Hippie Camper from from Recycled Cardboard

In order to practice safe social distancing, we have been doing a lot of grocery (and wine) delivery services. Eric signed up for Misfits Market and the produce came packaged in this rippled cardboard that immediately reminded me of aluminum roofing, so I saved it for another project.

I've been wanting to do a miniature camper, and I had my eye on some kits online like these ones:

But I didn't want to spend more money on more dollhouse things, so I decided to try and make my own. We have a ton of cardboard around the house from all the deliveries we've been getting, so I used that to make a basic shape, and I attached the roof with hot glue:

Next, I covered the front and back with gesso to strengthen it, and make a good painting surface. I chose to paint it white and pink, so it would look vintage and colorful. The roof is painted metallic gold right now, because I couldn't find any metallic silver. I used some Tim Holtz paper for the flowery wallpaper, and some dollar store shelf paper for the 'wood' floor.

I had the sink saved from a previous house, which got damaged beyond repair and thrown away.

I added some little tassel decorations and the mattress was in my stash- the blanket is a vintage linen, which goes along with the Flower Power theme.

Since there are no working lights inside the structure, it's a little dark. I added these dollar store flower lights from my stash (whenever Dollar Tree has mini lights, I stock up!)

I still have more work to do to make it look more polished, but it will be fun to collect some groovy accessories to fill it with.

I wish I had a tiny hippie to live in there.

Dollhouse from Recycled Cardboard

Throughout this social distancing/shut down, I've actually been doing pretty good. I know a lot of people are agitated and frustrated that they can't socialize or go out, but it honestly hasn't bothered me too much.

 I remember a few years back, a friend said something which has stuck with me ever since. I was telling her how sometimes I feel like I'm being anti-social because I don't enjoy going to big parties, like the staff parties for school. She told me she often feels the same way and the way she phrased it "I'm only bored when I'm around other people- I'm never bored when I'm alone" is the exact struggle I have dealt with for much of my life.

I'm not anti-social, but I need a lot of time by myself. It's how I recharge, and channel my creativity.

Since I can't wander around Hobby Lobby or art stores to get inspired, I decided to try some new things, like watercolors, indulge in some projects I enjoy, like art journals and mixed media collage. I also decided to give myself a challenge, and make a dollhouse constructed completely of recycled and reused materials.

Since we have to do the majority of our shopping online right now, we have a ton of boxes around. A cardboard box is like an empty canvas- so many possibilities!

I started by reinforcing the box with some white duct tape. I cut out opening for two widows and the front door. Then I coated the entire thing in gesso, to make it stronger and give it a better surface for painting:

Then I painted it gray, and used some egg crate packaging to make 'stonework' on the exterior:

Then I used another piece of cardboard to make the roof:

I cut shingles from cardboard and covered the roof with them. I used more cardboard to make some trim around the the windows and door. The door is an ornament I got on clearance from Hobby Lobby after Christmas, and it's been in my craft stash since then. I used some duct tape magic so the door really opens and closes. The little brass lantern was also in my craft stash.

For the interior, I used some Tim Holtz paper that I had leftover from other projects. The fireplace is also made of cardboard with the egg crate stonework. The table is cardboard with a wooden peg. The picture above the fireplace is a jewelry piece with a picture from an artist's postcard advertisement. It's a fairy riding a rabbit! 

The chandelier was torn out of a dollhouse I am restoring- it's supposed to be wired for electricity but obviously doesn't work anymore, so it's just decoration. The bed was in my stash. I made the bookshelf from cardboard and small lace trim. The books are a printable pattern that you just fold into a box shape and glue. The curtains are pieces of large lace trim.

I still have some work to do, like a little painting and neatening up the seams and of course finding more things to fill the rooms, but I am pleased with the way it looks after only two days of work.

I definitely think this little rabbit lady needs a name, and I think her cottage does too.

Just like me, I think she is OK spending a lot of time alone.

CoOVID-19 Art Journal

I have been making art journals from upcycled books for a few years now.

It's a low-cost way of exercising my creative skills when I don't have a lot of money to buy art supplies. Actually, I have plenty of money right now, I just can't go to the craft stores to  make my purchases thanks to COVID 19 and social distancing.

So here's my latest one. I've used paint markers, watercolors, washi tape, stickers, sheet music, magazine pages, old greeting cards and more