Archive for September, 2010

Q&A: Dollhouse furniture??

Question by pink_pretty133: Dollhouse furniture??
does anyone know some cool ways to make dollhouse furniture out of everyday stuff from your house thanks!!
and it is for barbie dolls
and also 5inch dolls

Best answer:

Answer by greggace
every pizza delivery box, comes with a plastic separator that looks like a smaller version of a outside plastic table…

then you have good old fashioned match boxes the big ones with the stick matches, great for making furniture…Lots of train buffs used to use them…

My daughter used to use old make_up type shapes, look at them carefully, they can become lamps, vases, with out the caps…etc…
then you have what cake deco-raters use..Rice Crisp’s (Cereal) and some melted marshmallows, can be made into anything and then painted, etc…

hope this helped… peace …greggace

What do you think? Answer below!

Dolls??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Question by Rock my socks!: Dolls??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I have this spring field collection doll(it’s like a fake american girl doll) I have to questions about her
1 her hair is all frizzed up.how can i make it go away?
2 would american girl doll oufits fit her?

Best answer:

Answer by Ms butterfly
Ebay

Add your own answer in the comments!

Beauty is in the Details – All About Miniature Dollhouse Furniture

by Maia C

Beauty is in the Details – All About Miniature Dollhouse Furniture

Dollhouse collections would never be complete without the stylish touch of the miniature dollhouse furniture. Children and adults alike love to decorate their doll houses with tiny, exquisite miniature doll house furniture, which complements the style of the dollhouse in perfection. From doll beds, chairs, closets or little doll tables and chairs, doll house collectors surely have plenty to choose from.

Beautifully crafted miniature dollhouse furniture can be purchased from specialized stores or from online providers. If you are looking for unique pieces of dollhouse furniture or collectible items, the Internet is the best source to start with. Doll house furniture manufacturers with online shops or EBay auctions can provide you with a large range of miniature dollhouse furniture to decorate your doll house.

With various colors, designs and prices, miniature dollhouse furniture should always uphold the overall theme of the dollhouse. Therefore, remember to purchase only the furniture items that match the style and the architecture of the dollhouse. For example, purchasing miniature dollhouse furniture that represents the Victorian period for a contemporary style dollhouse can easily affect the overall style of your project.

Kids are less picky of course, and anything would work for their dollhouse. However, for passionate dollhouse collectors, the level of detail and the precision in choosing the best miniature dollhouse furniture is one of the most important stages of a doll house project. Here are three hot tips on how to choose the right miniature dollhouse furniture:

TIP #1 – Styles
Deciding on the miniatures style depends on the type of dollhouse you already have. If you are not sure of your choice, there are many magazines available, as well as online information.

TIP #2 – Quality
True collectors will spend whatever it takes to get that unique piece of dollhouse furniture. Expensive furniture will definitely sow off a dollhouse, but it’s not meant for playing purposes. If you buy miniatures for your kids’ dollhouse, less expensive items are just as good; if kids can play with them, great!

TIP #3 – Kits

Doll house miniatures also come in kits. Generally, kits are cheaper and include more items specifically designed for one room, like bathroom kits or living room miniature kits.

Most miniature dollhouse furniture is handmade and created with a high level of detail. Choosing handmade dollhouse furniture will also increase the value of the doll house, and it will allow owners to enjoy perfect miniature accessories for a lifetime. Some of the most popular types of doll house furniture are:

- The Victorian style, impressing with the striking appearance and stylish design;
- The Tudor style, featured by beautiful wood miniature dollhouse furniture. The representative dollhouse furniture for this style includes stools and chests, rather than chairs. Beds with detailed carving are another excellent point for choosing Tudor miniature dollhouse furniture.
- Georgian miniature doll house furniture;
- Contemporary style;
- Southwestern dollhouse furniture.

As you can see, it is very hard to decide on a certain dollhouse furniture style. Every style has its own charm, but this is where the collector’s choice intervenes. Dollhouses allow people to express their fascination for a certain historical period and the attached architectural style. The miniature dollhouse furniture represents the top of the iceberg, providing a personal insight of those times simply by recreating exactly the interiors. It’s like taking a trip back in time, getting the real feel of the history, just at a smaller scale.

Home, sweet home

Home, sweet home
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How to Survive Doll Collecting

by Shain Erin

How to Survive Doll Collecting

Buy what you love.

As long as you love each doll that you buy you will love doll collecting. Doll collecting is a passionate pastime and choosing what type of doll to buy is a personal choice that should come from the heart. If you cannot walk past a baby doll without feeling it has your name written all over it, then buy baby dolls. If your passions for dolls dates back to childhood memories of playing with wooden dolls and you have a sentimental attachment to these dolls then collect these dolls. Do not let anyone influence you in your choice of dolls as a doll collection brings responsibilities and you do at least want to enjoy fulfilling these duties.

Collect within your budgetary limits.

Most serious doll collectors would love to own a whole collection of OOAK (one of a kind) collectible dolls. Very few of us can afford to own even one. Decide what you can afford to buy and start a collection in this price class. There is nothing to prevent you from upgrading your collection at a later stage should your financial position improve.

It is Quality and not Quantity that counts.

You will be adding more value to your collection by purchasing one quality doll per year than adding a number of mediocre dolls. Doll collections can so easily get too big to really appreciate and doll collecting is a marathon not a sprint. Be selective and appreciate each doll when you do manage to buy it.

Do sufficient research.

Making an informed decision always gives us confidence in our actions. Read as much as possible about a particular type of doll and get as much background information on the doll artists whose dolls hold a particular attraction for you.

Do not let price guides rule your decisions.

The Blue Book is every collector’s Bible, but this book is a point of reference only as there are numerous factors that can influence the value of a doll. Always use your own judgment in conjunction with price guides.

Buy from a reputable dealer.

This is of particular importance when purchasing antique dolls. Member of NADDA (National Antique Doll Dealers Association) must adhere to a strict code of ethics and membership requirements include at least five years experience in buying and selling antique dolls. All dolls must be guaranteed as to age, attribution, and physical condition in writing upon purchase. With modern new collectible dolls a reputable dealer will have a good after sales record and be knowledgeable about market trends.

Join a doll club.

Doll clubs are a great way of expanding your knowledge of the doll collecting world and a great way to share your ideas and aspirations. There is so much to learn from other doll collectors and these clubs often organize doll shows and other events that can bring a new dimension to your doll collecting.

Realize that you may want to upgrade your collection at some time.

Tastes change as we develop new ideas and are exposed to different types of dolls. Never feel guilty about wanting to change the direction of your collection. The money you get from the sale of your collection can be used towards your new-found doll collecting interests.

Enjoy yourself!

Remember that doll collecting is a pastime and it is meant to be enjoyed. Never let your doll collecting habits get in the way of family and friends and treasure the dolls that you are lucky enough to acquire. Always appreciate the doll friends you meet along the way even more than the dolls and you will find that you will always enjoy yourself.

Happy doll collecting!

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How to Store Your Doll Collection

by Shain Erin

How to Store Your Doll Collection

Storage of your doll collection is inevitable to occur at some stage. This may be a result of moving home or purely because your doll collection has grown beyond the point where you have sufficient suitable available space to display your entire doll collection. Irreparable damage that could significantly devalue your doll collection can result from incorrect storage methods. The following are basic guidelines to assist you when storing collectible dolls.

• Storage Area

The most popular storage areas for storage of goods, being basements and attics, are in most cases not ideally suited for storage areas for your doll collection. These areas are more likely to be prone to extreme temperatures which are a definite risk to most types of collectible dolls and could cause irreversible damage to your collection. As these areas are traditionally less frequented sections of your home they are more likely to get infested by rats and moths which needless to say could damage your collection.
If at all possible the ideal storage area in your home would preferably be in a temperature-controlled room in a closet, in a trunk or in a chest-of-drawers. There are temperature-controlled storage options available that would be suitable for your doll collection, but these may prove to be are costly should you require prolonged periods of storage for your doll collections.

• Type of container

Plastic bags and plastic containers should never be used to store dolls and doll accessories. These containers have a tendency to trap moisture that could cause mold growth which is very difficult and in some cases impossible to remove. Vinyl or plastic dolls have the additional risk of damage resulting from gases that some plastic containers have been known to emit. Storing dolls in their original cardboard boxes is another common error made by many doll collectors. The acid present in cardboard could cause damage to your dolls if stored without the necessary protection in these boxes. Wrap your dolls in acid-free tissue paper or unbleached and undyed cotton or muslin cloths if you opt for storing your dolls in cardboard boxes

• Metal Accessories

Jewelry, metal doll stands, metal headbands or any other metal objects must be removed from dolls prior to storage as these are known to discolor plastic and vinyl dolls.
If you have true NRFB (never remove from box) collectible dolls then you may have to leave box and doll together, and any jewelry still on the doll, risking eventual damage to the doll.

• Packing materials

Ideally all dolls and doll clothing should be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper prior to storage. To prevent the doll and doll clothing from touching one another and maybe causing permanent discoloration it is advisable to place a layer of acid-free tissue paper between the doll and the doll’s clothing. If the dolls are to be stored in a wooden trunk or drawer remember to place a protective barrier between the wood and the dolls as the acids present in wood can be damaging to your dolls. Muslin cloth or acid-free tissue paper is ideal for this purpose. Newspaper should never be used to wrap dolls or doll clothing as this too contains damaging acids and besides which it most probably will leave newsprint marks. Wooden dolls that are more prone to insect infestation should be stored with moth crystals but care must be taken to ensure that the crystals do not touch the body of the doll by wrapping the crystals in a muslin cloth. Moth crystals must never be used with plastic or vinyl dolls as irreversible damage can be caused by chemical reactions between the crystals and the plastic or vinyl.
Dolls with inset eyes must always be stored with their faces down to prevent damage to their eyes.

• Storage of doll clothing

To minimize the crushing of doll clothes during prolonged storage periods it is advisable to place a ball of acid-free tissue paper inside the sleeves and bodice of doll clothing. To minimize creasing all clothing should be laid down flat.

Regular checks to perform on stored dolls

Remember to check your stored dolls at least once a year for any discoloration or vermin or insect infestations. Pay careful attention to clothing and sawdust for any signs of insects. Wooden dolls are a high risk for insect infestation and if undetected can spread from one doll to the next placing your entire collection at risk. If any of your dolls are found to be infested isolate the dolls until they have been chemically treated and you are satisfied that the dolls are insect-free.

Where can I find replacement dolls and accessories for the Loving Family Dollhouse?

Question by Sandy T: Where can I find replacement dolls and accessories for the Loving Family Dollhouse?
My girls have lost the baby girl somewhere. Ebay has some, but I’m just wondering if I can get her somewhere else. Also, I think it’d be fun to get them some of the rooms that we don’t have, but they don’t sell them (apparently) anymore. Do they come out with new stuff every few years?

Best answer:

Answer by dundi
try amazon.com

Add your own answer in the comments!

The Joys of Making Your Own Dollhouse Furniture

by Elizabeth/Table4Five

The Joys of Making Your Own Dollhouse Furniture

Dollhouses have had universal appeal for thousands of years, not only for children but for adults as well. Their allure comes from the endless possibilities of living life vicariously in miniature, the enjoyment of which would be limited only by the person’s imagination.

Today, there are a host of video and computer games which are based on the age-old principle of the dollhouse: furniture, walls and people. While they may be more visually appealing with their virtual working parts – ranges where food can actually be cooked, plumbing through which water really flows, and people who could interact with each other – it is not quite the same as having a physical model to play with.

It would be easy enough to just go to a store and buy a dollhouse and all the necessary accessories. It is true that store-bought items these days are generally of decent workmanship. We have gotten used to the idea that the more you spend, the better the quality is. But these days, the word recession would bring a ready cringe to any working person’s face. Money certainly becomes more valuable the less there is to go around. But while our wallets might suffer from being too light, our enjoyment need not. If one good thing could come from the current financial stagnation, it would be that it would allow a person to express creativity in simpler but effective ways.

To make your own dollhouse, you need not look further than your own home. Take out your scissors, stapler, needle, thread, and glue, and get ready to go to work. Well, play-work.

For the dollhouse furniture, look for unused shoeboxes and shape them into frames for beds and couches. Glue on some batting from an old pillow, and cover them all up with cloth scraps. For dining tables, use the cardboard center of toilet paper as legs, and attach it to a rectangular piece of cardboard.

For a table or floor lamp, use an old candle holder as the base and stick an inverted plastic cup over it. Stick together matchboxes and empty slide-out crayon boxes for chests of drawers, and glue on toothpaste lids for handles. Cover up surfaces with colorful construction paper, tin foil and glitter accordingly.

For the dollhouse itself, use old plywood, or cut up a few packing boxes into floors and walls and glue them together. This way, you would have the freedom of making up your own rooms lay-out as well. You could paint the walls with acrylic, or cover them up with leftover gift-wrapping paper. For the floors, use old (but clean) mats. Paper doilies could brighten up the floors as “rugs” with their intricate patterns. If you want to “hang” artwork onto your walls, cut out tiny landscapes and pictures from old magazines. Use bits of lace for curtains over cellophane windows.

These are just a few useful ideas. Make it a family affair; you will discover that foregoing one Saturday movie-evening to make dollhouse furniture will not be such a great sacrifice, and the pay-off will be a fun, creative time with your kids. You would also have the great satisfaction of making something nice without needing to spend a lot, if at all.