Suitcase dollhouses make a great gift. They are cute, portable and don’t take up a lot of space. It’s the perfect toy for families that are often on the go, live in a small space, or just love pretty things :). Buying a suitcase dollhouse however can be rather expensive, so about a year ago I decided that I would try to make one myself for my daughter. The first one I made was with things that were just lying around the house. I posted it online and my friends were really enthusiastic. Many wanted to have suitcase dollhouses for their kids as well. In 2019, I started making suitcase dollhouses for my friend’s kids and that’s how my company The Travelling Doll House started!
In this blog I will show you how you could make your own customised suitcase dollhouse. For making your own suitcase dollhouse there are 4 things you’ll certainly need:
1. A little suitcase
My favourite shop for little suitcases is definitely Sass & Belle. Sass & Belle sells the most adorable little suitcases and ships worldwide!
2. Dollhouse Stickers
Well, that’s an obvious one of course ;). No suitcase dollhouse is complete without some beautiful dollhouse stickers from The Travelling Doll House, which are available in my Etsy shop. The great thing about using dollhouse stickers instead of (very small) miniatures is that they don’t move :), which means less mess. No more little teeny tiny thingies lying around everywhere, that get lost in a split second. It’s also a much more affordable option.
3. Dollhouse furniture
I love to add wooden dollhouse furniture to my suitcase dollhouses. My favourite suitcase dollhouse furniture is from Kmart Australia, as it is affordable and good quality. My other local favourite is Minihome & Co. But there are lots of other brands outside of Australia that sell cute wooden dollhouse furniture too, such as Maileg or Hape.
4. Dolls
For the dolls there are loads of options. In this suitcase I added the Maileg mouse. But you could also add wooden dolls (such as the Grimm’s wooden peg dolls) or the Sylvanian families animal dolls. Kmart Australia, Hape and Hema sell very cute and cheap wooden dolls as well. Or your child may already have a toy or doll that needs a new home.
Lastly – share your creations with your friends (and with me!) on social media. Custom made suitcase dollhouses brighten everyone’s day!
Cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls are a classic craft time staple in almost every household. With everyone at home now I’m sure large quantities of toilet paper rolls will be generated :). I love craft activities that involve everyday objects like this. It’s been a favourite in our household and it’s great to see what creations the kids come up with. Their imagination is so much more vivid than mine :). The paper doll toys are also low in cost and sustainable. The printable stickers for the DIY paper dolls are available in my Etsy shop. 
The Travelling Doll House 