We have featured several DIY projects over the years, but we are still amazed each time a parent presents their creations to us. Whether it’s a costume for a school activity, educational toys, or even a playset for toddlers, our moms and dads prove that they can and will do anything to make their children happy. Just like Riza Gamaya, 38, an entrepreneur mom who created a DIY dollhouse for her daughter.
“My youngest daughter, Zian, has been requesting from us to buy her a dollhouse, but since I am a DIY enthusiast, I thought of building one for her,” she shares in an email interview with SmartParenting.com.ph.
As a kid, Riza was fond of Barbie dolls. One of the most precious keepsakes from her Barbie collection was a kitchen set that her late grandmother gave her when she was 7 years old. It became her inspiration for the dollhouse.
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Riza shares that she has zero knowledge about carpentry, but thanks to Google and YouTube, she learned the basics. She worked on the dollhouse for about four months (or three weeks, if you want to count the actual number of days) in between mom duties and running her online shop.
After the dollhouse was complete, she designed the rooms next. It took her around one to three days to finish each of the six rooms in the house. Riza used a mix of dollhouse furniture, old toys, and recycled materials for the interiors (you’ll find a complete list below). She even got her kids to help — from planning to sourcing materials they could use for the rooms and painting and organizing the furniture.
The result is a unique but beautiful dollhouse that looks just like a real home (or even better!). “What I love most about this DIY project is that my kids really enjoyed doing their part to complete the dollhouse,” Riza shares.
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DIY Dollhouse
Materials used
- Marine plywood 4x8 feet, Php880
- 1 Liter wood primer, Php160
- ¼ kilo nails, Php20
- Wall putty wood filler, Php120
- High strength adhesive, Php200
- Caulking gun, Php150
- 1 Liter paint (white, water-based), Php230
- 1 Liter paint (pink, water-based), Php230
- 2 paintbrushes, Php70
Total cost: Php2,060
Living room
Materials used
- Jenga blocks and plywood from an old wooden puzzle for TV console
- iPhone 4s used as TV
- Deodorant cover and old wooden toy for lampshade
- Wooden sala set purchased in Bangkok
- Ref magnets for the wall paintings
- Selfie ring light, Php80
- Vinyl tile for flooring
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Kitchen
Materials used
- Barbie kitchen set
- PVC boards for shelves, Php300 for two pieces
- Dining set, Php50, repainted from pink and white to gray
- Selfie ring light, Php80
- Vinyl tile for flooring
- Acrylic spray paint (white and silver), Php100 each
Bedroom
Materials used
- Jenga blocks, candle holder, and plywood for bunk bed
- Jenga blocks and coaster for the table
- Deodorant cover and old wooden toy for lampshade
- Wooden stamp used as a chair
- Ref magnets as wall painting
- Tin cans, Php60 each
- Vinyl tile for flooring
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Bathroom
Materials used
- Bathtub and toilet bowl were hand-me-downs
- Jenga blocks, old acrylic container painted white, screw hook for the faucet (Php5) and fancy earrings as knobs for the sink
- Jolly Kiddie Meal toys painted white and used as organizers
- Tissue holder made from Jenga block, a lollipop stick, and fancy earrings
- Plastic stethoscope toy, fancy earrings, and lollipop stick for the shower
- Clay to make soap and shampoo
- Racks from old wooden toy
- Lollipop stick, fancy earrings, and screw hook for the towel rail
- Selfie ring light, Php80
- Vinyl tile for flooring
Walk-in closet
Materials used
- Wooden cabinet painted white
- DIY body mirror, Php60
- Shoe rack purchased from Bangkok
- Mannequin bought from Shopee, Php50
- Selfie ring light, Php80
- Vinyl tile for flooring
- Old journal with lock from McDonald’s Happy Meal and PVC boards for the elevator
Pool area
Materials used
- Acrylic container for the pool, Php400
- Half of a coconut shell painted white, and half of a plastic egg toy for the accent chairs
- Old face towel
- Clay for the BBQ
- BBQ grill bought from Shopee, Php220
- Wall leaves, Php50
- Vinyl tiles for wall and floors
Total cost for rooms: Php1,915
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Riza, who has three kids — son Zaiden, 9, and daughters Zared, 15, and Zian, 6 — shares that she’s always seen herself as a creative person. “I really love crafting and one of my hobbies before was making a scrapbook for my kids,” she shares. “Whenever my kids have their birthday celebrations, [most of it] is also DIY, from invitations, table decorations, balloon set-up, and giveaways.”
She says that she chooses to DIY because it allows her to come up with new ideas. It also gives her “enormous satisfaction” whenever she finishes one part of the DIY dollhouse.
By showing her DIY dollhouse, Riza hopes “to inspire other moms to unleash their creativity by using their kids’ old and unwanted toys to make a new one.” She’s currently working on a “Z Tower” as her next DIY project — it’s a tower for her daughter’s Barbie dolls with a supermarket, café, school, and office. We can’t wait to see it!
Share your DIY projects with us — we’d love to feature them on our website! Message us on our Facebook page or email us at smartparenting2013@gmail.com.
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