A few residents have moved into my 1955 Betsy McCall DIY Dollhouse since its completion back in April, and now — like Pam and me — they are busy getting retro Kitschmas Krafty Krazy — and making quite a mess along the way — preparing for the holidays.
Let’s call these two “Mini Jim” and “Mini Kate.” These two Erna Meyer dolls — which are the vintage brand that Pam and I decided we love the best (affiliate link) — are the owners of the home and the caretakers of “little Leo” the dog.
Little Leo is so happy that there is someone to take him for a walk now!
Anyway, Mini Kate loves to follow all the Holiday Krafty fun on Retro Renovation and she has been meaning to make some ornament wreaths for quite a while. Now that she has a nice big house with a large expanse of horizontal surfaces to fill with crafting debris, she gathered all her supplies and soon enough, yes, Kitschmas consumed her dining room.
Make a miniature Christmas ornament wreath for your dollhouse:
For this project, Mini Kate used:
- For the wreath base — 2″ wood Cabone rings (affiliate link)
- For hanger — picture wire (for hanger)
- For tinsel garland — metallic pipe cleaners (affiliate link)
- And for ornaments:
- An assortment of different sized green and red beads
- Gold and silver beaded garland
- Miniature presents and candy canes
- Small pieces of holiday floral stems
She followed the ornament wreath tutorial found on Retro Renovation, but did not use the high heat glue gun, instead opting for the lower temperature mini glue gun and a pair of tweezers to help her place the tiniest ornaments.
Oh, it was so much fun!
Mini Jim was impressed with Mini Kate’s wreath-making ability, but…
…he was a little overwhelmed by the enormity of the project. And the mess!
Would the kitchen and dining room be cleaned up in time for Thanksgiving dinner???
Ta-da!
Mary Elizabeth says
Oh, my. Love it! This is one of your funniest stories ever!
This brings back memories of myself as a crafty kid buying a small tree for my dollhouse (it was meant to be in a model train set up) and tying beads and buttons for ornaments onto it with thread. At the top was a star-shaped button! Very fussy work, as I hadn’t even heard of a glue gun, which would have made it go faster. Then I wrapped small boxes with paper and ribbon for under the tree.
It never occurred to me to capture the dolls in their craft and sewing projects. You are one wild and crazy imaginative person, Kate, with a strong inner child!
Kate says
Tee hee hee…Thanks Mary Elizabeth! 🙂
lynda says
Everything about this is just too darn cute! I think you could have a whole blog about doll house daily adventures. Very creative ….and just maybe a tad obsessive? In a good way, of course.
Rebecca Burns says
Awesome, Kate!
paul lunemann says
Here’s a website called fiddlersgreen.net that has a dollhouse for dollhouses.
Vickie says
Now you have two houses to decorate! Hope to see more adventures of Mini Jim & Mini Kate. Perhaps mini Jim should hang some Christmas lights on the house!!! That would be an adventure!
Colleen says
Not only are the wreaths awesome, the pictures are hilarious. I hope we will see more of the lives of the Mini couple and Mini Leo!
Kate says
I’m sure you will Colleen! I hear they are getting ready to decorate the living room for the holidays…stay tuned!
Gretchen in Greenwood says
Back when the doll house was first completed, I hoped here would be Christmas decorating at some point- but this exceeds my wildest dreams. Do I hear a mini stereo playing Perry Como?
Kate says
They do have a mini hi-fi thanks to Robert at Electra Chime! https://retrorenovation.com/2015/02/24/dollhouse-doorbell-working/
pam kueber says
Umm, dollhouse #1 is on a special work area in the basement awaiting its next steps. Dollhouse #2 is in the dining room holding lots of Kitschmas characters that I can consider for ornament wreaths. Dollhouse #3 is in the back of the garage. Umm, I kinda got obsessed.
Kate says
Hmmm did I know you had THREE dollhouses? I thought you had two! 😉
pam kueber says
Three and THAT’S IT! These things are hard to
hoardcollect because they take up so much space!Jan says
This is just enormously fun! How sweet! By the way, Kate and Pam, where in your homes do you display your dollhouses? Do you have them out all the time somewhere?
Kate says
Mine is out all the time — sitting on a vintage lane coffee table in my guest room! https://retrorenovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/split-level-dollhouse-retro.jpg
tammyCA says
Ohmygosh, this sure made me laugh! Yes, where are the tiny cocktails? 😀 I’ve been wanting to make Christmas minis for my dollhouses but I’ve been obsessed with stitching vintage Bucilla felt & sequin Christmas kits..I’m sequin happy!
pam kueber says
Oh I have a few of those too! And: Hazel Kaboodles too!
paul lunemann says
How’s about some putz houses for the dollhouse?
Kate says
Ahhhh maybe with tweezers and a magnifying glass….hahahahah!
pam kueber says
And… I am going to make mini-ornament wreaths to put on my real ornament wreaths! It’s endless!
Scott says
Not that you probably aren’t already having an out of body experience, but perhaps a mini-Polaroid with mini-instant photos documenting all the fun, just to be sure. 🙂