Sunday, February 2, 2014

Cardboard+Craft Sticks = AWESOME!

I admit to being totally jealous of anyone who has the [Barbie Look Wardrobe] from Barbie Collector. As sterling as the comments were about it, you know I was not going to pay $70 bucks, plus shipping, plus tax for it. I still wanted one though, so I made my own. Behold!


Okay, mine is more of a shelving unit and less of a wardrobe, but it's still pretty rad for some cardboard and sticks.


It all started when I saw this perfectly square post office box. I was like, "Hey, look at this square box. I bet I could make something cool with it. Hmmmmm."

I cut it into pieces with my paper cutter
 
Glued sections together with Mod Podge

Glued in random shelves

Put a solid piece in the back to prevent wobbling

Glued sticks along all the seams


Covered the sides with sticks

Made two while I was at it ^__^

Got some spray paint (didn't use the clear)

It took two cans of paint to cover everything

Back is funky, but no one will see that

It's much too narrow to be a "wardrobe," but eh

You can get these 20 pack hangers on Amazon
Click the link

I made quite a few mistakes in this undertaking and with most things I make, it shouldn't be looked at too closely. Still, I'm pretty proud.

93 comments:

  1. OMG! Love it...I need to try this. Thank you for showing this to us and cant waite to see whats next!

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  2. Hello from Spain: congratulations to create two fabulous closets. You are very skilled. I love your two closets. They look like wood. You work well with the cardboard. I like a lot. I like this Barbie. I have the same skirt of the LIV. I will recover it and I will dress my Barbie with this skirt. Keep in touch

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    1. Thanks a lot, Marta! From a distance it does look like the entire unit is made from wood.

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  3. Muff, Muff, Muff! You have truly outdone yourself this time. O-M-G! These are totally awesome! I also wanted the wardrobe, but yours are fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing how you made them.

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    1. You're welcome, Georgia Girl! You know I gotta show off when I figure out how to do something fancy, lol

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  4. wowthis is awesome! I love how you did it. Perfect for a boutique or shop set up! Thanks for the tutorial!

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    1. Lisa, I finished all sides (except the back, lol) so I would be able to use it in versatile settings. So yep, I suspect one day you will se it in a shop set up.

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  5. Muff, it's a short message cause my train is waiting for me ;) - this is AWESOME!!! I will elaborate on this later, but you are my ultimate dolls hero!

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    1. Thanks a lot, MM and I hope you caught your train!

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  6. Awesome Muff! I like that it is a good height. No matter how expensive Barbie things are usually too short and that drives me crazy. lol Even her tall boots fit nicely. Great crafting my dear...great crafting! :-)

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    1. Grandmommy, the actual height of the unit was restricted by the panels which were a little under 12 inches. But since I was making it myself I was able to put the shelves whatever height I wanted and I grabbed my tallest boots to make sure they would fit.

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  7. It is beautiful wardrobe, Your dolls can keep their clothes in order now:) Thanks for tutorial.

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    1. Natalia, to keep their clothes neat I think I would have to build a bigger closet. They'll just have to be happy at at least having their shoes in order. Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. You're incredible!! Wardrobe looks perfect, definitely not worse than Mattel's one.Thank you so much for sharing your idea and whole tutorial, probably I will use it. Now I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't start to sell out my plastic furnitures for dolls, haha.

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    1. Happy to share, Jewel Snake! Don't sell your plastic furniture just yet, lol. Maybe a fresh coat of paint will spruce them up.

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  9. Once again, LOVE IT! While I like the Barbie Collector wardrobe closet, your creation is ver personalized and I live that! There are so many variations I can see you making so who needs to spend $70 (plus at and shipping/handling). I've definitely gotta try this.

    Thanks Muff!

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    1. "Very" and "love" $@$&$/ auto correct! Don't wanna turn it off though, lol.

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    2. LOL, Tracy! Sometimes auto correct is our friend and sometimes our enemy. I hope you give it a go at making one. It's pretty cool to stare at it and think about how little it cost to put it together compared to the Barbie version.

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  10. WHOA! That's so cool! I'm so amazed that you made such a great piece out of a post box and craft sticks! Did you have much trouble keeping the cardboard from warping from the spray paint?

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    1. Presto, I always intended to spray paint this, so that's why I doubled the cardboard interior walls and the shelves and added a solid piece to the back. I also hoped that the sticks glued in place would weight it down, strengthen it and prevent warping. I was VERY careful in painting it and applied many, many layers at the recommended distance. I'm happy to report that it's rock solid.

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  11. Just perfect!! Love them!! Clothes and shoes look great! Congratulations!

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  12. I'm with you on that $70 price tag. But I guess if I were into accessories and doll stuff, I "might" have caught it on sell or purchased with a Rewards, but since I don't do doll stuff, I can't say I would have shelled out that much money on a doll accessories.

    With that said, I just need to bottle up some of your talent and sell it. Yours is just absolutely fabulous! Just fabulous!

    dbg


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    1. I can't blame my typos on spell check, although I should have used a spell check.

      caught it on *sale
      Reward (as in Barbie Fan Club)
      on a doll *accessory

      dbg

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    2. Debbie, that's so interesting! I didn't realize that you were not an accessory collector. My collection is probably70% accessories and 30% dolls. I guess I enjoy the crafts (pre built and my own) just as much as I enjoy the dolls themselves.

      If I were retired and/or had more space I would devote more of my time to crafting and spend the weekends selling stuff at art fairs. I kind of envision that being my life when I retire... or when I win the lotto.

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  13. Muff! This is so cool! Love love love it :-D!!!

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    1. Hey there, Nymphaea and thank you so much!

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  14. Those are nice, thanks for sharing!

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  15. Love it!! I have boxes just waiting to be turned into something fabulous. I have some poster board I am going to use up.

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    1. Brini, those boxes want to be made into something wonderful. They are calling to you, lol.

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  16. That looks great! Since I'm neither rich nor handy, my dolls wll have to make do with the IKEA Huset shelves. :D

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    1. LOL, Anderson. The closest IKEA is 3 hours from me. My dolls will have to make do with handmade goodies.

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  17. This is absolutely awesomesauce!! Going to share it with everyone I know. <3

    I can't afford that Barbie wardrobe either. I've been using the wooden boxes that those Melissa and Doug stamp sets come in. I've painted some, and I've been thinking of adding hooks to hang things, or maybe bars to go with the hangers I made. I also bought some scrapbook paper, thinking maybe I'd line the shelves. We'll see how it turns out.

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    1. Thanks, Saturday! That's a great idea to add hooks and bars to packaging you already have. The hardware section has all types of tiny hooks that would go with our doll projects. Add some of that peel and stick tape and you can reposition things as you wanted.

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  18. Really nice! You can always use shelves. Is that the new PO box or the older ones. The newer ones are kinda thin. How long did it take to make it? What was your inspiration that lead you to use the square box? I heard a lot of funny quotes this week about inspiration, so it may me wonder about you.

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    1. Ms. Leo, I get a lot of packages, but I don't mail a lot out so I'm not sure if it's a new box or not. It's one I received, not one I mailed out myself. The thickness of the cardboard is 1/16 so I doubled it up so it would be thick enough to put the skinny sticks on.

      I have to guestimate on how long it took to make because I started it 2 1/2 months ago and the last month was just waiting on the weather temp to rise so I could spray paint it. I'm going to say between 16 to 22 hours, but keep in mind that a lot of time was spent waiting for the glue to dry before I could move onto another section.

      I probably shouldn't admit this but my inspiration was envy and pride. I really am quite envious (but not necessarily covetous) of people who can afford to buy what they want when they want, as well they should. I, however, just cant afford to do that. But what I can do, is utilize my skills to create something out of nothing. I can look at a used cardboard box and see something fabulous in it. I make a lot of mistakes and there's a lot of trial and error, but in the end, I make do with what I've got and that's something I'm proud of and it inspires me to keep imagining and to keep creating.

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  19. You go Girl, my Momma always says aint nothing to it but to do it. Can I have three or four of them please?

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    1. Mustiwait, my Momma always said, "If you want something, then you better learn how to make it, because I'm not giving you no money." She meant clothing wise, but I think it applies to this situation as well, lol.

      As good as you are with whipping up cool dios, I'm sure you could make several of these yourself.

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  20. Wow, this is awesome! You are truly talented Muff!

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  21. Hola, estoy sorprendida con estos closets, que gran trabajo, gracias por el tutorial, quedaron muy bonitos, siere hacen falta, hasta pronto.

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    1. Muchas gracias, Lindaivette! Ellos están trabajando bastante bien para mí.

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  22. Awesome, I love seeing your handmade items, so well done. I just made a similar Barbie Look inspired wardrobe with foamcore, I need to post pictures on Flickr soon. Nice job!

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    1. Hiya, Connor and thanks! Give us a link when you post so we can see your work too!

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  23. Honey Chiilllleee You have been on the ball lately, this looks really good!!! Makes me wanna get off my lazy butt and build some stuff!!!

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  24. Go Muff! Applause and chants from playscale folks everywhere who now might have a like-Barbie wardrobe of their own. I think your wardrobes are topnotch. I love the idea of re-using an old post office box and finishing it with those wooden popsicle sticks. Smart! You did your own wood veneer. I think - suspect - that the Barbie closet is cardboard as well. Wood would be too heavy and too expensive.

    Anyway, I like that yours uses found treasures, that you had the fun and the excitement of making it from something that otherwise would have been wasted, and that it's totally re-purposed to fit your wants. Whatever the source of the creativity, you MADE something positive and then shared it with us. Yay!

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    1. D7ana, (you know, I just realized that for the longest time I have been responding to you without putting the 7 in your name - so sorry! >.<)

      Thinking to use the skinny sticks for finishing the units was an ah-ha moment. I was like, "This is genius!" I will be using that idea many times over. I even thought to try to make the sides look like beadboard paneling - doesn't look so hot, but I tried at least.

      I always thought that Barbie wardrobe was plastic 'cause it's so thin and shiny looking.

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  25. Not related to this post, but what figure is Kevin (that guy from your video thing)?

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    1. Rebekah, Kevin is a Power Team Elite S.W.A.T. Sniper, Asian version. There is a Caucasian version too.

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  26. Awesome job. $70 was a little rich for my blood. However, with the $20 reward and the BC sale, I think some people were able to get these for under $40. I still couldn't take the plunge. I was very happy to see you tried the 2X paint. It works great for plastics, too.

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    1. Vanessa, I am still contemplating joining BC Fan Club so I can work that reward, but so far I haven't. It seems like a good deal but.... eh. I think I don't like the idea of paying for what is basically a rewards program.

      I got a bunch of the 2x paint from Home Depot because they have more colors than Walmart. I still dislike spray painting though. I haven't tried it on any regular plastic furniture yet. I want to do a mass spraying one of these days.

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  27. Ooh other important unrelated question: Does SIS clothes fit a monster high girl?

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    1. Rebekah, no way can SIS/Barbie clothes fit a Monster High. Not even those tight hoochie Barbie clothes will fit one. Some Bratz and Moxie Girlz stuff (usually not pants) will fit them and sometimes they can wear Liv leggings that have elastic in them. Their torsos are just too small for SIS/Barbie.

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  28. This is wonderful,Muff. I loved the look of the Barbie wardrobe but it was too expensive, particularly when you added shipping costs to Australia. But cardboard and craft sticks - well, they are available everywhere. You really are an inspiration to all us doll people.

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    1. What a sweet comment, Carrickters! Thank you very much!

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  29. Of course you must be proud!! It's a wonderful job, and the result is almost perfect, if you had not explained I would have thought it was made out of wood! Thanks for sharing the DIY!

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    1. Hi, Rossetti and you're welcome! I was surprised myself at how well it turned out.

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  30. This is really fabulous - as multiple people have already said, I'd never have guessed that it was made with cardboard based on the final product! It genuinely looks like a wooden miniature!

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  31. I saw bounches of folks on the Facebook dolls collector groups showing their home made Barbie closet. I guess they all lurked your blog

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    1. Sergio, I lurk other blogs too, so it's all good.

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  32. Love it! As always, you have great ideas. I made a wardrobe from desk top organizer boxes I got when we got school supplies this fall. I think I spend about $17 and it was easy to put together. Got to get my blog up and running so I can show some pictures.

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    1. Thanks, Phyllis! I went to the dollar store trying to find some organizers to turn into shelving but they didn't quite have what I needed. It would have been so much easier to do it your way. I'll still look for some though. Can't have enough doll shelving.

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  33. Muff - this is awesome! So cannot tell it's cardboard. And you are so great to share your tricks of the trade! I've been catching up on reading your posts - i have been missing so much fun! I'm back!

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    1. Welcome back, DeMari and thanks so much for taking the time to read about my dolling adventures.

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  34. MuffFebruary 4, 2014 at 10:26 PM
    Rebekah, Kevin is a Power Team Elite S.W.A.T. Sniper, Asian version. There is a Caucasian version too.
    Are they sold on the internet at all? I literally cannot find him anywhere, but that face is so cute! x.x

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    1. Rebekah, you can find the Caucasian one on Amazon for the ridiculous price of $35. If you specially want the Asian version you'll have to try eBay. This face was also used for the Power Team Elite World Peacekeeper Navy Seal Special Ops, so you can search for that name too. This figure was produced 2 years ago so he's no longer in stores.

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  35. Hey muff ,
    You never cease to amaze me !

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  36. Hiya, Tinisha and thank you! ^__^

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  37. Looks great, Barbie is lucky to have you. I wish I could to that to my closet.

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  38. This makes me want to play with Barbies again!! Oh no...

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    1. LOL, Paige. You say that like it's a bad thing.

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  39. to fabulous! I am floored!! I'm stopping by my doll friend's house today for a visit we've been dollbuddy since forever and I can't wait to show her your blog she will be enthralled!!!

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    1. Citychica, thanks so much for working your way through these old posts! Hope you and your doll buddy had fun.

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  40. This is great. Pretty easy and great ideas. Thanks

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  41. Oh wow! Seriously I like yours better! Thanks for the tutorial. My Barbie's going to want one now. Lol.

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    1. You're welcome, Ida! Barbies are always making us do stuff for them.

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  42. It is absolutely beautiful. One suggestion I have and what I will try when I tackle this project is to spray paint the pieces BEFORE gluing them together, maybe it would require less paint. Then after its glued and completely dry, I would add one last finishing coat. Thank you so much for the tutorial, I know it's been years since it was originally posted, but it is still beneficial to me and others

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  43. It is absolutely beautiful. One suggestion I have and what I will try when I tackle this project is to spray paint the pieces BEFORE gluing them together, maybe it would require less paint. Then after its glued and completely dry, I would add one last finishing coat. Thank you so much for the tutorial, I know it's been years since it was originally posted, but it is still beneficial to me and others

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