Personally, I have been dreaming for a while about creating a landscape like in the movie “The Lord of the Rings”: the charming landscape of the Shire. A charming scenery with rolling hills, vast meadows and lush green fields, dotted with cozy hobbit holes. This is where specifically dollhouse grass would be needed to create fantastic miniature lawns, spreading happiness and wonder.
Today, we will be discovering the magic and beauty nestled within these tiny patches of green. Prepare to be captivated by the charm and delight of dollhouse grass and all the different types!
As an Amazon and Etsy associate, I earn a small commission from your purchase, with no extra charges for you.
Which materials can we use for our dollhouse grass?
To craft your own dollhouse grass, you can use a variety of materials, depending on what kind of diorama you want to create: a “wild” savanna or rather a trimmed lawn. There are different ways to go about it, as we will see further down this blog post.
These include:
1. Use Craft felt
Craft felt is a type of non-woven fabric made from synthetic fibers, typically polyester or acrylic.
It is available in various shades of green, allowing you to choose the most suitable color for your dollhouse grass. The advantage of using craft felt is that it is readily accessible, affordable, available in various thicknesses, and easy to work with.
I will show you how to use it for dollhouse grass later in the article.
Craft felt green. Artificial Model Grass Mat
Buy Now →2. Faux Fur fabric
Using faux fabric to create your miniature diorama dollhouse grass, makes it look more realistic and has more texture, it even “feels” more like real grass.
It can be found in shades of green or can be painted.
Lusofie Shaggy Plush Faux Fur Fabric green for dollhouse grass
Buy Now →3. Using Moss
I wouldn’t use real moss around a dollhouse, but why not in a fairy garden?
Artificial moss can be used to create a different type of grassy texture in your miniature diorama and it adds a more “organic” feel to it.
Green Fake Moss Artificial Moss
Buy Now →4. Use yarn or thread
Although this can get a bit more complicated and take a longer time to do, you could also use yarn or thread to create long pieces of miniature grass.
It does create a look of more weed-like and whimsical look.
5. Organic materials
Really Lizzy, organic materials? Won’t they just decay over time?
Well, I found a tutorial that explains how to use sawdust and paint! Let’s head to the next chapter on how to use all these materials, shall we?
How to create your own hand-crafted dollhouse grass?
By creating miniature dollhouse grass, the best way to discover which kind of “grass” you want or prefer, is by trying out the different materials and methods and taking a good look at your project and what you want to achieve with it.
Above, we described the used materials, and here is where we dive deeper into each material, with some pros and cons, if I can find any.
1. Creating synthetic dollhouse grass with craft felt.
Craft felt for dollhouse grass is available on Amazon and in model stores in different shades of green, from bright green to darker.
So first off, you need to decide on the look that you want to achieve.
Second, you need to choose the thickness of the felt, because it also comes in different thicknesses. The thickness you want to achieve depends on the scale of your diorama, the smaller the project, the thinner your felt can be.
Craft felt is easy to use, you just need to cut it into strips or shapes with sharp scissors and glue it to the dollhouse base with craft glue. Start from one edge and work your way across to cover everything.
You can cut off or trim pieces of felt here and there to create a more organic and realistic dollhouse grass.
In the video below, Liyana explains a bit about all the different types of artificial grass on the market there is.
The Good.
- Craft felt is a versatile material that is relatively easy to work with. It can be easily cut, shaped, and glued to your diorama.
- Craft felt comes in a wide range of colors and textures, allowing for customization and the ability to create different types of grass.
- Craft felt is known for its durability. It can withstand handling and can be glued or sewn securely onto surfaces, ensuring that the grass remains in place even with regular play or movement.
The Bad.
- While craft felt can mimic grass to some extent, it may not achieve the same level of realism as other materials or techniques. The texture and appearance of felt may not perfectly replicate the look and feel of natural grass.
- Craft felt is relatively flat, which may make it challenging to create a three-dimensional effect for the grass. It may lack some depth and height.
- Although craft felt is durable, over time, it may show signs of wear and tear, especially if subjected to frequent handling or exposure to moisture. The felt fibers can become flattened or discolored.
2. Create dollhouse grass with the help of faux fur
Now, creating dollhouse grass with the help of faux fur is another level to create miniature grass and my personal favorite.
So based on the video below, what you need to do to create this kind of grass terrain is the following:
Materials you will need:
- Fake fur or faux fur fabric
- Scissors
- Paint (green or desert colors)
- Comb or brush
- Optional: spray paint (green or desert colors)
Step by step
- Order fake fur or faux fur fabric online or visit a fabric store. If possible, choose a fabric with a long pile that resembles tall grass.
- Cut the fabric into the shape of the terrain you want to create. It doesn’t need to be a perfect shape but should have a natural, rough appearance.
For example, you can create irregular patches of grass or areas with different shapes and sizes. - If the fabric has a white backing that could show through the edges, consider spraying the edges with spray paint in a matching green or desert color.
This step is optional but can help hide the white backing. Alternatively, you can paint the edges manually using a brush or sponge. - Trim the fur to the desired length using scissors. You can use a comb or brush to brush up the fur and then trim it to the appropriate height.
Keep in mind the scale of your miniatures when deciding on the height. - Once the fur is trimmed, you can start painting it. Use green paint for grassy terrain or desert colors for desert terrain.
Apply the paint directly onto the fur or use a brush to spread it evenly. If using brush paints, you can brush it on and then comb through the fur to distribute the paint.
Avoid adding water to the paint, as it may make the fur clump together. - If desired, you can add highlights and shade to the grass by using different shades of green paint.
Apply lighter shades to the top portions of the grass and darker shades to the bottom portions to create depth and realism.
Use a comb or brush to blend the paint and create a natural-looking transition between colors. - Allow the painted fur to dry completely. Once dry, you can further trim the grass if necessary or shape it to fit your base.
The Good.
- The use of fake fur and painting techniques allows for the creation of tall, long grass that can add a realistic touch to dollhouse scenery
- Customizable: The method allows for customization in terms of the color and length of the grass.
By choosing different paints and trimming the fur, you can achieve various grass effects. - Fake fur can be a relatively affordable material, especially when compared to purchasing pre-made miniature grass or terrain
The Bad.
- Working with fake fur can be messy, as the fur tends to shed. This can result in a lot of loose hairs during the cutting and painting process, which may require cleaning up afterward.
- This method is specifically designed for creating tall grass terrain. While it can be suitable for dollhouse grass, it may not be ideal for other types of terrain, such as very short grass.
- Creating the grass using this method can be time-consuming, particularly if you have a large area to cover.
3. Using moss for your diorama
Using artificial moss for your dollhouse grass is as easy as method number 1 with the craft felt.
You just need to glue the moss in patches on your base board and fill up any gaps with either extra moss, stones and rocks, etc.
You can add some extra realism by staining them as shown in the video below.
The Good.
- Artificial moss can be designed to closely resemble the texture, color, and structure of real moss. It can create a natural and lifelike effect in your diorama, especially if you choose high-quality and detailed artificial moss.
- Moss is a versatile material that can be easily shaped, trimmed, and arranged to fit your desired grassy landscape. It can be cut into various shapes and sizes to create different grass heights and contours.
- Longevity: Unlike real moss, which may require regular care and may deteriorate over time, artificial moss is generally more durable and long-lasting.
The Bad.
- Limited Variation: While artificial moss can come in different colors and styles, it may still have limitations in terms of “natural” variation.
- Price: Depending on the quality and type of artificial moss you choose, it can be relatively expensive compared to other methods.
If you require a large quantity of artificial moss or want to use premium options, the cost may increase further - Well moss isn’t exactly a grass-effect, if you really want something that looks like a lawn or real grass 😉
4. Use yarn or thread to create longer dollhouse grass.
I think and believe this method to be the hardest one to use to create dollhouse grass and frankly not the most efficient.
But if you have nothing but thread in the house and can’t wait to have your miniature grass created or just need a few plucks here and there, by oh means go ahead!
You can either just cut up green yarn and glue it to the mini base, as in the short video below:
Or attach them to a surface with longer threads that look like tall grass, as in the next video below. But both methods as I said look pretty time-consuming to me and frankly, I don’t have a clue on how to properly glue all that without making a mess or making it really hard on yourself!
The Good.
- It can be an affordable way to craft miniature grass
- easily available
- not many materials needed
The Bad.
- the process of creating dollhouse grass can get quite time-consuming
- I don’t think that this method is an easy method
- I don’t know if it would easily be glued to a base just using yarn
5. How to create dollhouse grass with Organic materials
Using organic materials to create dollhouse grass? How can this be done than, cutting real grass and gluing it down?
Euh, not really, how about using sawdust? Yes, sawdust and acrylic paint!
I have never done that myself, but this nice person in the video below will tell you all about the process and in a very expanded way and with a sense of humor!
The Good.
- very affordable if you know someone who can collect sawdust for you 😉
- relatively easy to work with
- you can consider this eco-friendly dollhouse grass
The Bad.
- can get messy
- not suitable for taller grass, it looks almost dried out
- requires periodic touch-ups or replacement
My Final Conclusion
I wondered beforehand if I would be able to write a good article on just dollhouse grass, but turns out that it got quite expanded again while doing the research haha!
If you have any more questions about this topic though, please feel free to leave a comment down below in the comment section or join me on ( one of) my social media platforms.
I wish you happy crafting!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
Hi everyone!
My name is Lizzy, and I am an amateur miniaturist obsessed with everything in the dollhouse and miniature world, ever since I was a teenager.
So far, I have created 2 dollhouse projects, a backyard shed and a miniature treehouse, tons of DIY dollhouse kits, and “hacked” some.
I also created a fairy garden, and lots of small and simple miniature projects on my YouTube channel. (mostly made from trash or everyday items).
I love to write as well about all things happening in the miniature world, hence the reason why I created this blog!
I wish you happy reading and crafting!
Lizzy
Aw! The Hobbit Book Nook is so adorable! It’s a lot like the actual house I’ve always wanted to build. Instead of a lawn on top, though, I would have a whole garden. And apparently, that’s totally possible for a dollhouse. Like, maybe shred up the green felt a bit to make it look more fluffy and puffy? And use several different shades of green. Maybe clip some of them into thin strips to glue together to look like tall grass? I would imagine there would be many ways to do this. The moss, fake fur and yarn would definitely come into it. I like a wild and weedy look. Clearly, there is a whole world of dollhouse grass material. And experimentation is the way to go.
I could see myself getting lost in something like that for days at a time! Ha ha!
This was fun! Thank you! I love your miniature world 😀
xxoo,
Anna
Hi Anna!
Thank you for all the compliments and your enthusiasm 🙂 About the shredding up of the felt, I’m not quite sure if the synthetic fiber could withstand too much manipulation and if it would just fall apart if you do, so be careful if you try that 🙂
I wish you a happy crafting dollhouse grass!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
I love reading your articles Lizzy and I think I am just beginning to understand or really be able to comprehend why and I think It’s because I always wanted to build these sort of things when I was a kid, like a model train with all the accouterments and scenes that the train traveled through or the dioramas that I saw other kids do as projects of some sort in school. I also work in miniature on my YouTube channel so these sort of small things interest me just as much today as well.
I have been considering starting a project for a dollhouse for my granddaughter who is almost a yr old and will make sure to check back here when it comes time to install a lawn if I do end up going down this road.
Keep up the good work!
Hi Joseph!
I am so happy to be able to inspire people and get a part of their youth back, it is mesmerizing isn’t it? Ah, a one year old getting a dollhouse, lovely! I will probably write about dollhouses for toddlers soon, so keep posted!
I wish you happy crafting!
Kind regards,
Lizzy
I was completely blown away by the first picture, it looks so real that I thought it was the synthetic grass like those we use in our backyard. I was looking for a ready-made doll house grass but I like the options of crafting that you offered here So, after reading your post I think I will go for the yarn option to create a grass-like, I think we shall have a good crafting week-end!
Thanks
Hello Adyns!
Thank you for your positive comment and I wish you happy crafting with the yarn-method (and a lot of patience for that one haha) !
Kind regards
Lizzy
What a fascinating post! Love the idea of creating a hobbit book nook, and you provide a very thorough guide on the materials and techniques necessary to make such a miniature garden house.
Do you usually put together the other miniature accessories as well (chairs, windows, tables) or do you order them somewhere?
Hi Kris!
Thank you, it looks like it’s quite a popular topic haha!
About your question: the answer is that it depends and i actually do both. I create a lot of things myself, as you can see on my Youtube channel, but I also purchase a lot, especially miniature lights and miniature kits.
I wish you happy crafting!
Kind regards,
lizzy