18 inch Doll Sandal Tutorial - DIY

I have been asked several times how I make my doll shoes.  So, I decided to make a tutorial on how I make my doll sandals. Have you wanted to make a pair of doll sandals but are afraid?  Have you tried and they ended up in the trash?  I can answer Yes to both of those questions.  I was afraid once....and I have messed up on shoes before and I am sure I will again, but that doesn't stop me from trying.  My husband helps me cut out of foam/wood/pellon/bristol wood - thick cardboard for me. He actually come up with the idea to use bristol board and pellon.  Several people have said that when the 5 - 6mm foam they cannot cut around the foam smooth.

Here are several doll sandals we made last summer.  

I like for my doll outfits to have matching/coordinating shoes.  Here is an outfit I made and had the shoes to match/coordinate.

So here is my tutorial on making 18 inch doll sandals for American Girl doll or Generation doll.  Journey dolls feet are smaller than American Girl doll or Generation dolls. Below are the ones I made for this tutorial.

Supplies for making doll sandals.  Template for shoes, 5mm foam, bristol board, pellon, ribbon, foam glue, and pony tail holder.

You can trace around your dolls foot to make a pattern/template, you can use a store bought sole for making a template, use a commercial pattern such as McCalls or Simplicity sole from a shoe pattern or you can purchase a shoe pattern online from several wonderful designers such as Love U Bunches, Miches Designs, Eden Ava Courture, Liberty Jane, or you can dowload free templates from Pinterest - if you do make sure it does fit your dolls foot.

Tip for cutting thick foam for shoes. 

 The technique for cutting foam: Use your shoe template and cut out another template using thick cardboard or Bristol board (sold at Hobby Lobby where poster board is sold - 3.99 or Micheal's in the drawing/art section) using scissors. The Bristol board comes in white and black. (We use the Bristol board in shoes instead of cardboard - provides more of a firm foundation and helps doll stand up too) Lay the cardboard template onto the foam, trace around it. Use a sharp X-acto knife - curve blade # 10...not the pointed one.  We use a  kitchen cutting board to cut out the foam. You will then cut around template - do this 3 or four times.This should allow you to get clean smooth edge.

 I read a  foam tip from My Froggy Stuff - If you have any roughness or uneven edges can use finger nail file to smooth out the foam. We have not had to this but just in case yours is not as smooth as you would like - lightly file around the edges. The file she used looks like a stick of butter - really.  It is a block comes in different colors including yellow. You can find these at Sally's. 

Cutting Bristol Board:
Take your shoe template and trace right and left sides onto Bristol board.  Use scissors to cut Bristol board. 

Cutting Pellon: 

We also use pellon (AKA thick felt) - I buy mine at Hobby Lobby and it is sold next to felt squares in the craft section. He uses the bristol board template to cut out the pellon.  When cutting white pellon we use black bristol board and when cutting black pellon we use white bristol board template to help with seeing where to cut.  He uses a stencil burning (purchased years ago when he was cutting out stencils for airbrushing - purchased from an airbrush company. When using stencil burning, we use a square tile to burn/cut the pellon out. I use pellon under dolls foot - the foam can be easily indented especially with long fingernails.  The pellon add's stability and protects the foam and with the color choices it coordinates the shoe.  

Attaching Bead to pony tail holder - if pony tail holder has metal clamp keep in the center back of shoe. You do not have to add a pony bead.  I didn't in all of my shoes.  

Cutting Ribbon:  
Cut four pieces of ribbon  3 3/4 inches - two for each doll sandal.

Assemble Sandal:
Take white pellon and glue to black bristol board.  Then place one of the ribbons at top of sandal glue underneath bring under one inch of ribbon on each side.

I really like this glue. It dries clear and all the shoes I have made have held up  - none have come apart. 

Take second piece of ribbon fold in half, place the metal piece of the pony tail hold in the center.  Fold under 1 inch of ribbon and glue and then fold over the remaining ribbon and glue it to bristol board. 

Place a generous amount of glue onto ribbon/black bristol board side and now take your 5mm foam that you cut out.  Then we take two pieces of wooden templates - place one on top ( slide under the ribbon just like the dolls foot would be) and and one on the bottom, squeeze the top and bottom wiping off any glue that oozes out with a damp paper towel or baby wipe. Place a rubber band around.  

This serves as a clamp.  If you cannot cut out a wooden template ( made from 1/4 inch  Birch veneer wood - bought at Lowes) - used band saw to cut out using shoe template)  you can cut out bristol board and use it as a clamp.  This method of clamps  prevents the rubber band from digging into the foam.  Wipe off any glue that oozes out and do not let glue get on to rubber band. Use a baby wipe or damp paper towel to remove glue.  Let dry.  

Decorative Trim:
You can use a variety of ribbon, jute, elastic, shoe laces, and other decorative trims for the sides of shoes.  Take your trim and lay around entire shoe and slightly overlap in the back - cut.  Take your foam glue and glue down the trim. Glue in the seem that way you are not getting all over the foam and press trim with your finger tips. Add extra glue where the two joins together in back. Press firmly with fingertips around ribbon - let dry   If your trim wants to unravel where you cut it you can use Fray Check on each end to prevent it from coming undone.  If you are using trim with a decorative pattern as we did in the sandal tutorial - make sure that your run the opposite direction on the other shoe so that they will match. 

Here is the finished doll sandals

Other Tips/Options for making doll shoes:  

Decorative Trim options 

Here are just a few of the trims I have (I actually have several totes) of ribbon, jute/hemp, rope, braided trim,  braided elastic, shoe strings to use around the edge of your shoes.  I prefer to buy the ribbon when it is 50% off at Hobby Lobby.

Here are some examples of vinyl, glitter canvas, and pony beads to use for other styles of shoes.  The vinyl and glitter canvas can be found at Hobby Lobby next to the felt squares sold in the craft section.  The best thing is the glitter does not come off of these sheets. The vinyl sheets would be great for doll boots. I have used these glitter sheets on embroidering granddaughters shirts and they can be washed and dried  - it doesn't fall off.  Great product. 

Below are some T-Platform sandals I made using the vinyl using pattern from Miches Design sold on Pixie Faire.com  This was my first time sewing on vinyl...as you can see my lines are not straight.  I kept these for my granddaughters.  I could never sell something - that isn't straight.  

In photo below  are some wooden sandals using store bought crochet trim.  We used two 1/4 inch wooden templates glued the trim in between. Used elastic on back on ankle to keep sandal on dolls foot - elastic glued with trim at an angle on each side.  Upper right hand are flip flops.  Used black braided elastic for ankle strap. 

Below are two patterns I recently used for doll shoes.  Pink with white polka dot shoes are Miche's Design - Bow tie shoes and the nautical print is Love U Bunches Plain Jane shoes sold through Pixie Faire (formerly Liberty Jane Clothing)

I hope you have found this tutorial educational and inspirational.  With anything in life don't give up on your first attempt.  Keep trying until you master it or achieve what you want.  As always, thank you for taking the time and reading my blog.  Be sure to follow my blog to see more inspirational tutorials - coming soon matching headbands.

GiGi

American Girl Doll Kitchen and Custom Cabinet Tutorial

Dennis made a custom kitchen cabinet to fit in between the kitchen set I purchased from Target - Our Generation doll brand.  Our granddaughters love it. Screamed for joy when they seen this.

This kitchen set is worth the money.  $61 dollars and it comes with a lot of play food and dishes. 

McKenna likes the refrigerator.  The trash can is a pencil holder that I purchased from Dollar Tree. 

Isabelle likes to cook - made a cherry pie.

I didn't like the design behind the stove.  I purchased pink tile paper from Michael's and he laminated it and placed it onto top of what was there.  I like it better.  These are the kitchen accessories that came with the kitchen set. I am still going to decorate the walls.  

I love how this custom kitchen cabinet that he made turned out.  Doors open with shelves.

The larger can good and drinks, I added from a kitchen play set that the granddaughters played with.

He made his own pattern for this.

He purchased 1/2 inch pine craft board from Lowe's and small hinges for the doors. 

Here is the back before he put on the backing.  We chose not to paint the inside.  

Here is the small cabinet next to kitchen sink.  

I love how this kitchen turned out.  Granddaughters loved it too. He had already made the kitchen table and chairs.  Once again no pattern - came up with his own. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to "follow blog" to keep up with my American Girl Doll Creations.

GiGi

American Girl Doll House Tutorial

In a previous blog post, I posted photos of the American Girl Doll House that my husband built  for our granddaughters to play with when they come to visit. I had a lot of fun decorating it. I promised I would share photo's and do a tutorial on making the custom built doll house. I will be doing a separate blog on the kitchen custom kitchen cabinets that he built.

 Used 1/2 inch MDF purchased from Home Depot.  My husband purchased  4 x 8 foot length boards had them cut the boards in two foot width sections.  Be aware if you have them cut the boards for you that their saw may be off and may not be square. Room sizes were 24 x 24 x 24. Dining room and kitchen is 48 x 24 x 24.  Used a wooden spindle bought from Lowe's for stabilizing the above flooring.

 He used a router to made Dado's on the ends and in the center.

 Used TiteBond wood glue and used nail air gun to attach the wood.

Please ignore the flooring in our garage.  The previous owners painted the floor and when it gets when from car dripping when it rains causes the paint to chip off....sorry I really hated showing this... He used these straps after he glued and nailed while waiting for glue to dry. Used Luan backing.  We did not attach the backing until after we painted the walls and ceilings.  This allowed us to paint front and back.

Here is photo of 4 rooms painted without backing. 

 I wanted to paint the bedrooms but didn't want to spend a lot of money and buy a lot of paint that I would not be using.  So I purchased acrylic paint - Apple Barrel from Wal-mat - 2 ounce bottles and painted the dolls bedrooms with it.  Pink Parfait and Turquoise are the two colors I purchased.  I also used my Cricut and cut out the letters to spell the word DREAM and placed above one of the beds.  My husband made the bed shown in the photo below.  The dresser I purchased from Hobby Lobby.  The black table lamp I purchased at Dollar Tree.  They do sell these at Michaels and come in colors - black, white, and pink.  They do work.

Here is the bathroom.  We used 3 different styles of tile square flooring to make the floor, shower/tub wall surround.  He used caulking to fill in the gaps.  Used a command hook for shower and to hold bath robe. 

 Here is the stainless steel kitchen drawer pulley I purchased at Lowe's to use as towel bar in bathroom. 

The flooring.  I purchased these long faux strips of wood with adhesive backing for the deck and for the living room wood flooring. 

 Here my husband cut out small wood sections out of the long strips - laid it all out in a pattern before we actually adhered to living room floor.  This allowed us for accuracy and to be able to design the faux wood flooring the way we wanted to. 

Here is the finished flooring.  I still need to decorate the living room.  These are the bean bag chairs I made for now....Dennis is going to make realistic wood furniture for the living room. 

Here we used two different adhesive tiles for the kitchen and dining room. In photo below he is cutting out section to go around wooden spindle. 

 Here we have the faux tile and faux wood flooring. Used 4 squares on each side.

The decking  - we used the long strips of faux wood and ran them front to back to create realistic wood decking.  We decided not to put up a fence at this time.  We didn't want them having to reach over the fence to play with the dolls.  Maybe later when they get taller we will add them. The chairs and table Dennis made these.  He didn't have a pattern - just designed his own.  I keep telling him to draft these patterns and we could sell them.  We have sold the furniture locally. Shipping and packaging would be costly.  People do it...we haven't sold ours that way.  

Here is Isabelle in her sewing room.  I have a separate blog with a tutorial on how Dennis made the sewing machine, iron, and ironing board. 

Thanks for stopping by and browsing.  Be sure to click on "follow my blog" to keep up with  future doll crafts, clothing, accessories and American Girl doll finds.

GiGi

American Girl Doll House - Custom Built

My husband graciously made me a doll house to use as a photo prop for my dolls, a place to store all the furniture he has made and for our precious granddaughters to play with.

Here is the Kitchen with the custom counter and cabinets he made.  He also made the table and chairs.  I will be doing a separate blog on how he made the kitchen counter and cabinets.




Here are the rooms.  Currently have one bedroom with a study room -  turquoise room.  We sold all the other doll beds so Dennis is going to make me another bed and this will be another bedroom.



Here is the bathroom. Bathtub/Mat/Robe/containers under sink is set from Target - Our Generation, sink is from Target - it is actually a paper clip holder purchased from the office section. The sink counter is custom built by my husband. I made my own towels and wash clothes. I purchased a kitchen drawer pulley from Lowe's and used as a towel rack. Mirror is from Micheal's, used foil scrapbook paper for mirror. The toilet is from baby doll potty training that I purchased at consignment sale. The body scrub brush is a adult facial brush purchased at Dollar Tree.


This is the patio.  He made the furniture.  We used long strips of peel and stick flooring purchased from Lowe's.


Here is one of the bedrooms.  Doll bed made my Dennis.  Dresser is from Hobby Lobby.



Flat Screen TV for living room  tutorial on making a Flat TV for doll house. I made a flat screen TV using a photo frame purchased at Wal-mart for 1.50. Made a copy of Saige's book, cut out picture and inserted into photo frame. Used Command strips to hang on living room wall.




I will be doing some mini blogs on each of the rooms with photos of the process of how we made the awesome doll house.  Hope you have enjoyed it and it is an inspiration for you to make one too.

As always - thanks for stopping by - GiGi