How to Make a Halloween Dollhouse: Fun and Easy DIY Ideas for Mini Dolls
Halloween Dollhouse, using a Cardboard Box or Dollhouse.
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by giving your mini dolls their very own haunted house? Whether you have an old cardboard box lying around or a well-loved dollhouse, turning it into a spooky Halloween dollhouse is a fun and easy project that you and your little ones can enjoy together. Best of all, you don’t need fancy supplies or a lot of time—just a dash of creativity and a pinch of Halloween spirit!
Why Create a Halloween Dollhouse?
Kids love Halloween, and they love their mini dolls, so why not combine the two? A Halloween dollhouse not only sparks imaginative play but also gives your child a unique way to celebrate the season. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to reuse materials like old boxes or dollhouses that might otherwise go to waste. It’s eco-friendly, affordable, and a great bonding activity to do with your kids.
How to Turn a Cardboard Box into a Halloween Dollhouse
Turning a cardboard box into a Halloween dollhouse is incredibly simple and fun. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Gather Your Materials
To create your Halloween dollhouse, you’ll need:
- A cardboard box (any size that fits your mini dolls)
- Black and orange construction paper
- Glue, scissors, and tape
- Markers or crayons
- Cotton balls or spiderweb decorations
- Miniature Halloween decorations (like tiny pumpkins, bats, or ghosts)
You can also raid your craft supplies for anything spooky or Halloween-themed. Don’t stress about having everything—half the fun is improvising!
2. Create the Haunted Exterior
Start by decorating the outside of your cardboard box. Cover it with construction paper or paint it with acrylic paint to create a spooky atmosphere. Cut out windows and doors, and then tape or glue on orange paper for a pop of Halloween color. I love using double sided tape for this. You can also draw cracks, spiders, or bats to make it extra eerie.
Check out some of these amazing ideas!
3. Decorate the Spooky Interior
Once the exterior is done, move on to the inside. Use construction paper or printable dollhouse wallpaper to create different “rooms” for your dolls, like a haunted kitchen or a ghostly living room. Add cotton ball spiderwebs in the corners, hang tiny bats from the ceiling, and scatter mini pumpkins around the rooms. Let your imagination run wild!
Affiliate Disclosure: Just so you know, some of these links on our site may be affiliate links. This just means, we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps support our efforts to bring you helpful content! Thanks for being awesome.
How to Transform an Existing Dollhouse into a Halloween Dollhouse
If you already have a dollhouse – like us, turning it into a Halloween dollhouse is a breeze. Let me share how we set ours up this year!
Pick a spooky theme
Decide on a theme for your Halloween dollhouse. Will it be a witch’s lair, a haunted mansion, or a creepy abandoned house? Having a theme will make decorating easier and more fun. This year, we went with a pink and purple, ghost home!
Add Halloween Decorations
Grab some mini Halloween decorations—think tiny tombstones, cobwebs, and spooky lights—and start decorating each room. You can also make your own decorations using construction or card stock paper and other craft supplies.
Check out our FREE printable here!
I used a combo for printable’s for this project.
You can find the majority of the mini Halloween prints by heading to Thread Mama, I have a subscription to her prints and it is worth every single penny.
** I don’t receive anything from sharing this shop, it is just a wonderful website and I wanted to share it with you guys!
Choose your mini dolls
We created a whole mini ghost family for our spooky home and they were incredibly easy to create. All we did was use a salt dough, paint and some hot glue. They came out sooooo cute, with just enough spook to them. Check out the recipe we used below:
Easy Salt Dough Recipe for Mini Ghost Dolls
Salt dough is a simple, versatile, and fun material to work with—perfect for creating your mini ghost dolls for the Halloween dollhouse. Here’s an easy recipe that you can whip up in no time!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/2 cup water
- Optional: White paint for a ghostly finish
Instructions:
- Mix the Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Gradually add the water while stirring the mixture until it forms a dough. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour; if it’s too dry, add a bit more water. - Knead the Dough
Once the dough is formed, knead it on a floured surface for about 5-10 minutes until it’s smooth and pliable. This step is great for getting the perfect consistency for shaping your mini ghost dolls. - Shape Your Ghost Dolls
Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them into balls for the heads. Then, shape the bodies by gently pulling the dough down and flattening it into a ghostly drape. Use a toothpick or small tool to add eyes and mouths if desired. - Bake the Ghosts
Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Place your ghost dolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 2-3 hours, or until the dough is completely hard and dry. The baking time will depend on the thickness of your ghosts, so keep an eye on them. - Cool and Paint (Optional)
Let the ghost dolls cool completely after baking. If you want them to have a bright, ghostly appearance, you can paint them white or leave them in their natural dough color for a more rustic look. I went ahead and painted ours and I couldn’t be happier with how they came out. - Add Them to Your Halloween Dollhouse
Once your ghost dolls are ready, they can haunt your Halloween dollhouse, adding a spooky but playful touch!
Light up your halloween dollhouse
If you have battery-operated fairy lights, use them to add a spooky glow to your Halloween dollhouse. Place them in the windows or around the edges of the rooms to create a haunting atmosphere.
Final Touches for Your Halloween Dollhouse
No Halloween dollhouse is complete without some final spooky touches. Here are a few ideas:
- Haunted Sounds: Place a small speaker inside the dollhouse and play spooky sound effects like howling winds or creaking doors.
- Doll Costumes: Dress your mini dolls in tiny Halloween costumes to add to the festive fun.
- Miniature Treats: Create tiny Halloween treats for your dolls out of clay or playdough. Mini pumpkins, candy corn, and tiny ghost cookies are all great options.
Wrapping Up Your Halloween Dollhouse
Creating a Halloween dollhouse is a fun, creative way to celebrate the spooky season with your kids. Whether you use a cardboard box or a dollhouse you already own, the possibilities are endless. And remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do it—just have fun and let your imagination guide you.
So, grab those craft supplies and get ready to transform your dollhouse into the spookiest Halloween dollhouse on the block. Your mini dolls will thank you, and your kids will have a blast playing in their new haunted home!
Happy crafting, and Happy Halloween!
