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Dollhouse kits are great for those who are taking their first steps toward a rewarding hobby, but it can be difficult to zero in on a particular kit to buy. A wide price range makes it even more difficult to buy a kit, but asking yourself the following questions can help you choose one that meets your requirements:
How big do you want your dollhouse to be?
Beginners should stick to low-cost, small dollhouses. They can buy a larger assembly kit once they have gained confidence, and they can keep the smaller dollhouse to a child as a gift. A lot of miniaturists tend to follow this too since it helps them save money, follow their hobby, and develop their skills. However, you can go for a larger house if you have the money and the confidence that you will fill it up with miniatures or add more features to it later on. Most high and medium-cost dollhouses can be modified for more rooms and features, so you can constantly work on them as your skills develop.
Do you want a dollhouse with lights?
A lot of dollhouse kits come without lights or electric wiring, and most beginners would stick with a simple dollhouse with no lights. However, you should keep in mind that a $30-40 investment in electric wires and supplies for a dollhouse in the construction period is a lot cheaper than the cost of adding electric wiring to a dollhouse after completion. Even if you are starting off with your dollhouse hobby, you should seriously consider adding lights or at least electric wiring for your dollhouse.
Do you just want a room box?
Like the name suggests, a room box is a room in a box. You can go for these simple and cheap options if you do not want a whole house. This is particularly useful when you are adding on to an existing dollhouse or if you are constructing a miniature for young boys.
October 1st, 2012
Have you recently bought a dollhouse kit or completed the construction of your dollhouse? Do you own a dollhouse already and want to add something to it for making it better? In all three cases, electric lights can be a great addition.
Electric lights add beauty, charm, and character to a dollhouse, and they make it more realistic as well. However, a lot of dollhouse enthusiasts have doubts about the feasibility of wiring for dollhouses and when to add them. Here are some tips that can help you solve your doubts.
Get it done in the beginning
The electric wiring for a dollhouse is best done when it is being constructed. More specifically, it should be done after assembling the dollhouse and before adding wallpaper, carpeting, and flooring. It can be done after applying primer over the dollhouse, but before applying the paint itself.
By completing your dollhouse wiring at this stage of the construction, you can make sure the wiring remains concealed and the look and feel of your dollhouse is at its peak.
Get the necessary supplies
You do not need many supplies to light a dollhouse, but there are some basic items you need to apply irrespective of the size of the house, like a transformer large enough to supply power to the lights, a junction splice, and brass brads.
Determine the number of lights you want
One of the most important factors that determine the cost of your electric wiring is the number of lights you need. For example, if you want to add a miniature chandelier to your dollhouse with five bulbs installed, you will need to count it as five lights. In this way, you should add up the number of lights planned for the dollhouse and buy a transfer that is suitable for the task of supplying power to all of them. If you plan to set up flickering lights, you need to set up a separate wiring system for them.
October 1st, 2012
Creating dollhouse miniatures can be wonderful creative outlet for all those pent up ideas in your head. If you’re building one for your little girl then her imagination is bound to expand as well. She could spend the day playing with her friends and making up daily routines or even something more creative.
Dollhouse miniatures are not complete without a family living inside this little home. Every child deserves to have a family and dollhouses need one too! Usually the dollhouse family has parents, grandparents and children and since no one likes an empty home – the bigger, the better. Like real life families, even doll house families come in different shapes, sizes and colors and possibly represent different nationalities too.
There are several books that suggest how to make doll house families and there are readymade kits where you could just assemble doll house miniatures. It’s more fun if you create the doll house family from scratch and assemble them later.
Polymer clay can be used to make mini models of mom, dad or baby, but you might want to give it a second thought as your children might play with them.
Hand sewing them is ideal as you could even decide what they would wear at different times of the day. Although, the results will be amazing, this calls for a lot of effort and time.
Now that we have a family, can toys be far behind? Making and getting the toys in place is a part of creating doll house miniatures. Decide on the kind of toys you’d like, mostly wood or plastic variety. Wood is more durable, safe and looks better than plastic toys. Next choose where to place them, either in the drawing room, bedroom or kitchen.
Plan accordingly and ensure that doll house miniatures are well-coordinated and built to a standard scale.
July 25th, 2012
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Since its debut at the American International Toy Fair on March 9, 1959, Barbie dolls have become a part of life of almost every girl in the world, especially in the United States of America. Girls like to keep their favorite doll always with them and treat it just in a manner as if it were a living being. Barbie doll house gives the Barbie collectors a chance to have their Barbie dolls in the houses, with all furnishings and accessories. There is Quick Build Barbie doll house (Readymade) as well as Plywood Barbie Doll house Kits available in the market. Barbie doll house is different from other scale dollhouses. Barbie doll house is specially proportioned for fashion (Barbie) dolls. It is also referred as a play-scale dollhouse. These dollhouses are apt for elegant Barbie dolls.
A Barbie doll house further adds beauty to the already attractive Barbie dolls. It gives the right ambience in which the beauty of the Barbie toy is significantly reflected. They not only give an opportunity to the enthusiastic collectors to cherish the memories of their Barbie dolls but also to value and take pleasure in their display. The Barbie doll house must be chosen taking into consideration, the height of the concerned Barbie toy.
June 9th, 2006
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On March 9, 1959, the American International Toy Fair witnessed the debut of Barbie, the world’s most famous and best-selling doll. This date is also marked as Barbie’s official birthday. This beautiful doll is manufactured by Mattel, Inc.
Totally Hair Barbie, also known as “Ultra Hair Barbie” outside the US, out in 1992 is the highest-selling Barbie doll. Barbie and her accessories are produced to about 1/6th scale. Ruth Handler is said to be the “creator” of the Barbie doll.
The first Barbie doll was dressed in a black-and-white “zebra-striped” swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail with tightly-curled bangs. There were blonde Barbie dolls as well as brunette Barbie dolls available. Passage of time saw different hair styles and colors of Barbie. Barbie’s exaggerated proportions have always been an issue for her critics. Changing fashion trends have resulted in adjustments to Barbie’s proportions, but still many people feel that the present Barbie doll body is unusual of most women. It is claimed that approximately three Barbie dolls are sold every year.
In fiction, Barbie has been given a fuller name, Barbara Millicent Roberts, and a family and a group of friends. She had been dating her beau Ken since 1961. However, after 43 years of courtship, on February 12, 2004, Mattel spokespeople announced the break up of Barbie and Ken.
Several occupations have been taken up by Barbie like Olympic athlete, Paleontologist, Doctor, Astronaut, Fashion Designer, Politician, Rock star, Firefighter, McDonald’s employee.
Her clothes have been designed by many designers over the years. “Colored Francie”, the first of Barbie’s black friends, made its debut in 1967. But it was soon discontinued. In 1992, a talking version of Barbie, named “Teen Talk Barbie”, was released.
June 9th, 2006
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Doll collecting in general as a hobby has lived for well over 100 years. Collectors in huge numbers amassed antique and vintage dolls and dolls intended for children. However, the phenomenon called collectible dolls i.e. dolls especially made for enthusiastic adult collectors not for children’s play, really took hold in the 1980s.
The value of the collectible dolls is greatly determined by its condition. Attractive collectible dolls presented in an original unopened box bring in more money than the ones not presented in their original costumes or accessories. Reputation of the artist and the limited edition numbers also act as major factors in determining the cost of collectible dolls.
Collectible dolls market has not yet witnessed any economic downturn, at least since 1980s. Growing market and increasing profits are as if the permanent features of the collectible doll market. However, bankruptcy of reputed old doll companies such as Effanbee and Knickerbocker is just a tip of the iceberg of the growing adverse effects of economic downturn on collectible doll market.
Creative ideas, Limited Editions and effective marketing system are a few of the measures the doll companies can take to deal with the present economic downturns. For example, it is the effective marketing which played a major role in the success of Barbie dolls.
June 9th, 2006
Visit Our Online Store: www.dollhousecollectables.com
The world’s most famous Doll House is Queen Mary’s dolls’ house. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, for Queen Mary. At Windsor Castle, England, it is a tourist attraction, especially to people with an interest in miniature houses and furniture. It was made on a scale of 1:12 and everything in the house is perfection with running water, a full electricity supply and a working lift.
Dolls’ houses are available in as many designs as their full size counterparts. It may be a simple metal Triang mock Tudor houses of the 1930’s or modern Doll House and replicas of various styles and architectures throughout history. Infact, Doll Houses and miniatures is the second biggest hobby in the United Kingdom. In the 17th and 18th centuries Doll Houses were generally made on commission by cabinet makers for affluent patrons.
Open room and shop examples of miniatures made without roofs and frontages just include simple room settings such as a kitchen that can then be fitted with furnishings with all the pots, pans and moulds that would have been found in a kitchen of the period.
After having acquired a Doll House, the actual fun starts in spending time in looking out pieces of the same period as the house ensuring the scale is correct. The selection is endless with wooden, plastic and metal furniture and miniatures. This hobby has boomed from the 1960’s. The Doll House furniture of the 20th century is much prolific and affordable.
June 9th, 2006
Visit Our Online Store: www.dollhousecollectables.com
Doll house furniture is the best way to customize a doll house according to one’s own whims and fancies. It gives the doll house the look and the surroundings one has in mind. The era in which the doll house is based is actually reflected in the doll house furniture. Doll house furniture has got as many as varieties that are available in the sphere of real furniture. We have oak doll house furniture, walnut doll house furniture, pine doll house furniture, cherry doll house furniture, mahogany doll house furniture and even unfinished doll house furniture which gives the collector an option of painting or staining himself.
Doll house furniture is readily available to be directly kept inside the doll house. Bespaq is the leading name in the list of Doll house furniture manufacturers. One can procure Bespaq doll house furniture only though authorized dealers and not directly from the factory. An enthusiastic collector has to be very careful in buying furniture, as there are many imitations of original Bespaq doll house furniture in the market. Doll house furniture must be in proportion to the scale of the doll house. A lot of work is done on doll house furniture. The designs and curves on the doll house furniture are a result of a lot of labor. Proper care must be taken, since they are very delicate and can get damaged easily.
June 9th, 2006
Visit Our Online Store: www.dollhousecollectables.com
Doll house plans are your guide when you decide to make your doll house yourself. They are the actual layout of the dollhouse that tells you what will be made where. Making of a doll house may not be possible without the doll house plans.
However, to make a doll house from the doll house plans may not be that easy task for you. Particularly, for the people who are trying them for the first time, doll house plans can be very demanding.
The doll house plans look very simple. However, the real strenuous task appears when you need to cut all the pieces by your self. All these pieces are then put together. This whole activity can be quite difficult, especially, as we said before, for the novice.
However, if you have a little skill, knowledge or experience about the doll house plans, you may take real pleasure in making the doll house. The doll house plans then prove as a great help. There are many such dolls house plans available for children and adult collectors. You can buy them, from a doll house store or a hobby shop near you.
Here are some tips for you to use the doll house plans effectively. You need to make out, what type of wood you will use in your doll house. Though there are many different types of woods available, MDF or plywood are the most popular. Selection of wood can alter the measurements so plan accordingly.
If you will make your doll house with the help of the doll house plans, you will find that it is a very inexpensive way. Moreover, you get the doll house of your choice and liking. However, in any case, you need to buy the tools for it and this can be somewhat expensive.
June 9th, 2006
Visit Our Online Store: www.dollhousecollectables.com
There can hardly be any one who does not love the doll houses. The doll houses are the toy homes that are made in miniature sizes. The term ‘dollhouse’ for the doll houses is quite common in the United States and Canada. For centuries, the doll houses have been the attraction point for the children. However, their crafting has also fascinated the adults who love to collect them.
The miniature doll houses fully furnished with domestic items and inhabitants are in existence for thousands years. The earliest examples are that of Egyptian Tombs of Old Kingdom built around five thousand years ago. They have wooden postures of servants, boats, furnishings, livestock and pets kept in the Pyramids.
The history of actual doll houses can be directly traced back to the sixteenth century. The primary ones used to be the baby houses of Europe. The baby houses were actually wooden cases for cabinet display and had extremely detailed furnishings and accessories. People used to fill them up with miniature items of household. As time passed by the construction of the doll houses also underwent changes. The earlier dollhouses when compared with present day’s doll houses seem to be unique and modern.
June 9th, 2006
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