Tutorial: Doll Box into Dolly Closet!

So, I MAY have had a little momentary lack of self control involving some new dolly clothes. (I need that little monkey emoji with his hands over his mouth. Why don't we have emojis for computers?? How am I supposed to express myself without little cartoons?? Oh yeah. A vocabulary.) This was, of course, not my fault. It was my sister's fault for encouraging me to create posts about football, which I got paid for, which funded my shopping "accident". But I love her, so I'm not mad at her. ;o)

Anyway! When your dolls have an extensive wardrobe, you need a place to put all those fancy things! I priced out some adorable and crazy-expensive doll closets online, but by then my senses had returned to me, so we decided to make some quick ones out of our doll boxes. Perfect! And I even had all my supplies lying around the house. We had so much fun!

Here's what you need:

• The box your doll came in. (I'm not sure if all 18" doll boxes are the same? These are from American Girl.)
• Pretty papers
• 1/2" dowel
• cardboard
• hot glue
• glue stick

• First, place your background paper inside your box and crease to measure where to cut your back piece. You will need 2 pieces to cover the full length.

• Cut paper to size and cover the back with a glue stick.

• Press paper into box. When overlapping papers, do your best to match up the print.

• Use a pencil to punch a hole into each side of the box, 3'' from the top and 2'' from the front.

• Poke the dowel through the hole, mark, and trim dowel.

• Cut two pieces of cardboard for shelves. Measure to make them the same depth and just slightly wider than the back of the box. When you press them into the box, they should fit snuggly.

• Cover the cardboard with paper. We chose a wood pattern to make it look like real shelves. You can find similar paper by the sheet at JoAnn stores, and probably tons of other craft stores.

• Don't forget to cover the front of the shelves! I glued on a wider strip and them trimmed the edges to fit.

• Add a line of hot glue on each side, about 1'' above the dowel and quickly press shelf in. Repeat for lower shelf.

Hooray! All done!! 

Quick and painless. (Well, depending on your hot glue gun experience.) I also made the wire hangers, I will post a tutorial for those a little later! :O)

Then you just have to invite friends over and play!

In case any of you are thinking: "Wow, what a great mom!" let me assure you that, while Paige really loves them, the clothes and closet might be 20% for Paige, and 80% for me. Haha. Dress up has always been my favorite! I can remember playing Barbies with my friends as a little girl and we would just get them dressed for a million different occasions over and over again. Paige likes the dress up, but her passion is the drama. When she plays, someone is always getting injured in a gymnastics competition or being kidnapped by "the bad guys" or moving in with a rich neighbor after being poor and hungry all their lives. I love her imagination! I love her. To the moon, and back. I can't get enough of that wonderful child.

I will try to get you guys the tutorial for the hangers next week after the kids and I get back from visiting my grandma in OR. :O)

Have a great start to your week tomorrow! Sunday is my favorite. 

Love you so much!

-Disney