Turn a miniature suitcase into a dollhouse with these step-by-step instructions.
Are you ready for cuteness overload? Today I’m sharing a fun miniature dollhouse made inside of a suitcase! This fun DIY craft project is easy to make, allows for endless customization and is the perfect handmade gift idea for little girls. Heck, I’m a grown woman and I want to play with it too!
The dolly, her clothes, and her little bed all fit nicely inside of this cute paper mache suitcase:
When it’s time to play, just open the suitcase up and there’s the doll’s home!
To make your own dollhouse suitcase, you will need the following materials. (affiliate links)
Materials Needed
- Paper Mache Craft Suitcase **See details below**
- Mini Wooden Spool
- Mini Metal Hangers
- Mini Clothespins
- Assorted Craft Paint and Paintbrushes
- Hot Glue Gun
- Felt
- Scrapbook Paper
- Assorted Sewing Trims (lace, pom poms, etc.)
The exact paper mache suitcase I used in the product is no longer being sold. Here are a few ideas for substitutions:
Mini Suitcase Options
- Mini Wooden Purse (7″ x 1.8″ x 6.5″)
- Paper Mache Suitcase (9.4″ x 13.8″ x 4″)
- Basswood Boxes (Add your own handles to make a suitcase. Various sizes available.)
- Rainbow Suitcases (11.8″ x 8.6″ x 4.7″)
- Decorative Vintage Suitcase (8″ x 5″ x 3″)
- Gingham Print Mini Suitcases (7″ x 10″ x 3.25″)
- Fruit Suitcases (7″ x 11″ x 4″)
- Blue Rainbow Suitcase (9.4″ x 5.7″ x 3.5″)
- Set of Three Pink Suitcases
Instructions
Begin by painting the entire box with craft paint, inside and out. Avoid getting paint on the silver handle hardware or on the handle itself. You can skip this step if you bought a pre-decorated suitcase.
Next comes the fun part… creating a dollhouse scene inside! I made a little “bed” on the inside of the lid with a felt blanket and pillow. I glued the pillow and one edge of the blanket down so that it won’t fall out and get lost.
Then I made a little yellow polka dot dresser out of scrapbook paper and added tiny silver beads for handles. I also created a little gallery wall and clock using stickers and other goodies I found in my scrapbooking stash. Do you see that little clock? I cut it out using my Silhouette machine, then printed a real clock face. I just love little details, don’t you?!
To make a place to store extra doll clothes, I attached the mini wooden spool to the wall using hot glue. It’s the perfect place to hang all of the little outfits. The doll I made is a felt paper doll, so I added clothespins to the hangers since the clothes are all flat.
Making all of the little details was the most fun part of this whole project. You could even make different room scenes for that back area that aren’t glued into place so you can swap them out. How fun would that be?!
Isn’t this felt doll so sweet? I shared a detailed tutorial and free pattern to make your own doll here:
GET THE DOLL PATTERN & TUTORIAL HERE
Check out this short video to see the doll and suitcase in action.
My preschool aged daughter loves this little dollhouse.
She is having so much fun playing pretend with her little doll, changing her clothes and hauling this cute little suitcase all around.
Comments & Reviews
SO adorable. I am 74 and have collected Dolls ALL my life. This is one of the sweetest things ever! I am going to make one for ME! Grandkids are Techy. How sad!!
I know what you mean. I love this little doll too! I really made it for myself and it's just a bonus that my daughter likes to play with it. 😉
Looking for the giant flower cut files.
They are in this post: https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com/2017/04/3d-paper-flower-window-treatment.html
This is so cute! I just shared it on my Facebook page because I love it!!
Thank you Lisa!
Muy creativa para las niñas
Hi where anm i able to source the suitcase the link had an error code
I am in Australia
Here they are on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Darice-9150-93-Stands-Natural-8-Inch/dp/B004MTKWGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532046913&sr=8-1&keywords=wooden+clothespin+doll+stands
Amazing!!! Thanks for this tutorial! Where can I buy this suitcase to decorate?
Here’s all the info on the suitcase dollhouse: https://www.thecraftpatchblog.com/diy-suitcase-miniature-dollhouse/
Please where did you find the suitcase. All of the links above do not state where
I found one on Amazon! Aff. link: https://amzn.to/2Otlkvu
Every time I hit the link for the suitcase it just gives me an error message
Dang… the suitcases are out of stock! You’ll have to hunt at your local craft stores to find one!
I’m in Canada, and the closest city has one craft store. Michael’s, and they just don’t get things like this there. I don’t think many people would have use for them. So, hence they don’t carry things like this suitcase. Can you help?
I would look on Amazon and Consumer Crafts. They carry so many craft supplies!
This is just adorable. I will be making one for myself. I still have my baby dolls, Barbies etc from childhood and loved playing with paper dolls. I’m almost 59, but still love to create such cute things!
This is exquisite! Do you sell these already made as I have so many projects to attend to now. My 3 year old Granddaughter would love it!
Sorry Deborah, I don’t sell them already made. I don’t have the time either! 😉
Squeeeeeal!!! Ooooh my this is adorable! I want to make it right. Now. Love it. Gonna pin it on my Instagram page.
Found the pattern for the doll and the clothes. Tks
This is absolutely adorable and I have two granddaughters that would love to have their own little dollies with cases! Thanks so much for sharing!!
I love your creativity and look forward to visiting your website often. I am trying to find the suitcases. I think Amazon may have a few left. All the other sites your mentioned either are no longer in service or the product is not available. I will keep looking. Thank you for sharing the Felt doll pattern. Have a wonderful year filled with much joy.
LOve it !!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing!