Want to make a miniature bookshelf for your dollhouse without spending much on materials? In this easy DIY tutorial, I'll show you how to turn ordinary wooden popsicle sticks into a cute miniature bookshelf with several compartments, shelves, and two little drawers at the bottom.
It's a fun project that you can leave in its natural wood finish or paint to match your dollhouse interior!
Materials Needed for This DIY Miniature Bookshelf
- Jumbo wooden popsicle sticks (wide craft sticks)
- Strong craft glue (such as B-6000)
- Craft knife or precision cutting tool
- Cutting mat
- Ruler and pencil
- Sandpaper
Measurements
All measurements:
- Outer frame: 9 × 11 cm (3.54 × 4.33 inches)
- First vertical partition: 9 cm (3.54 inches) — 1 piece
- Second vertical partitions: 9.3 cm (3.66 inches) — 2 pieces
- Small horizontal shelves: 2.4 cm (0.94 inches) each
- Drawer partition: 9.4 × 1.4 cm (3.70 × 0.55 inches)
- Drawer fronts: 4.4 × 1.4 cm (1.73 × 0.55 inches) — 2 pieces
- Narrow strips: 0.4 × 9.3 cm (0.16 × 3.66 inches) — 2 pieces
- Additional narrow strip: 0.4 × 8.8 cm (0.16 × 3.46 inches) — 1 piece
- Long strips: 10.3 × 1.5 cm (4.06 × 0.59 inches) — 2 pieces
Tip: These measurements are based on the original project. You can adjust them slightly depending on the size of your popsicle sticks and the scale of your dollhouse.
Step-by-step tutorial
Step 1: Build the Outer Frame of the Miniature Bookshelf
Start with four jumbo wooden popsicle sticks and cut off their rounded ends to create straight wooden strips. For the outer frame, you'll need two pieces measuring 11 cm and two pieces measuring about 9 cm, creating a rectangular frame approximately 9 × 11 cm.
Apply a small amount of strong craft glue to the end of one strip and attach it to another at a right angle. Continue adding the remaining strips, as shown in the pictures, until you've formed a complete rectangle.
Make sure the corners are properly aligned and allow the glue to dry before moving on to the inner partitions and shelves.
Step 2: Add the Bottom Divider and Vertical Partitions
Now that the outer frame is ready, it's time to divide the bookshelf into separate compartments.
Start by gluing a horizontal wooden strip across the frame, just above the bottom edge. This creates a narrow section underneath the shelves where the two drawers will go later.
Next, take the two 9.3 cm (3.66-inch) vertical partitions and glue them inside the larger upper section, spacing them evenly to create three columns.