Friday, January 1, 2016

Building a dollhouse using foam board

I am pulling inspiration from these three houses.

After much thinking and planning I decided to use a tab and slot technique to assemble the house. This would make it nice and sturdy. Foam board is a dream to cut with an EXACTO knife.
I would highly recommend buying a knife with a soft body and glue gun finger guards. The tips of my fingers became numb and I had a blister.
After cutting tabs into the floor I worked on one wall at a time considering the floor, next wall, ceiling and the same for the next floor up. Once all the walls were finished I cut the ceiling/send story floor and then the third story floor. I was amazed I only had to make a few simple adjustments and it all fit together easily! 












I used wood glue for some of the floor tabs and a hot glue gun for the rest.


To secure the walls in the interior I pushed a pin through the second story floor down into the center of the first floor wall.

I have made a house with the tab and slot method from wood and I have to say foam board is so much more fun!

Foam board tips:
Purchase board that are the least warped. I bought the foam board dilly board packs because they were a little thicker and less warped.
When cutting focus on keeping your blade angle straight down to you don’t get beveled edges.
Discard dull blades, keep them sharp.

Glue gun tips;
Be sure there are no thick blobs. Melt them down with the tip of the gun as you go. 

Hold seams together until glue cools.

My original drawing plans:


4 comments:

  1. Wow! This is amazing! You did a fantastic job and make it look so easy! I'm looking forward to following your progress (I know it's been awhile but I just found your blog!).

    Hugs,
    Teresa
    beaconhilldollhouse.blogspot.com

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  2. How did you know what size to make the tabs and placement? I have been thinking of doing something similar.

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    Replies
    1. I just determined what would be the best fit. :)

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