Shoebox Dollhouse

My husband and I had been considering buying our daughter her first dollhouse, but decided against it for a couple of reasons. First, the nice ones are quite pricey. Second, our daughter loves to climb on anything and everything, including her toys. 

 

While organizing the kids' room a few months back, I came across some shoe boxes that I had been saving (in case they came in handy). I was trying to decide whether or not to throw them away when the idea came to me. I could make a dollhouse with them! I kept it a secret from my daughter and worked on it during naptime. I wanted to surprise her when it was done. Although, it would also be a great project to do with your child. 

 

Below is a photo of my finished dollhouse, followed by photos and more details of the steps that I took to make it. 

      

Finished Dollhouse

 

First, I glued the shoe boxes together and made a roof/attic. For the roof/attic, I cut one of the small shoebox lids in half, marked and cut the back (from the large shoebox lid), and glued them together. I let everything set overnight.

 

 

Next, I glued the roof/attic to the top, added and glued a piece of cardboard (bent in half) to make a bathroom in the bottom corner of the larger shoebox, and let it all set. Then I painted all of the rooms with watercolors and left it to dry. I also added star stickers to the attic/playroom, which conveniently had a building skyline from the shoebox that I used.

 

I sketched some furniture, cut it out, and glued it to the leftover cardboard (from the shoeboxes).

Then I cut the furniture out and glued it to the dollhouse, along with two cardboard jewelry gift boxes as beds, and one of the jewelry gift box lids (top down) as an open toy chest (in the attic/playroom). I also added a book/toy shelf, and painted a couple things onto the wall in the kids room.

 

That's how I made my daughter's first shoebox dollhouse!

 

You can make your own with whatever size shoeboxes and other supplies you have laying around the house! Have fun being creative!

 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Feel free to share!

 

Working to create positive change in myself, my family, my community and the world. Making a difference one baby step at a time.

Yummy Juicer Pulp Muffin Recipe! (Vegan)

We recently bought a juicer and started juicing. I love giving my body a huge boost of vitamins and nutrients with a glass of fresh juice! Then I see all the pulp that's left behind, and can't help but feel bad about wasting it. I heard that you could do several things with the pulp, including making muffins. I searched recipes and was unable to find one that I liked. I then began to experiment with my own recipes. I tried three different recipes before getting the muffins just how I wanted. I have made and thoroughly enjoyed them several times now. The first few recipes that I experimented with were not vegan, but the vegan ones turned out the best! These muffins are sweet, moist, and delicious, but are definitely more of a healthy breakfast/snack muffin than a desert muffin. I love that my almost 3 year old feels like she's getting a treat, while I know that she's also getting a good variety of nutrients (including some sneaky veggies from the pulp). I love them just the way they are, but if you're looking for something sweeter you can up the sugar to 1/2 cup and add chocolate chips, yum!

 

 

Here's what you need:

 

1 cup juicer pulp (I've been using the pulp from carrot, beet, apple, ginger juice)

1/3 cup brown sugar (or other sugar or sweetener)

1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/4 cup melted coconut oil (melted butter works as an alternative)

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (you can also use regular milk or your choice of substitute)

3/4 cup spelt or whole wheat flour (I recently switched to spelt)

3/4 cup oat flour

1/4 cup ground flax (optional - great for adding extra nutrients, including omega 3s and protein)

1.5 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup oats (quick or rolled)

Chocolate chips and/or nuts can be added if desired.

 

I prefer to use all organic ingredients, but it's definitely not necessary.

 

 

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease your 12 muffin tin (I use coconut oil).

2. Melt the 1/4 cup coconut oil (or butter) in a small saucepan over low heat. 

3. Mix both types of flour, ground flax, baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl (leaving out the oats) while you wait for the coconut oil to melt.

4. Mix the pulp, sugar, apple sauce, and coconut oil in a large mixing bowl.

5. Add unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or other) to the wet ingredients and mix well.

6. Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.

7. After all ingredients are mixed, stir in the oats.

8. If you want to add chocolate chips and/or nuts, stir them in after the oats.

9. Fill muffin tins about 3/4 of the way full.

10. Bake for 20-22 minutes, let cool for at least 10 minutes (I prefer longer), and enjoy!



 

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Please share!

Emily 

 

Working to create positive change in myself, my family, my community and the world. Making a difference one baby step at a time.



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Working to create positive change in myself, my family, my community, and the world. Making a difference one baby step at a time.