'Little Red' Matchbox Paper Dolls

 So lately it seems I am a bit obsessed with re-purposing matchboxes into little worlds.

I have also always bit a bit obsessed with fairy tales, so what a perfect match this little project has made!

 Outside, the tiny box displays a deep forest and title, "Little Red", giving a clue 

to what is inside.

 Another forest scene with a path and tiny Little Red Riding Hood and one Big Bad Wolf paper dolls

to play with.

This was very simple to make.
Materials

• one small matchbox
• decorative tape
• paper (or photos)
• drawing items of choice if you choose to draw your own. Pen, marker,colored pencil, water color, etc.
• glue
• scissors
• ruler

Steps

1.  Just measure the cover and inside dimensions of matchbox to create the inside image and cover in these same dimensions. Use printed images, magazine cut outs, photos, or draw by hand as I did on paper.

 

2. I used decorative tape to cover the edges, inside and out.
3. The characters measure about 2" tall and were drawn on heavy card-stock.
4. You could glue your printed images or photos to card-stock to give the paper dolls more stability.
5. For the scalloped edge I just used scalloped edge scissors, and cut a thin trim.  Glue it to the top edges of the matchbox, finishing it off nicely.

This makes such a sweet gift, and fun, portable little toy for someone special.

Easy Pipecleaner Mushrooms

                                       

I have had fairy tales on the brain lately, and these easy, little pipe cleaner mushrooms seem to add the perfect cute and magical touch to a storybook setting.

I learned how to make these simple little mushrooms from

 this Japanese craft book. (ISBN978-4-277-43144-6)

Start with the base, cut between 1 1/2" to longer, just depending on what you want

the length to be. Make a super tiny little loop on top, to hold the top on of mushroom in place.

The top, was just red or brown pipe cleaner, twisted around. Starting at the top, then wrapping around,

larger as you go. You can wrap this around your pinkie finger to help with the shape, or kids hands are great for this too! The sizes can vary, just so it looks cute on top of the white base.

You've got the top and bottom, so ad a little dab of craft glue to hold them in place.

Then, using craft glue again, the tiniest amount, add some tiny white seed beads to the top.

And there you go!

So many things you do with these now.  Add them to a fairytale environment, use in a wreath, add

to little girl headbands or barrettes, or I think they could be gathered into a cool brooch.

They are also pretty cute just to sit around.

They make me pretty happy.

A Proper Bed for a Princess

Making a "proper" bed for a true princess, can only mean one thing.

You will need one pea and lots and lots of mattresses.

We made our Princess and the Pea bed from popsicle sticks and fabric scraps.

(coffee stirrers, toothpicks and tongue depressors too.)

1. Build a simple base for the bed. Cut one popsicle stick in half,

so you have 2 equal pieces. Glue across the sticks.

2.Then add the full size sticks. We used 5 for ours.

3.Next, make your 4 bed posts by simply gluing 2 sticks together

for each post.

4. If you like, you can decorate them. We wanted them a little

"fancier" so we drew on the sticks once they dried, and colored

with marker.

5. Then get ready to attach the base to the posts. This is the trickiest part,

and requires the most patience.

6. We definitely suggest, using any props, or tricks to help hold the pieces

in place while the glue dries.  Tape, clothespins, old cell phones, empty tins.

Be creative, use what works!

7. Now you have a great start but it's a bit wobbly. So add braces in

the weak spots. We used cut up pieces of tongue depressor around the

base. Then coffee stirrers on the sides.

8. Dont' forget the pea! You must have one. (we used a shiny

pea-green bead.)

9. Next, pick through your fabric scraps, and find around 15 or so scraps.

Cut them roughly, 6 x 5", fold them horizontally, wrong sides out. Sew along 2

sides, creating a sort of mini pillowcase. 1/2" seem.

10. Turn them all inside out, and then use a very small amount of fluff

to stuff, you want them more flat than puffy. Little hands are a great help at this!

When finished, turn the inside edges in, and sew across the edge (roughly 1/4" seem) to close up the mattress.

You can handsew the closing for a more finished look.

11. Stack those mattresses up.

The kids noticed we needed a ladder too.

Made from coffee stirrers and toothpicks.

12.Find a potential princess, and test it out!

Goodnight, sleep tight!

***If you enjoyed this post and like tiny things, check our latest post

And you can make a cute and tiny scout sash. like this one.