses!!! Hope to have a chance to win!
Kelly A
December 14, 2011 at 6:11 pmLove the doll house!
Carrie @ Rhubarb Sky
December 14, 2011 at 6:43 pmSo sweet!
Nancy
December 14, 2011 at 8:21 pmcool kits! thank you for the giveaway.
Renee Brown
December 14, 2011 at 8:50 pmWe would love the kit, and we will be trying the cardboard dollhouse as soon as the Christmas rush is over!
Sarah
December 14, 2011 at 9:11 pmWhat a fun idea. And I think the Artero creativity kits look amazing, too. Thanks for the idea!
Pamela
December 14, 2011 at 9:24 pmI will definitely give this idea a try with my little girls! Thank you for this great winter project.
Christy Jordan
December 14, 2011 at 9:33 pmI love this! I can’t wait to do this with my kids.
robin
December 14, 2011 at 9:36 pmMy little one would love this! She is so into tiny things! Her little tiny things would fit nicely into a sweet cardboard house.
Rosie Ramos
December 14, 2011 at 9:39 pmWhat a great project for my girls during the holiday break…excellent job!!
tiana
December 14, 2011 at 9:40 pmBest blog out there! Love the house!
Flutterby Storm
December 14, 2011 at 9:45 pmI would love to win this. My kids would really enjoy it.
[email protected]
December 14, 2011 at 9:51 pmwhat a great birthday gift idea! we’ll have to try that soon.
Sarah
December 14, 2011 at 9:51 pmOoo. I’d like this prize. Really cute doll house. I might make something like it with my boys.
kiko
December 14, 2011 at 9:56 pmthis looks fun!
Kerry
December 14, 2011 at 10:01 pmOk, I can not figure out how to comment on the post, so I’m replying to a comment, hope that’s ok. This is so cute. We have one decorated box, and one waiting…thanks for the new ideas!
Bella01
December 14, 2011 at 10:15 pmThat house is great. Might have to see if I can boy it up a bit for my two mini males.
[email protected]
December 14, 2011 at 10:16 pmSuper sweet! I love your blog so much. As a mother of 2 girls and a part time art teacher, you give me tons of inspiration. This looks like a fun winter snow day project! Thank you!
Breanna
[email protected]
December 14, 2011 at 10:17 pmokay where can I find contact paper? And is that exactly what it is called. I have been to my local grocery store, Target, and Michaels… nothing. I love all your ideas that you use with it.
kimberly
December 14, 2011 at 10:40 pmthis is so great! i love taking such a simple thing as a cardboard box and turning it into something amazing. i’m currently working (albeit very slowly) on making a boat out of an (extremely) over-sized box that i received from diapers.com!
Jenny
December 14, 2011 at 10:53 pmI love the idea of using the lights! I will have to try something like that- maybe after Christmas when I can pick up some light sets on clearance.
sienna
December 14, 2011 at 11:10 pmyet another way to use the cardboard boxes i seem to collect…
carrie dunn
December 14, 2011 at 11:10 pmmy boy will love this. he loves using boxes for all kinds of play. The kits are fantastic too.
sarah
December 14, 2011 at 11:29 pmFantastic! My girls would love this. Thanks for sponsoring the Artful Parent!
Colleen
December 14, 2011 at 11:43 pmWould love the kit!
[email protected]
December 15, 2011 at 12:07 amwhat a great idea!!!!
Dr. Peg Dunn-Snow
December 15, 2011 at 7:28 amI have made many “doll” houses with clients in therapy sessions. I use wine or whiskey boxes and the partitions in the boxes are converted into floors, rooms, and hallways.
Each year I also make arts and craft gifts for Christmas with my grandchildren for their parents. I can see taking this wonderful idea and making a “Christmas House” with my granddaughter next year.
Rumah Dijual
December 19, 2011 at 11:38 pma beautiful doll’s house, I also want to have it
Annie
March 26, 2012 at 12:08 pmYou are so inspiring!
Hadiqa
July 31, 2012 at 7:24 amnice house but this is not for a barbie doll!!!!! ;-) ;-)
cordellia
October 22, 2013 at 4:17 amfabulous. I will try it.
Becky
January 21, 2014 at 8:44 amWhat a lovely dollhouse. Well done! I can’t wait to try this out with my little girl :)