Every girl dreams of a wonderful toy house, which will be furnished with household items, furniture, and accessories. In specialized children's departments you can find everything you need, but you will have to shell out a tidy sum. It is for this reason that some parents are wondering how to make a bed for dolls themselves. The process does not require much time and effort; the work uses available materials, simple devices and decor. If you wish, you can use detailed master classes with photographs and diagrams.
Variety of models
A doll's bed should be environmentally friendly, safe and attractive for a child. Such items are distinguished by their reliability, ease of use, and bright design. Models can look exactly like real furniture, or they can be made in fancy shapes: oval, round, triangular. Among the varieties of products are:
- classic;
- single and double;
- rocking chairs;
- two-tier structures.
The beds are complemented by a bedside table, storage drawers, changing table or canopy. Doll furniture differs in the structure of the frame. There are options with a headboard, supporting walls, panels, with and without legs. The sizes of the beds depend on the doll’s parameters:
- classic bed for toys up to 52 cm - 55 x 35 cm;
- single for a doll up to 50 cm - 52 x 28 cm;
- traditional for toys up to 65 cm - 67 x 32 cm;
- cradle for dolls up to 52 cm - 53 x 30 cm.
- two-tier model for toys up to 50 cm - 50 x 28 cm, 48 x 28 cm.
- cradle for dolls up to 55 cm - 56 x 30 cm.
A doll bed made of cardboard or paper must be made large so that it can support the weight of the toy. Large models are made from solid wood.
Classical
Single
Double
Rocking chair
Bunk
Delicate linen for dolls
05/17/201805/16/2018 Clothes for dolls No comments
Dolls are often not only toys, but also collectibles. In such products, a lot of attention is paid to details - facial detailing, realistic hairstyles, chic outfits... But some masters went even further and began to create luxurious underwear for dolls, which differs from the real thing only in its miniature size. This is exactly the kind of lace underwear for dolls that the master at Marlies and Minis .
We invite you to be inspired by examples of such beauty:
Pattern of a cute tryapien
https://all-dolls.net/vdohnovenie/romantika-i-vintazh-ot-jennelise%F0%9F%8C%B8
Types of materials
A variety of materials are used to make your own doll bed. Everything is limited only by the imagination of parents and children. The most common options are:
- Cardboard. One of the most accessible materials, safe, easy to use, so you can involve children in the activity. The whole process takes a few minutes, just cut out the blanks and glue the side joints.
- Wooden shields. Panels up to 2 cm thick are optimal. The finished product has a neat, attractive appearance and compact dimensions. Wood is characterized by durability, so the cradle will last a long time.
- Foam rubber. It is used only in combination with other materials, since it does not have sufficient strength to create a body. A soft bed can be made from dishwashing sponges; their surface is first covered with a fabric that is pleasant to the touch.
- Styrofoam. A universal option, suitable for making a bed base or a sofa backrest. When working, you will not need any special skills or tools; you just need to get a construction knife.
- Shoe boxes. Universal, affordable products, optimal for making a variety of children's crafts. The finished crib is created quickly, but is fragile.
- Regular plywood. A common material suitable for cutting and gluing. The surface can be painted with any coloring compounds, decorated with beads, beads and other decorations.
- Matchboxes. Serve for quick construction of doll furniture frames. To give the crib an aesthetic appearance, fabrics or colored paper are used.
Important parameters of a teenage bed, current models, styles, colors
Today, other available materials have become widespread. These include cream jars, foil, plastic cups and bottles, napkins, and dishes.
The bed body can be made from metal objects. The main thing is that the products do not have sharp edges or corners, otherwise the child will be injured.
Papier-mâché method
To realize a conceived idea, craftsmen can use papier-mâché. There are three technologies for creating objects from paper, but we will not dwell on each of them, but consider the first method. It will be enough to learn how to make a bed out of paper.
On a model twisted from wire, we glue small pieces of paper soaked in glue in layers. If PVA glue is not available, silicate glue is used; you can use old-fashioned starch paste.
To increase the strength of the product, it is reinforced by adding fabric pieces. It is allowed to use gauze or thin nylon mesh. The classic gluing technique requires applying about a hundred layers of paper, but when creating furniture for a dollhouse, ignore this condition.
Important: the recommended method is good for children because it perfectly develops the motor skills of the child’s fingers.
Manufacturing process
Creating beds for dolls is an interesting process that opens up wide scope for the implementation of original creative ideas. There are many step-by-step instructions on online resources to help you do the job correctly. The choice of a suitable model and design must be made together with the child. Novice craftsmen will be able to make their own structures from cardboard, shoe boxes, ice cream sticks, and plywood.
From cardboard
A simple but elegant sleeping place for a Barbie doll can be made from ordinary corrugated cardboard. In addition to the main material, you will need: album sheets, wire, tape, pieces of fabric, scissors, glue. The entire process is carried out in accordance with the instructions:
- The desired bed model is schematically depicted on a piece of paper. Design parameters depend on the size of the doll.
- Based on the finished template, the necessary elements are cut out of cardboard and their side edges are glued together.
- Two pieces of wire 50 cm long are laid on top of the cardboard parts, fixed with tape, and the surface is filled with glue. The workpiece is placed under a press until completely dry.
- The elements of the body and headboard are pierced with an awl, and wire is threaded into the resulting holes. The fastening points are coated with glue.
- The pieces of wire are tied on the reverse side and the long ends are cut off.
The best models of beds for girls of different ages, subtleties of choice
At the final stage, the bed for dolls made of cardboard is covered with viscose napkins, paper or fabric. The sleeping place will become even more attractive with decor in the form of floral appliqués. Miniature bedding will add realism to the product: mattress, pillows, blanket.
From a shoe box
The basis for this project will be an ordinary shoe box. Tools you will need: scissors, glue, stationery knife, ruler, pencil. The work includes several stages:
- Half of the box is applied to the end, this will be one of the legs of the future bed.
- Legs are drawn on both sides of the box lid, the optimal height of which is 3–4.5 cm. Excess cardboard is cut off. If desired, you can make additional support.
- One or both side parts of the box are cut off after preliminary marking.
- The legs are glued to the crib body.
The surface of colorful boxes does not require special decoration. However, if necessary, you can complement the design of doll furniture with ribbons, fabric or paper.
From ice cream sticks
To make a cute little crib, you need to prepare 18 wooden popsicle sticks and 1 skewer. To connect the parts you will need glue. Additional tools you need are a ruler, a pencil, cotton swabs, and a knife. The process is carried out according to the instructions:
- One of the sticks is cut strictly in the middle. Two sides of the bed are glued together from half and five whole products.
- The skewer is cut in the center, each half should match the length of the side. The elements are glued to the body.
- For the frame, 2 sticks are glued together and then dried.
- The remaining sticks are placed on the bottom.
This original doll bed looks very cute. The product is complemented by bed linen, which can be pieces of textiles. The model can be decorated using gouache or wood varnish.
Criteria for choosing a fall guard for a bed, rules of use
Two-tier plywood
A crib made from this strong material is strong, durable, and safe. For work you will need: bamboo sticks, glue, screws, a piece of plywood, decorative elements. The process is carried out in accordance with the master class:
- Bamboo sticks are cut into 12 pieces. 4 of them should be the longest, since they are used to support the structure. The remaining 8 are divided into 4 segments.
- The sticks that serve as support posts are wrapped with braid.
- Self-tapping screws are screwed into the places where the tiers are fixed, and glue is used for reinforcement.
- The bottom of the plywood bed is secured with self-tapping screws. After complete drying, the base elements are covered with fabric.
All supporting parts are made in accordance with the selected scheme. The result is a reliable bunk bed for dolls. An excellent addition to the model will be bright bed linen that you can sew yourself.
How to make a bed for Barbie dolls?
Barbie is the most popular doll all over the world. And, of course, the crib for such a luxurious beauty must be appropriate.
Materials:
- a piece of foamed polyethylene;
- glue (it’s better to take “Moment”);
- furniture stapler;
- pencil, ruler;
- wide tape;
- knife;
- a piece of sandpaper;
- crepe satin 2 colors (to your taste);
- a small piece of foam rubber;
- decorative elements (lace, braid, sequins, etc.)
Instructions:
- We cut out the base of the crib of a suitable length from polyethylene.
- We cover it with satin and secure the fabric with a furniture stapler.
- We make a rounded back with edging.
- We trim the edging of the back with fabric, gathering it a little in a circle.
- We glue the back parts with glue and tape.
- We cut out the legs of the crib and cover them with fabric.
- We connect the legs, back and base with a stapler.
- We decorate the headboard with braid.
- We make a mattress made of fabric with foam padding according to the size of the bed.
- We cut out a sheet from fabric and decorate it with lace.
- Making pillows and a quilt.
- We decorate bed linen with sequins.
- Making a lace bedspread. The crib for Barbie is ready.
Decor
After the process of creating a crib for Barbie with your own hands is completed, you can begin decorating the product. The choice of suitable decorations depends on the materials used. The following options are traditionally used for decorating doll beds:
- paints, watercolor, acrylic or gouache;
- pieces of textiles, stickers, colored paper;
- lace, ribbons, braid;
- buttons, sequins, beads;
- wood carving, burning.
Models made from box, plywood or wood can be decorated using any techniques and accessories. Not only the aesthetics of doll furniture is important, but also the environmental friendliness of the materials used. The main rule is complete safety for the child’s body.
Wooden beds will look as much like real furniture as possible if they are supplemented with bedding. To create, foam rubber, cotton wool, and textiles are used. Pillows can have different parameters; the blanket consists of a pair of pieces of fabric corresponding to the size of the bed. The sheet should be twice the size of the mattress. In addition to fabrics, knitted fabrics, felt, and napkins are used.
All kinds of accessories are used to create a cozy gaming atmosphere. Airy canopies, bedside rugs, and miniature bedside tables look charming.
To understand how doll beds are made, you need to learn about the variety of models, sizes, and materials. If you cannot purchase the item you want, you can easily make it yourself. This simple creative work will help to realize original ideas and bring pleasure to the child.
What to sew from
Since the dimensions of bedding for a doll are not large, finding the material that serves as the basis for sewing will not be difficult. These could be old towels or any items. To choose the right one, decide what material you need. If you are sewing a pillowcase, it is better to use natural fabric taken from old things. A terry towel is suitable for sheets and duvet covers.
In general, sewing such linen accepts any old things that can be cut up and put to use.
A simple doll set for a crib made from pieces of fabric
Other options
There are other options for making a bed for a doll. It can be either a classic model - single, double, or bunk. We offer two options for how to make a sofa and a crib.
Sofa for a doll
How to make a sofa for a doll with your own hands? The best material for the frame would be foamed polystyrene; it is lighter and more rigid. But it doesn’t matter if you don’t find it. A cardboard frame with foam rubber and fabric will look no worse.
You need to start making your sofa by determining the dimensions. Try to base it on the height of your favorite toy or use patterns from the Internet, where you will find a hint on how to make a sofa for a toy house. In the case where the base of the frame is polystyrene foam, the back, sides and bed are cut out separately. You can also use regular sponges for washing dishes, covering them with a cloth.
Then a layer of thin foam rubber is glued onto the blanks, and fabric on top. You can connect parts of the product not only with PVA glue, but also use decorative needles with a bead-shaped head. This will serve as an additional decoration.
When the main material is corrugated cardboard, the back and sides can be cut from one piece. To keep the shape, the cardboard is additionally glued with pieces of paper, folded, and allowed to dry.
Two-tier model
A bunk bed is made from two shoebox lids. First, a frame is made from rigid wire or wooden planks, then it is wrapped in fabric. It is better to involve parents in the manufacture of such more complex structures. They will also enjoy this activity. An adult, he remains a child at heart.
These are the main recommendations. You can decorate furniture based on materials and imagination. These are sewn, glued beads, buttons, small bows, and ribbons. Pay special attention to the blanket or bedspread. Use frills, leftover lace, and braid. Complete the furniture set with an ottoman and an armchair made from the same materials.
In the video: DIY bunk bed for a doll.
Furniture for the fashionista Monster High
First, let's figure out how to make a bed for Monster High dolls. The dollhouse and bed for this fashionista should be beautiful and impressive. Made from cardboard and decorated with beads and ribbons, the doll and baby will love the crib.
How to make a bed for a Monster High doll:
1. Take a lid from a cardboard shoe box, cut a strip from the box itself, the width of which is equal to the side of the cardboard lid. The length of the strip should correspond to two long and one short sides of the side of the lid.
2. From a piece of thin foam rubber, cut a strip that is the same in width and length as the previous piece. After this, glue the foam rubber to the cardboard strip using PVA glue. Glue double-sided tape onto the resulting part. On its adhesive side you will need to glue pieces of fabric corresponding in size to the blank with foam rubber.
3. After the workpiece is wrapped in fabric, the constrictions should be made. To do this, in the center of the strip with foam rubber, starting from one edge, we thread a needle and thread, then wrap it around the edges and thread the needle again in the center, in the same place. Thus, you need to make constrictions along the entire length of the workpiece. The edges of the protruding fabric need to be sewn to the foam rubber. Sew beads for decoration in the places where the puffs themselves are made.
4. Now we make the back. To do this, cut two rectangles of the same size from corrugated cardboard and glue them together. Also, cut out the same rectangle from a sheet of thick paper and roll it into a tube. This tube will serve as a back bolster. Glue the resulting part to the edge of the cardboard back. Glue double-sided tape along the edges of the part; secure a piece of fabric to its adhesive base, wrapping the back around the edges.
5. Take a cardboard lid from the box and cover its sides with white cloth, outside and inside. On one side of the side of the lid, attach the previously prepared soft back with a bolster. We also attach the finished foam tape around the perimeter.
6. Cut a rectangle from foam rubber according to the dimensions of the backrest. Glue it onto a thick base (also onto a rectangular cardboard). Cover with fabric and make constrictions, decorate with beads. Glue the finished soft part to the front part of the back of the crib.
7. The do-it-yourself doll bed is almost ready. We cut out the foam rubber, make a mattress, and cover it with fabric on top. We sew the blanket and pillows separately.
You will like the crib, the fashionable toy will be able to complain and relax on a cute bed. Any children's furniture can be made in a similar way. For a more detailed master class, watch the video below.
Two tiers - cool
If you need to prepare two sleeping places, but for various reasons there is not enough space for furniture or this is a design idea, a bunk version of the bed is not difficult to make. An additional box will be required.
But the lid should not be used as a stand for the case, but should be cut into four parts and used as posts. We glue them to the backs of the lower bed, and then at the desired height we fix the second one with glue and press it with clothespins for strength while it dries.
DIY soft toy mouse
Another, this time the last option for sewing a mouse. A simple pattern, a minimum of materials and time spent make it accessible even to beginners in sewing!
For work we will need the following tools and materials:
- any dense but soft fabric (I sewed from purple fleece);
- pink fleece or flannel for the inner ear;
- filler;
- black beads;
- sewing threads;
- needle;
- red ribbon;
- sharpened scissors;
- pattern (printed or paper + pencil for redrawing).
How to sew a mouse: step-by-step master class
We start by printing or redrawing the pattern from the screen. We cut out the paper blanks and apply them to the fabric. Trace and cut again, not forgetting to add seam allowances. The number of fabric parts is indicated on the patterns in the photo above. Here's what we get:
We fold the blanks cut out of fleece in pairs and sew, leaving holes for turning inside out.
At the bottom of the body we sew an oval base, leaving a hole.
Turn the workpiece inside out.
We stuff the part with holofiber.
Second life of a cardboard box
This option is perfect for those parents who do not have the opportunity to devote a lot of time to creating a sleeping place, but circumstances require an urgent solution. We take an available box, preferably a shoe box or packaging from the doll itself.
Having discussed the appearance with the child, we begin making a sleeping alcove. The removed cover can be used instead of bed legs as a rectangular base. It is enough just to glue it under the bottom of the box and give the glue time to dry.
Then we cut the rectangle of the box itself at the corners from top to bottom by two-thirds. One side of the box, which will become the head of the bed, can be left unchanged in height. We will reduce the side walls by cutting off one third of the side.
The rear wall is reduced by half the height or similar to the sides, that is, according to the planned project. The next stage of work is pasting with colored paper or painting the entire surface of the product. Alternatively, you can cover it with beautiful flaps or self-adhesive film.
As a feather bed and pillows, pieces of foam rubber adjusted to size, inserted into the mattress pad and pillowcases, respectively, look good. You will have to sew them yourself by hand or on a sewing machine. If you don’t have the time or desire to sew, just cover it with fabric, securing it with thread at the bottom.
Advice: do not use pins and needles to secure it so that the girl does not accidentally get hurt during the game.
That's basically it, a crib made from a box for dolls with your own hands. Now it can be used in children's games.
Using cardboard box
Any father can make a bed for a doll out of a box. On the mezzanine or balcony you can always find one or two unnecessary boxes of shoes or household appliances.
To make such a bed you will need the following materials:
- box;
- wooden pallet;
- universal glue;
- colored paints;
- tassels;
- multi-colored sheets of paper;
- scraps of fabric;
- beads and ribbons.
To build such a bed, take a box that fits the size of the dolls, select a wooden pallet of the same size as the box. And the box is glued to the pallet with universal glue. The outside of the box is covered with multi-colored paper, the pallet is painted with colored paints. The inside of the box can also be covered with fabric, or it can be painted. The edge of the headboard can be decorated with beads, gluing them to ribbons with glue. For such a crib, a mattress, blanket, pillow and bed linen are also sewn.