Rain Hat for your Doll

To complete the "Rain Gear" for dolls, I also made a little rain hat.  I used a medium sized thin paper plate and folded in half repeatedly until it was the shape of a small triangle.  I then glued two of the triangle folds together with a hot glue gun to create the shape of the hat.  I folded the outer edges of the plate up to create the rim of the hat.  Then I attached a pipe cleaner to either side of the hat to create the strap.  To finish the hat, I painted it purple and green to match the rain boots that I made in this POST.

Emily wearing the unpainted hat.

A top view of the painted hat.

Emily wearing the finished hat with her poncho and rain boots.

Dollie Rain "Gear"

We have been experiencing a lot of Springtime showers here in Pennsylvania which inspired me to make rain "gear" for the dolls.  I started with the RAIN BOOTS in a previous post.  Since that post, I have added a rain poncho, an umbrella, and a rain hat (not pictured.)  The rain hat will be featured in a future post once it is complete.

To make the umbrella, I used a tutorial from My Froggy Stuff Facebook.  Click HERE to view the video tutorial.  NOTE: I used American Girl scrapbook paper and wooden skewers for inside support (instead of toothpicks.)

The Rain Poncho was quite simple to make.  I cut a 22 inch long and 11 inch wide rectangle out of a plastic table cloth.  Then I folded it in half length wise and laid my doll on top of the cloth.  I used my doll as a guide to cut a hole in the folded crease just big enough for the doll's head to fit through.  The plastic table cloth will stretch a little.  Then I used a small dot of hot glue to attach the pieces of the poncho under both of the doll's arms to create a large arm hole.  ***Please ask for a parents help with using the glue so that you do not damage your doll.***

Have fun in the "Springtime Showers!" **Please remember to never actually put your doll in water or real rain as your doll could get ruined.

Cute Doll Sized Food and Drink Finds

I found these cute doll sized food and drink items this weekend.  I purchased the treats at our local Family Dollar store (which is sort of like a "general store") for $1.00 each set.  The cupcakes were one set and the ice cream cones, pie and cake were another set.  They are all erasers. 

I found these little soda (lip glosses) and a store called Five & Below, where everything is $5.00 and below.  They were $1.00 each.  I have also purchased similar ones at Target in the Dollar Isle.  

Emily (AG) and Rebecca (Madame Alexander) are hanging out with a treat and a soda.  Now I do not encourage soda drinking, however there are just the perfect size for the doll and great for play!  Rebecca is also holding an ice cream cone to eat.  It fit perfectly in her hand!

Close up of a cupcake and soda on the table.

My two year old, Gwenie, giving her Rebecca (AG) some soda to drink.

My nine year old, Abbi, giving Addy (AG) some soda.

I love finding cute and affordable items for my daughters to use with their dolls.  Food shaped erasers and lip glosses are normally inexpensive and make for a great play time with their dollies.  My daughters certainly enjoy them!

How to Make "Rain Boots" for your Doll

Here is our part of Pennsylvania, we have been having quite a bit of rain this spring.  I decided that is was time to get to work on some "Rain Boots" for the dolls!  Splish Splash!

How to Make "Rain Boots" for your Doll:

Items Needed:  
-Cardboard
-2 pieces of circle shaped craft foam and one piece of square craft foam
-Duck Tape
-Hot glue gun (with parent permission) or craft glue
-Scissors
-Pencil
-Doll to use as a guide

Getting to Work:

Step 1: Trace your doll's feet onto thick cardboard using a pencil (be careful not to mark your doll--you may need parent help.) Cut out the shapes you traced.

Step 2:  Cut the circle shaped craft foam in half and wrap the craft foam around your doll's leg( from the top of her fott to about an inch below her knee.)   Glue the edges together to form a tube shape.  Repeat with other leg.

 

Step 3: Use the other half of the circle shaped craft foam to create the foot area of the boot.  Glue the straight edge of the second foam piece to the tube shape where the tube shape forms the upside down "V." Repeat with other piece.

Step 4: Glue the bottom of the foam around the front and sides of the boot form to the corresponding piece of cardboard from Step 1.  The back of the foam form may not touch the cardboard. Repeat.

 Step 5: Use glue to attach the rectangular piece of foam to the back of the foam boot and back of the cardboard form.  This will cover any open areas between the back of the boot and the back of the cardboard. Repeat with other boot.

Right: Foam boot form on the doll's leg.

Left:  Foam boot forms without duck tape covering.

Step 6:  Use duck tape to cover the foam boots to create the "plastic-like" look of rain boots.  Start at the top of the boot and wrap one pattern or color of duck tape about an inch and a half to two inches down from the top of the boot.  Use a second color to wrap around the bottom section of the boot making sure to also cover the cardboard piece of the bottom of the boots.  

Step 7:  Cut a slit in the back of each boot at the top to make the boots easier to put on and take off your doll.

Finished "Rain Boots" on Emily.

I am planning to follow up with an umbrella and possibly a rain coat to complete this "Rainy Springtime Outfit" soon!

How to Turn Dollar Store Finds Into Furniture for AG Mini Dolls

I found these cute little candle chairs (left) and doll house table (right) at my local dollar store.  I thought they would make the perfect furniture for my youngest daughter's mini Molly's living room.  The candle chairs have a tropical theme and are purple which is her new favorite color.  I decided that I would need to give the table a little makeover.  This was a fast and simple project that allowed me to add more mini play furniture to my daughter's growing collection in a very affordable way!

For the Table's Makeover:
Step 1:  I chose two coordinating colors of duck tape to go with the candle chairs, purple and green.
Step 2:  I covered the top of the table with the purple duck tape, making sure to wrap the duck tape around the sides of the top piece of the table to cover the edges.
Step 3: I covered the legs, side pieces and underneath of the table with the green duck tape.

 

This table is the perfect size to use as a coffee table for AG mini dolls.  Mini Molly loves her new furniture!

 

Sorry I Have Been M.I.A.

I will resume my normal posting by the end of this week.  My middle daughter has been having some issues at school and my youngest daughter has been having some health issues.  Obviously, being a mommy comes first. :)  I have a few projects that I have been working on here or there when I have a moment.  I will be posting one later tonight about furniture ideas for AG mini dolls. 

I am so thankful to my readers that have been leaving me comments including the "When are you gonna post again?"  :)  It make me so happy to know that people enjoy my crafts and blog! 

Quick and Simple Bedding for your Mini Doll's Bed

How to Make Quick and Simple Bedding for you Mini Doll's Bed.

Items Needed: 

-Fabric (or I used two old shirts that my daughters' have grown out of.)

-Scissors

-Sewing Machine OR Needle and thread to hand sew

-Pillow stuffing

-Sewing Pins

 Getting to Work:

Step 1- 3 are on making the cover/blanket for the bed.

Step 1: Choose the fabric or shirts you want to use to make the bedding.  Cut two pieces of fabric using your bed as a guide for the measurements .  (I cut one piece from each shirt.)  One piece of fabric should be about 1/2 an inch bigger than the other.  Click HERE to see instructions on how to make the mini doll's bed.

Step 2:  Use the sewing pins to pin the smaller piece of fabric to the larger piece (right sides out.)  Pin about 1/2 an inch in from the edge of the smaller piece of fabric.

Step 3:  Machine or hand sew the two pieces of fabric together using the pins as the guide.

To Make the Pillows:

Step 1 and 2:  Cut two pieces of fabric (I used the sleeve of one of the shirts.)  The pieces of fabric should be as wide as the doll bed (about four inches wide--in this picture going top to bottom when folded.  8 inches unfolded) and about 3 inches long.  Fold the fabric in half with the right sides touching (inside out) and pin each pillow together on the two longer sides.  Leave the small side (on the top in the picture) unpinned.

Step 3:  Sew the two longer sides of each pillow together.  Leave the shorter side open.

Step 4:  Turn the pillow right side out and stuff with pillow stuffing.  Repeat with second pillow.

Step 5:  Sew the open end of your pillow closed.

The bedding is complete and can be laid out in different ways.

My version is also reversible because I choose fabric that was cute on both sides.

I hope you AG Mini doll or other mini dolls enjoy their new bed and bedding.  Please feel free to share pictures by emailing me @ leasekristis@yahoo.com or posting on my Facebook!