Easy to Build Toy or Doll Cardboard House

by karinjela in Craft > Cardboard

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Easy to Build Toy or Doll Cardboard House

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Toy and doll-houses can be very expensive but it is easy and fun to build your own using scrap cardboard boxes. This instructable is simple to follow and can be done by kids and adults.

Supplies

  • An old medium or large cardboard box to be the base of the house
  • Several strips of cardboard to build the walls
  • Hot glue
  • Scissors or sharp knife
  • Toys to furnish the house

Preparing

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Find a medium or large cardboard box that will be used for the base of the house. It's important that the box is not too thin otherwise the house will become too wobbly to work and play.

Cut the upper side to just remain with the side and bottom, just as in the picture.

Cut strips of cardboard to build the internal walls of the house. In my case, the walls were 10cm in height. It is recommended to have slightly thicker cardboard for the internal walls to make the construction and glueing easier.

Designing

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Before you start cutting and placing the internal walls, it is time to design the interior sections and rooms of the house.

This was a fun process with my children since they could try different layouts and use their creativity to design as they liked.

Of course, you don't need a fancy CAD as the image attached or hire an architect, just a piece of paper and pencil will suffice.

Initial Assembly

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With the design of the house approved, you can move ahead and start cutting the cardboard strips in their correct sizes and placing them in the box to ensure they fit nicely.

Once placing the main walls, it's time to draw where the doors, windows and other holes will be.

It's easier to use a sharp utility knife to cut the cardboard with precision to get a nice result.

Final Assembly

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Once all walls are cut to size and have their doors and windows ready, it's time to glue them to the box.

This is a simple and quick task for a hot glue gun. After a few minutes, all walls are in place and secure ready to start receiving the new owners.

Play Time

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Now, this is when the fun starts.

Get your favourite toy furniture and start filling the rooms as you originally imagined. There are so many different options to play for hours.

Add paintings to the walls or rugs by cutting images from magazines

Use a coloured pen to add details such as doorknobs, light switches, radiators, mirrors, etc.

Hope you enjoy this instructable as much as we did.