Table

The table was super easy! I cut two 2x6s long enough to accommodate the dolls sitting on the couch. Then, we took the cut-offs and nailed the two 2x6s to the cut-offs. It was all made from scraps, so it was FREE! 

And there is the finished product! 

iPads and iPhones

My daughter's most anticipated part of the project was doing the iPads and iPhones. 

First, I googled coloring pages for each type of device. I cut and pasted the pictures on a new document. I shrunk or stretched the pictures to the sizes I needed. My daughter and I placed small stickers on the devices and colored the rest of the device. We then cut cardboard to the size of the devices and taped it to the device. 

This project was absolutely free, as we had all items on hand. 

We then had a fun time saying what all the "apps" were! 

Potted flowers

First, we purchased mini flower pots for $.50 each from the clearance at the dollar store. 

I used the items pictured below:

I wetted the clay and molded it into the pots and stuck the flowers into the clay while it was still wet. 

I already had the clay and flowers on hand, so it only cost me $1 plus tax! 

Finishing out the doll couch

I did the finishing touches to the couch tonight. 

First we turned it over and made sure the fabric was taut and fastened completely. 

Then, my daughter painted school glue on all the raw edges to prevent fraying. 

Then we used four, $.96 knobs from the hardware store. We chose pink glass ones. Instead of using the screws included, we glued them down with E6000 glue and set up to dry overnight. 

The couch is now complete and ready to be put in the doll house. 

One more project done and for around $4.00! 

Artwork

Next, we worked on artwork for the walls. 

We had an old art book that had small pictures in it and chose three we liked. 

We chose "The Rehearsal" by Manet, "Mona Lisa" by Di Vinci, and "Waterlily Pond" by Monet. 

Then, Selah painted Popsicle sticks black and let them dry. 

We trimmed each picture with a little white space around them. 

Then we hot glued the Popsicle sticks in a frame, overlapping when necessary. 

After trimming the excess white, they were done for now. 

This project cost $0, as everything we used, we already had on hand. 

American girl couch

KToday we started on our couch for the doll house. We cut pieces approx. 32"x7" (two of them) for the seat and back of the couch out of plywood and then nailed them together. Then we cut two pieces of 1 1/2" wood to the length from the back to the edge and nailed them down. Here are pictures. 

Lulu says it's comfy!

Tomorrow we will upholster it! 

Have a great day! 

American girl ottoman

For the ottoman, I started with a square of 2x4. 

I then padded it with two layers of batting and wrapped it up neatly. I did it in a contrasting fabric from the couch. 

It literally took five minutes to complete, and I used a small scrap of wood and fabric, so the cost was $0. 

That was simple! 

American girl couch-part 2

First, I started with the couch frame we built yesterday. 

Then, we started covering it with two layers of batting. To do this, we would rough cut enough for one section at a time. Then we would spray the wood with glue and place the batting on it. We would then use either 1" nails or staples to secure the edges. We continued with each section until we were done. It doesn't have to look perfect, as we will upholster it. 

Roll of batting. 

The glue we used. 

The steps in wrapping it, and the couch fully wrapped. 

The next step was to rough cut pieces for all the sections of the couch, and to upholster it, being careful to keep edges rolled under and bare ends only on the underside. 

I secured edges and corners with nails or staples, depending on the location. 

We trimmed off excess as we went after it was securely fastened. 

The couch, for now. More finishing touches will be added later. 

The underside. We will go back and add some more staples and nails to make it more secure. 

The wood was scrap. The batting I bought for $10 and will be enough to do all the projects. I had the upholstery that I had bought as a scrap from a local furniture manufacturer for $1. The nails were $1.50 and they will do multiple projects. 

This is all for this project for today! 

The beginning...a very good place to start

I will be converting her old, custom bookcase into the doll house, so I got, FOR FREE, an old, store bought one to hold all of her books. Here is a picture of the bought bookcase

It also has shelves, but I took them out for now to clean it and to put them back in. We will nail the shelves in so they will be sturdier. 

This is the one we are converting to the doll house. 

Today we are purchasing the fabrics and we'll post pictures later. 

My blog

This blog will be used to do all kinds of things, hence the name "Random Teresa." 

My first project is making a doll house for my daughter's 18" dolls. I'll show you to process as we go. 

Have a good day!