Haunted Dollhouse

     Halloween is always a fun time of year around my house. There is the annual Halloween party where people are forced trek through the property's winding trails and open areas to encounter an array of ghosts and ghouls. Guests usually compete in a scavenger hunt, every years bringing something different to the plate.

     One year I decided to make a haunted dollhouse. I had the thought for several years but just never got around to it.But then I saw a dollhouse kit at Hobby Lobby for only $40. I had a coupon, so I thought, why not.
     The kit was easy to work with. I first covered the inside of the house with scrapbook paper. I chose black, white, and grey papers. I covered the floors, walls, and ceilings with the paper. I painted the little odds and ends for the outside: window and door frames, gables, and porch area before I finished putting the house together. I painted the rest of the outside of the house once it was put together. 

    
     I added the furniture and lights once everything was dry. I painted the two shelves - they were unfinished dollhouse furniture I found at Micheal's craft store. I made a cover for the mattress as well as a comforter to fit with the colors of the house.
    The little monsters under the bed are small pompoms with small googly eyes glued on. Behind the bed, in the little alcove, is a dragon guarding his hoard.
     In the bathroom I placed a Halloween figure I found. It was perfect: a vampire taking a bath.
     In the living room I placed a sofa and chair. The little fairy is one I found at the local dollar store. I painted her top red - it was plastic, and fashioned a skirt out of left over fabric. Beside her is a broom and a small cauldron made out of polymer clay.

          For the outside of the house, I made a chain of ghosts out of cheesecloth and cotton balls. Just place a cotton ball in the middle of the cloth and tie it with some thread. Then use a marker to add eyes. I used pumpkin foil garland to tie the ghosts together and hung it off of one of the ornamental tiles on the roof.

     I stung cobwebs all over the outside of the house, making sure to leave the back open so people could look inside. The little crates are from the werewolf and other creatures that I found in the Halloween aisle in the supermarket. Each crate held a monster - the werewolf is visible on top of the house.

     The house sits on a piece of plywood. The pumpkins are made out of Polymer clay. I wadded up tinfoil, then covered it with clay. I made grooves to shape them like pumpkins, and added green stems. By using the tinfoil, the baking time was only 15 minutes, and they don't weigh very much.
     The rest are Halloween figures and pieces that I had, just re-purposed for the house.

     Since these photos were taken, I've added a couple of hay bales, pumpkin lights, miniature grim reapers, and a little black cat.