It is a bonus craft day!! My friend Jen from 100 Directions has a super easy tutorial for making doll sandals for us today and if you follow the link at the bottom of the post she has a tutorial for an easy doll sundress on her site, too.

The girls need some fabulous footwear just in time for summer! Here’s a quick tutorial to help you make your dolls a pair (or 10) of cute sandals using recycled stuff from around the house. No worries, you don’t need to sew either, yay!

I made these sandals for an 18” doll, but you could do the same thing for whatever size doll you have.

Materials you need:

• Craft glue
• Recycled cardboard (like a cereal box) or you could use fun foam
• Scrap ribbon or rick rack
• Scissors
• Pencil

Steps to make your doll fun summer sandals

1.    Using your pencil, trace your doll’s foot on to the piece of cardboard.
2.    Cut out the shape and make sure it’s the same size or slightly bigger than your doll’s foot.
3.    Cut 3 more pieces of cardboard using the first as a guide. Make sure that two pieces are reversed so you have a right and a left shoe.
4.    Hold 1 piece of cardboard against your dolls foot, blank side against the bottom of the foot.
5.    Wrap ribbon all the way around the foot, leaving a little extra to overlap. Glue in place and let dry.
6.    Add glue all over the bottom of a second piece of cardboard and place it on the bottom of the shoe. This will give a little extra hold to the strap and cover the writing side of the recycled cardboard.

You can add extra sparkle to the shoes or even  paint to decorate… make a gazillion pairs! A girl’s gotta have shoes for every outfit, right? I also have a tutorial to show you how to make a no-sew sundress for your doll too!

If you make these sandals, I’d love to hear about it and see your fabulous creations!

Inspired by the “Plant a Row” campaign that encourages families to grow a row of vegetables of their own. I thought it would be fun to make a doll sized garden using items I had on hand.

To make your own doll sized garden you will need :

• 1 9X6 piece of corrugated cardboard from a box
• green or brown construction paper or green fun foam
• white craft glue
• small artificial flowers from your dollar or craft store
• scissors
• green pom pom’s (for cabbage)
• tooth picks
• small cardboard 1 inch squares for garden markers
• Paper
• Marker, pencil crayons or crayons
• *Optional small Garden Gnome such as the one I have used The Wee Little Garden Gnome
• or small doll sized watering can

Step 1- Measure and cut yourself a base for your garden out of the corrugated cardboard 9 inches X 6 inches (larger if you would like).

Step 2 – Cut your soil or grass out construction paper or fun foam to fit your base. I left a small border around my garden and cut my green fun foam to 7 inches by 5 inches.

Step 3- Apply glue to your fun foam or construction paper and place on top of the base and let it dry.

Step 4- Separate your flowers from their stems, and the leaves. You will use most of them for your garden.

Step 5- You will need a parent to help you cut the wire stems off the artificial plant, these will become the stems. Cut them to the size of 2 to 3 inches in length. I used 4 for my row of flowers. You may want to do more.

Step 6- place the flower “heads” on the new stems you just had cut. Add a leaf to the bottom of your flower.

Step 7- Stick them through your garden bed as shown above repeat with your remaining flowers.

Step 8- If you want to have more than just flowers in your garden use some of the stems from the flowers that are left over to make cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower. Ask a parent to cut you a 1 inch sized piece of the left over flower stem wire and place the wire through the leaves. Then stick the end of the flower wire into your garden as shown in the photo below.

Step 9- Place a green pom pom on top of the exposed floral wire. You can just push it through or you can add some glue. You could use a white one for Cauliflower.

Step 10 – Plant some “carrots” with left over green’s from your leaves, you can trim a leaf to look like the top of a carrot or you could use the plastic green bits from the flowers as I have for carrot tops. Glue them to the back of a toothpick you have cut in half and place then in your garden, pushing the toothpick into the cardboard.

Step 11- Make your garden markers with the one inch cardboard squares. Label what you have planted. Color your signs if you wish.

Step 12- Push one end of a tooth pick into your corrugated cardboard sign. If you are only using paper tape the tooth pick to your sign back, then add them to your garden as shown. Now is a great time to figure out where to plant your Garden Gnome or where to put your watering can.

Now your garden is ready to share with your dolls.

I hope you have enjoyed today’s craft and I look forward to sharing more fun ideas with you next week!

Of all the furniture and accessories that are available for dolls, the gymnastics equipment for American Girl of the Year McKenna has got to be my all time favorite. So, I might be a bit biased – I was a gymnastics coach for many years (26 to be exact) and my daughter has been a gymnast from the time she could walk. We got McKenna’s bar and beam as soon as they came out and the girls love them, but McKenna is missing something – her vault!

In her books, McKenna is working towards the Level 4 team. In the US, Level 4 gymnasts compete vault on a large mat system and do a vault called a handstand to flat back. In her movie, McKenna is more like a Level 8 and would not use this vault for competition, but she would use it in training for high level vaults. McKenna is wearing a retired American Girl leotard and Kit also has a retired AG leotard on, too.

In order to make a vault system for McKenna (or any of your dolls), you will need:

• A large box – I used the shipping box from McKenna – it is about 21″ long by 10.5″ wide by about 10″ tall.
• A piece of packing foam cut to 21″ x 10.5″ x 2″. You could use kitchen sponges from the Dollar Store too.
• Scrap cardboard
• Duct tape
• Wrapping paper
• Craft foam
• Tape, glue, scissors

Step 1 - Measure then cut the wrapping paper and wrap your box. I used packing tape so it would be more secure. I recommend leaving one set of flaps open so you can use the box for storage when McKenna is not working out.

Here is what the base of the vault looks like now. You could actually leave it like this and have McKenna practice her vault on this “setting.” Or you can add a mat on top like they do in gyms – they have mats they can stack on top to make it more challenging or to accommodate girls who are taller.

Step 2 - To make the mat on top, cut a piece of foam recycled from a packing box that will fit on the top of your box. You can also use sponges from the dollar store.

Step 3 - Cover the foam with duct tape.

McKenna is much happier with the mat on top. This way she can remove the mat and put it on the floor to practice her back handsprings or put it at the end of her beam to practice her dismounts.

If you want to make the mat really accurate – add a line with contrasting duct tape on one end of the vault. When Level 4 gymnasts do their vault their hands can not go past the line when they go to the handstand or they will get a deduction.

McKenna needs a springboard to go with her vault. She will be able to use the springboard at bars and beam too.

Step 4 - Cut two pieces of cardboard that are 4.5″ wide by 6″ tall.

Step 5 - Cover each piece of cardboard with fun foam and then staple one end of the stack (I recommend three staples).

Step 6 - Cover the end with the staples with contrasting duct tape.

Step 7 - Cut two small squares of foam to place in between the layers of foam to simulate the springs in a springboard. You could also use scrapbooking foam squares stacked, Model Magic or really anything that could look/act like springs in this case.

Step 8 - Add a stripe of contrasting duct tape towards the top of the springboard that wraps around to the underneath of the springboard. This line is a visual aid for the gymnast as to where the best spring is and it keeps the springs from falling out, too.

Ta-da!! I added a vault runway also made from 3 strips of duct tape side by side. Now McKenna and Kit can get on with their workout.

I have more photos of McKenna practicing her Level 4 vault and her more advanced vault, but I will post them later in a separate post.

I hope you liked this craft! If you missed the tutorial for making a beam for the dolls, visit our post Doll Craft: How to make a balance beam for your dolls and here is a video of our dolls doing a bar routine.

I love the mini dolls and I have three. I think they have great play potential and love how easy it is to make mini doll items. Today I am showing you how to make your own mini doll sleeping bag and pillow.

To make today’s craft you will need:

• sewing machine*
• 2 pieces of felt in any color cut to 8 inches by 5 inches
• 1 piece of material cut to 8 inches by 5 inches, any color (though smaller print fabric looks best)
• thread
• scissors
• 1 piece of felt cut to 3.5 inches by 4.5 inches (for pillow)
• 1 piece of material cut to 3.5 inches by 4.5 inches (for pillow)
• two cotton balls or some stuffing for your pillow
• straight pins
• your mini doll (this pattern is for 6″ mini American Girl dolls but can be adjusted to work for other similar sized dolls)

*If you do not have a sewing machine, you can omit the fabric and use two pieces of felt and glue long the lines shown to sew. The same applies for the pillow, but you will need to cut a second piece of felt.

Step 1- Cut out your fabric pieces if you have not already done so. Place the pattern piece of fabric on top of a piece of felt. The front of the pattern piece should be facing down. This will be the top of your sleeping bag.

Step 2- Sew along three sides of your fabric as shown in the photo above. Make sure to leave one of the shorter sides open as you will need to turn it inside out when you have sewn all three sides.

Step 3- Turn it inside out so that the fabric front is showing.

Step 4- place your now sewn front on top of the remaining piece of felt, and pin it as shown. The fabric side should be “sandwiched” between the felt.

Step 5- Sew along the edges as shown in the photo above, notice that you do not sew as far up on one side, this will be so you can fold down one edge of your sleeping bag in the next step.

Step 6- Turn your now complete sleeping bag inside out and slide your doll inside. Fold down the edge as shown to give your doll some “Breathing Room”

Now let’s make the Pillow

Step 1- Cut out your pillow pieces.

Step 2- Place your pattern side fabric facing the felt and sew around three edges just like you did the sleeping bag.

Step 3- Turn it inside out and add the stuffing.

Step 4- Fold the “raw” or open edges inside your pillow and use two sewing pins as show.

Step 5- Sew along this edge as shown. Trim the thread. Your Pillow is now complete and ready for your Mini Doll to enjoy.

A good friend of mine on Etsy, Denise of http://www.etsy.com/people/creationsbydeevee who creates some of the best patterns for mini dolls I have ever seen created a simple skirt and vest pattern for me to share with my readers.

• Download a free vest pattern for mini dolls
• Download pattern to make a wrap skirt for mini dolls

I had so much fun making Mini clothes for my doll and I hope you will too. I look forward to sharing more with you next week,

Oh my, MyFroggyStuff has outdone herself this week! She did a video tutorial on how to make a lemonade stand for your dolls that is too, too cute – and it looks super easy, too! And I just love how her dolls acted out a scene at the end as a little bonus for us, too.  Click below to watch the video here or go to YouTube and watch.

Did you know that if you make one of her crafts for your dolls you can submit it as a fan photo? Just watch all the way to the end of the video and she will show you how.

Thanks MyFroggyStuff for another great tutorial! You are one creative lady!!

Back in Julie’s day they didn’t have microwave popcorn, they would buy something called Jiffy Pop (you can still buy it at the store) and either pop it on the stove top or over a campfire in the summer. It was basically a disposable pie plate filled with popcorn kernels and covered with an expanding tin foil lid. As the popcorn popped the foil dome would expand and when it was done you opened the top to eat the popcorn. You can see our Julie and Ivy are sharing some Jiffy Pop popcorn in Julie’s room. It is from Julie’s Room Accessories from American Girl.

One of our readers, Sharry, just did her first doll craft tutorial on YouTube and shows us how to make our own doll sized Jiffy Pop popcorn out of Crayola Model Magic. I think Sharry’s Jiffy Pop turned out fantastic! Watch it on YouTube or just click below and watch it here.

What do you think? I’m impressed! Nice work Sharry!

We LOVE our Little Miss Matched Girls by Tonner Toys, and you can buy some great mix and match fashion packs for them very afford-ably, however, being able to make your own clothes for your dolls is even better! Molly has come up with some patterns of her own for the LMM Girls.

Go visit Molly’s blog – Toferet’s Empty Bobbin and check out the Patternpalooza post for a few patterns for the Little Miss Matched Girls. With a little creativity, I bet the patterns could be altered to fit some of your other dolls, too.

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, which is a celebration of Mexican Heritage in America.

I thought it would be fun to make a doll sized Piñata. Before writing this post I had never made a Piñata before and this one is virtually mess free.

To make your own Doll Sized Piñata you will need:

• cardboard
• a cardboard toilet paper tube
• pencil
• paper
• star stencil or other shape you wish to make your Piñata
• image of the American Girl Logo, I used an advertisement from American Girl you can print your own, use the catalog or stickers if you would like.
• a glue stick
• party streamers
• a popsicle stick
• a hole punch
• a piece of yarn or string

Step 1- Choose your shape. I drew a star shape on paper cut it out and then traced it onto cardboard. You will need two stars, so trace and cut out two from your cardboard.

Step 2- Cut your toilet tube in half as shown in the photo above. You will only need half.

Step 3- Cut slits 1/2 inch all along your toilet tube one each end as shown in the photo below.

Step 4- When you have cut the slits all the way around one side repeat on the other.

Step 5- Fold your edges back as shown above.

Step 6- Add glue to the center of your stars and press onto your toilet paper tube, repeat on the other side.

Step 7- Place a bit of glue in the center of the outside of your star. Place one end of your party streamer over the glue and begin wrapping your star, adding glue as you go.

It takes a while to cover the star, use glue as you go and keep wrapping. If you need to tear off some and start on a different angle that is okay to just add extra glue.

Step 8- When you have covered your star, add some decorations to the points. I had left over party streamers with fringe, if you do not have this you can use a different color party streamer around your points. Glue into place

Step 9- Cut out and add your American Girl Logo to your Piñata, glue it in place.

Use a hole punch to punch a hole in the top of your Piñata  and thread your string through so you can hang your Piñata!

Step 10- To make your piñata stick add glue to your stick and wrap party streamer around your stick. I cut slits in mine to give it a fringe look. To get your doll to hold the stick use an elastic in her hand.

Your Piñata is ready to use and enjoy! This is a great craft not only for Cinco de Mayo, but it would make a fun birthday party craft/favor, too!

I can not wait to share more crafts with you next week!

Inspired by some wonderful small containers I found at my local dollar store and the warm weather outside I thought it would be fun to make our dolls lunches to go!

You can make lunches to go for your dolls using items you may already have on hand or items you can get easily and inexpensively from a craft store or dollar store.

To make today’s craft you will need:

• Craft Foam, felt or colored paper, brown, green, red, orange ( A mixture of all is great for adding different texture to your dolls lunch)
• Craft glue or glue gun
• A paint brush
• Scissors
• A ruler
• A kitchen sponge you can cut up
• A pipe cleaner
• A tooth pick
• tiny stickers for the front of your juice box
• Small containers from the dollar or craft store that look just like lunch containers as shown below

Step 1- Cut your sandwich pieces out of either construction paper or fun foam and felt. You will need two 1 – 1/2 inches squares in one color for the bread. I used dark brown for the bread for my sandwiches.

Step 2- Make  your sandwich filling. For your sandwich filling you will need at least two 1 – 1/2 inch squares. I used orange to make a cheese sandwich and dark brown for the “Rye bread” You can use yellow for egg, white for cream cheese, green for lettuce or cucumber, and red for tomato or jam. For a peanut butter sandwich use a lighter brown…just like real sandwiches the possibilities are endless!

Step 3 – Assemble your sandwiches, start with bread then a layer of glue and then your filling. Add glue between the layers. Let them dry. (If you use craft glue you need to leave it about 1 hour if you use hot glue you can leave it a few minutes)

Step 4 -  Cut your sandwiches in to half either on a diagonal as I have or into 4 triangles for little fancy sandwiches.

Step 5 – Let’s make a salad. Cut up your green paper, fun foam or felt into lettuce shaped leaves. I made mine in leaf shapes, but you can cut ovals for your leaves. I cut small circles or red for tomatoes and added some orange as carrots.

Step 6 – Glue your leaves and “salad toppings” into place and let dry.

Step 7 - Put your sandwich and salad in your to-go containers. I got mine at my local dollar store the white ones 10 in a package for $1.25 the blue in a package of 4 for $1.25

Step 8 – Let’s make a juice box. First cut a kitchen sponge (ask a parent for help) so that you have a rectangle that measures 1 – 1/2 inches by 1 inch.

Step 9 – Insert the toothpick into your sponge (you may need a grown up to help) place it off to the side in your sponge.

Step 10 – Use your paint brush to brush some craft glue on the wood. Cut your pipe cleaner to 1 inch and bend like a candy cane. Lay it on top of the toothpick and press into place.

Step 11 – Decorate your juice box with small stickers or make a paper label and glue it to the juice box. Let dry and let your doll enjoy her lunch!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post as much as I did making it.

My doll Jillian’s outfit was made for me by my friend Carol aka Skippy’s Mom for my birthday. I love it. I hope you do too.

Mermaids are mythical creatures who over time have evolved into to much more. From the popularity of Disney’s Little Mermaid story and Princess Ariel to the large number of Barbie mermaids that have been made over the years, mermaids are a classic. I noticed a request from a reader for a mermaid tail pattern for 18″ dolls in the comments over the weekend and remembered seeing one on Pinterest recently.

The angry chicken blog has a great pattern and tutorial for making mermaid tails for both Bitty Baby and American Girl dolls – this pattern can easily be adapted to fit most dolls 15-18″ that have soft bodies.

McCall’s also has a pattern for four different doll costumes you can sew including a mermaid costume. You can find the pattern at most fabric stores or via Amazon (McCall’s Patterns M6452 18″ (46cm) Doll Costumes, One Size Only).

If you know how to knit, this looks like a fun pattern for making Barbie her own mermaid tail.

And here is a simple tutorial to make your Barbies – or really any doll – her own mermaid tail with some simple sewing.

Have a mermaid kind of a Monday!