Make your Own Gabby’s Dollhouse – Free Printable

If you are looking to make your own cardboard dollhouse or simply some fun DIY crafts to do with your child to restore connection, this Gabby Dollhouse project and printable is for you. Building a cardboard dollhouse requires a few inexpensive materials. Cardboard boxes, EVA foam sheets of different colors, a glue gun with glue sticks, and recycled materials that you can find around the house. With the right instructions and a little bit of guidance, you can involve your child and build together the most wonderful dollhouse that you will enjoy for years to come. In this post, you will learn how to build a Dollhouse inspired by the popular Netflix show “Gabby’s Dollhouse” by Dreamworks Animation. The show takes place in a fantastical animated world. Here, Gabbi, Pandy paws, and the others adorable cat characters have cat-tastic adventures. The learnings and techniques in this post can be applied to any dollhouse. Keep on reading and get the free printable for the kitchen wallpaper. 

Introducing the Cardboard Dollhouse Project

The Gabby dollhouse is a fantastical dollhouse with 6 rooms where Gabby and her furry friends have tons of new adventures filled with a little magic in a vibrant world. This dollhouse is such a fun craft. You get to build each room with its unique style. For example, the music room where DJ Catnip creates original music, the craft room where Baby Box makes her craft projects, the playroom where the meow-crew play, the bathroom for mer-cat, the kitchen for a cat-tastic party, and the bedroom for pillow cat. For the execution of the craft, I have used video tutorials from the Youtube channel by “Gabby’s Dollhouse”. I started with the kitchen (see link here).  This is one of those fun activities and relatively easy craft to do with your kids if they like crafts. 

Getting Started – Materials and Preparation

Before diving into the construction process, review the video tutorial to get an idea of what are the necessary materials to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Here’s a basic list to get you started:

1. Showbox or sturdy cardboard box – I used an 12″x6″x7″ box 
2. EVA Foam Sheets with 1.5/2mm thickness of different colors 
3. EVA Foam Sheets with 5/7 mm thickness – only few colors
4. Glue gun and glue sticks 
5. Craft supplies (markers, paint, stickers, glitter, etc.)
6. Scissors
7. Assorted decorative materials as needed (fabric scraps, buttons, beads, toothpicks, etc.)
8. Favorite characters – Gabby character and feline friends (optional)

Once you’ve assembled the materials, set up a designated workspace where you and your child can unleash your creativity without any constraints. Lay out the materials in an organized manner, making it easy for both of you to access them as needed. When working with younger kids (5yo and younger), it is important to have materials ready. They may get impatient during the set-up – so when you are done with the project, use a storage container to keep everything organized and relatively accessible so that it does not take long to prep the activity.

Embarking on the Creative Journey

With everything in place, it’s time to dive into the creative process to create our magical world! Encourage your child to take the lead. This will allow them to express their vision for the dollhouse while you offer guidance and support along the way.

Here are some steps to follow as you embark on this delightful journey together:

1. Box Preparation: Assemble the box and cut the 4 flaps
2. Wallpaper and Flooring: Measure the dimensions of each wall and design your wallpaper and flooring. Download two free templates for the wallpaper and floor of the kitchen below!
3. Make Furniture: Use recycled materials wrapped in foam sheets to make beds, tables, cupboards, desks. Use this video tutorial to see how to do it. The tutorial uses glue, but I advise to mostly use glue gun if you don’t have any safety concern. 
4. Make Accessories: Use foam sheets to make lotions, potions, pans, and pots, paper sheets, pen holders, etc

How to Craft with Your Child

When working with children on a complex craft, it is important to identify a task that they can do to avoid frustration. 

Depending on the age, some tasks kids can do are:

• color white foam sheets or other materials with markers or coloring pencils (for kids of all ages)
• cutting foam sheets with kids appropriate scissors
• glue different objects with regular glue (or glue gun if ready)

Let them create objects freely with the materials at hand  – let their creative ways and imagination run wild! It is good to work on these difficult projects when there is plenty of time like on Saturday & Sunday. Also, with these creative crafts it is normal if the child gets a little frustrated if he/she is not capable of doing what he/she wants. That is expected so always try to keep a positive attitude 

Conclusion:

In a world filled with distractions and busyness, finding moments of genuine connection with our children is more important than ever. The cardboard dollhouse project offers a beautiful opportunity to slow down. Boost creative thinking and creative ideas, make new experiences, and nurture the parent-child relationship. By embarking on these types of new crafts together, you’ll not only build a world of wonder for your kids to play but also create lasting memories that will be cherished for years to come. So, gather your materials, unleash your creativity, and let the magic begin! Happy Creating!!!