DIY Doll Dioramas
A diorama illustrates a three-dimensional scene. They're typically made inside a box placed on its side. The inner walls of the shoebox depict the background and objects and dolls can be placed inside the box. Dolls are frequently used to depict people. Use real dolls, action figures or paper dolls. Paper dolls are secured to the box with a tab on the doll's feet. The tab is folded at a 45-degree angle relative to the rest of the doll and it's secured to the floor of the diorama with glue or tape.
Things You'll Need
- Box cutter
- Box
- Acrylic paint
- Medium paintbrush
- White paper
- Scissors
- Markers or colored pencils
- White glue
- Dollhouse furniture (optional)
- Poster putty
- Tape
- Dolls
Instructions
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1
Cut off the box flaps on one side of the box. Use a box cutter to remove the flaps. If you're using a shoebox, remove the lid.
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2
Paint the exterior of the box with acrylic paints. Use a medium paintbrush. Alternatively, wrap the exterior of the box with construction paper or wrapping paper. Allow the paint to dry before proceeding.
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3
Place the box bottom on a piece of paper and trace the box outline onto the paper with a pencil.
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4
Cut out the piece of paper with scissors, using the pencil outline as a guide. Cut just inside the pencil marks.
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Put the side of the box on a piece of paper and trace its outline with a pencil. Repeat this process for all four sides of the box.
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6
Cut out the paper pieces that will cover the sides of the box, using the pencil outlines as a guide. Cut just inside the pencil marks.
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Decorate the papers with markers or colored pencils. The first piece of paper, for the box bottom, will be the background. The box will be placed on its side, so the sides will form the ceiling or sky, side walls or background and floor or earth.
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Paint white glue onto the back of each piece of paper. Use a medium paintbrush.
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Glue the papers inside the box with each piece covering one of the box walls or floor.
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10
Draw furniture or other scenery items on paper and cut them out with scissors. Leave a tab of paper on the bottom of each item so it can be folded and used to attach the item to the diorama floor. The tab should be the width of the object bottom and approximately 1/2 inch long. Alternatively, use dollhouse furniture or other objects to create the diorama scenery.
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Attach the furniture or other scenery items to the diorama floor. Use poster putty to adhere objects, such as dollhouse furniture, to the diorama floor. If you're using paper or cardboard. Fold the paper tab on the bottom into a 45-degree angle and glue or tape it to the bottom of the diorama.
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Stick a piece of poster putty on the doll's feet and stick the doll to the diorama floor. If you're using paper dolls, fold the foot tab so it forms a 45-degree angle relative to the doll. Secure the doll to the floor by taping or gluing the tab to the diorama floor.
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Tips & Warnings
In place of paper, you may opt to create a textured floor. For sand or dirt, mix sand or soil with white glue and paint it onto the diorama floor. You may also use a small piece of carpeting, fake grass or grass mats designed for model train sets. For snow, glue pieces of cotton or stuffing onto the diorama floor. If desired, hang items from the ceiling. Draw and cut out a paper chandelier. Make little paper birds and cut them out with scissors. Tape them to thread and thread them through a hole on the diorama ceiling. Tape the thread down on the outside of the box. Use dolls that are the proper size relative to the rest of the diorama.
Simulate wallpaper by using wrapping paper. If you're using a shoebox, place the diorama box floor on the cover to extend the floor forward. Use cotton or stuffing to make clouds. Glue them to the sky or dangle them from the ceiling with thread.
Remove dolls, dollhouse furniture and other objects that are adhered with poster putty prior to moving the diorama. These heavy items may come loose, resulting in damage to the interior of the diorama during transport.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
