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Miniatures Made from Paper: Who Knew Paper Could Do So Much?

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(@lizzy)
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Who knew paper could be so versatile in the miniature world? Whether you’re creating delicate flowers or building tiny furniture, miniatures made from paper can be the star of your dollhouse projects!

In this post, we’ll look at some popular techniques like quilling and origami, plus dive into what else you can make—spoiler: it’s a lot more than you’d think!

But first: a little overview of the differences between these three methods, as to avoid confusion!

 

Technique
Definition
Key Features
Tools Required
Applications in Miniatures
Origami
The art of folding paper to create shapes
Uses only folds, no cutting or glue required
Just paper and your hands
Miniature animals, furniture, boxes, and decorative pieces
Papercraft
Creating 3D objects by cutting and assembling paper
Involves cutting, folding, and gluing paper pieces together
Scissors, glue, cutting tools
Miniature furniture, buildings, appliances, and accessories
Kirigami
A variation of origami that involves both folding and cutting
Combines folding and cutting for detailed designs
Scissors, cutting tools (in addition to folding)
Decorative screens, architectural details, pop-up furniture

 

1. Quilling in Miniature: Tiny Paper Twists with Big Impact

Quilling is a fantastic way to add details to your dollhouse scenes, and even create complete pieces, yes indeed!

By first cutting them, followed by rolling and shaping thin strips of paper, you can create beautiful mini flowers, wall art, delicate table decorations, or how about this little office chair that I made from quilling?

This was my first attempt, so forgive me, but this method of using paper for miniatures sure got me interested in doing further quilling projects. The only thing that bothers me is my lack of time hahaha!

The great thing about quilling is that you can experiment with layering, making your designs really 'pop' in 3D.

In my next video, you can see how I also create a dollhouse hyacinth with the quilling method!

 

Origami: Small Folds, Big Possibilities

 

Origami isn’t just for paper cranes—it’s perfect for miniatures, too. With just a few folds, you can make all sorts of tiny items for your dollhouse, like storage boxes, baskets, or even furniture.

Imagine a tiny origami chair in a modern dollhouse living room or mini folded boxes sitting on a kitchen shelf.

In my next video below, I have crafted a mini dollhouse fridge with origami. (although there is a little bit of gluing here to glue the inside together with the outside paper)

The little nephew of origami is Kirigami, where you can combine folding with cutting.

Papercraft: Folding Meets Cutting and glueing.

 

In papercraft, you combine folding with cutting and gluing. This allows you to create not only folded shapes but also intricate designs by adding well-placed cuts to your work.

Unlike origami, where you’re limited to folds, papercraft cutouts add a lot more design freedom.

One of the many examples I have of this is my miniature flower tutorials, where you cut everything into pieces and assemble them again into structures.

You do need some more materials though, like in this video below: a toothpick and paint and scissors.

 

I also have a mini sofa tutorial, tiny pillows included, and yes, it's made from paper. You’d be amazed at how sturdy and stylish paper furniture can be with the right folds and structure.

 

 

Another great use of paper cutting is for delicate window treatments or decorative accents for shelves. It’s a method that adds that "wow" factor without needing a lot of space or materials.

 

More Paper-Based Dollhouse Projects You Can Try

 

Here are some more ideas for dollhouse projects you can make with paper:

  • Miniature Wall Art: Use paper cutting or quilling to make tiny framed pieces for your dollhouse walls.
    This method is used often in DIY dollhouse kits.
  • Paper Plants: Besides quilled flowers, you can make hanging plants or paper potted plants in all kinds of shapes and forms.
    Most of these are created with the help of printables, like you can find in my blog post on printable plants.
  • Curtains and Blinds: With the right paper, you can make delicate window treatments that look like fabric.
  • Food and Kitchen Accessories: Paper is great for making little boxes, cans, or even fruit and vegetables to fill your miniature kitchen.

    Again, this method was used a lot in the 'vintage' dollhouse kits, but not so often anymore in the new series by Robotime, for example.
    They had their charms if you ask me!

  • Rugs and Mats: Layer and cut colored paper to make textured rugs or mats for your dollhouse floors.
  • Miniature books, for which again, we can use printables for the covers and more!
  • Handbags! Video! Smile br>

 

cobblehill-miniatures-dollhouse-wallpaper
Wallpaper by Cobblehill Miniatures.

 

 

make paper dolls

 

With some imagination, paper can become one of your go-to materials for almost any part of your dollhouse.

Whether you’re looking to create furniture, decor, or accessories, the versatility of paper means you can easily personalize your projects with these different methods.

Would you like to discuss this topic with me or ask a question, feel free to leave them down below in the comment section!

And I wish you again, happy crafting!

Kind regards,

Lizzy

This topic was modified 3 weeks ago by Lizzy
 
Posted : 10/09/2024 2:32 pm
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