Toy Shop - Help & Guides

Getting Started. The first thing you need to do is make sure you are wearing your work clothes or an apron. You need a work area where you can keep all of your supplies, materials, and tools at hand. Hopefully, you'll be able to leave your work out at the end of each work session. An assembly table at least 2' x 3' can be a real plus. Bring the kit over to the table and gather up all of your tools and supplies.

Open the Box. Some boxes can be opened on three sides and used as a work tray.  If you bought a die-cut budget kit, don't remove any pieces from the sheets until the instructions call for them. Remember--No unidentified pieces! If you bought a budget die-cut house, we recommend that you write the name on each piece before you take it out of the sheet. Be sure to write the sheet number on it too. You can sand this writing off later but you'll probably paint right over it anyway. *You might want to lightly sand the edges of each piece after you pop it out of the sheet. If you have bought a kit from a craft store or hardware store you might want to have a hobby knife handy. Many times these kits have sheets which were not completely die cut when they were manufactured. You may have to finish cutting them out.  For medium and upper grade houses you will want to take a quick look to see that everything is in the box.

Get Some Help! It is sometimes easier to assemble a kit with two people. If you will be working alone, at least try to have someone around to give you a hand when you need it. While smaller children can assist you, we never suggest that someone under 14 years of age assemble a kit without some adult assistance.

Glue! There are several kinds of glues and adhesives you will need for building and finishing your dollhouse.  Each is designed for different applications.

PVA GLUE or WOOD GLUE are excellent glues for most uses.  We suggest the PVA glues for medium and upper-grade kits. When applying the glue, squeeze the excess air out of the bottle before turning it over. Then when you release the pressure on the bottle at the end of a dab or a line of glue, the bottle will suck the remainder of the stream of glue back rather than running it all over your work. Between steps, go back and clean up excess glue.  A paint brush in a cup of water may be pinched dry and used to wipe up excess glue.

GLUE GUN. If you own a glue gun you can use it hold pieces that are drying. We never recommend the use of hot glue to assemble your kit, always use PVA OR WOOD glue. If you absolutely can't live another day without using your hot glue gun, use it sparingly.  Just use a little hot glue to hold pieces together while the wood glue dries.  Remember that hot-glue is a craft glue and is generally not intended for permanent applications.  Heat and cold will cause it to separate later.  I stopped using it simply because I was sick and tired of burning my fingers every two minutes.
We recommend that you try a dry run for each section before final assembly to check parts, to see how the parts locate and to understand the assembly. Then you can comfortably start out again, follow the instruction steps - this time - using glue.

We carry a number of different glues for use with wallpaper and floor coverings.   We suggest the Wallpaper Paste.  It goes on with a paint brush and cleans up with soap and water.  A 1 inch brush works well when applying the paste.

FIRST AID. If you are going to be using any type of knives, glue guns, or spray adhesives be prepared. Always use your tools safely and have a proper stand for your glue gun. We recommend that you always use a “Knife Block” when using a hobby knife. Read all the instructions, warnings and first aid recommendations on all your tools, glues and paints. You will be using glue & paint so be sure you have some ventilation, and never smoke when using any spray-adhesives.   If you have children you already know that you can't leave them alone for a minute. If you leave your work be sure to put your tools away. A hobby is supposed to be fun, so enjoy yourself. Just remember that some of the items you will be using can be harmful so be prepared.

PAINTING MY HOUSE. One commonly asked question is whether or not to paint any pieces before assembly. If you want to apply a sealer or primer coat to wood pieces before assembling them that is o.k. Try to avoid prior painting when using MDF board as it has a tendency to swell when it is in contact with liquid, but do not try to apply wallpaper before the house is assembled. We recommend that you use a flat or semi-gloss paint for use on your dollhouse. If you want to give your house the look of a hard-wood floor but do not want to spend the money for the wood flooring material, simply varnish the floor, but be careful to cover it up before you start painting. Pinocchio's can fill your paint and stain needs.

MAKING A PURSE FRON A SOWS EAR! Even if you buy the smallest budget kit it can still be a work of architectural beauty with just a few Pounds and a little patience. One of the best ways to add detail and beauty to your house is with the use of pre-assembled windows and doors. Not only will it make assembly of the house much easier, but can save you time. If you want a bay window in one room and your kit doesn't come with it, no problem. Just cut your opening a little bigger and pick up a pre-assembled bay window. We even carry working windows and doors that can be easily installed in your new or existing house. way to make your house more beautiful is with the use of clapboard siding. Another way to add detail and realism is with the use of wall and floor coverings. For just a few pounds you can install a hard-wood floor, put tile in the bathroom or kitchen, or paneling in the lounge. You can even place brick on the fireplace, or put stone around the base of your house. All of these materials are sold in easy to use sheets. They are in-expensive and can add tremendously to the beauty of your home. You can even wallpaper, or apply textured ceiling paper to your rooms. Interior and exterior wood trims, moldings and baseboard will add detail and realism to your house. Or you can add gingerbread trims for a touch of fantasy. *You can enlarge rooms in your house by removing room dividers. Many small to medium-sized house kits have four or six small rooms. On a dollhouse (unlike your own home) you can remove room dividers without affecting the structural integrity of the home. Use caution, don’t just start ripping out everything until you know what it connects to. You can gently saw out some of the room dividers to make larger rooms.

BUDGET DOLLS HOUSES.  Just because you purchase an in-expensive house kit doesn't mean that it has to look cheap. Only your imagination, and your budget, will limit the possibilities for your new home. A little work and a little imagination can bring a lot of detail and beauty to your house. And a lot of satisfaction as well. We recommend that you come down to PINOCCHIO'S TOYS and take a look at what is available, or browse our Online Catalog at wishes-come-true.com. Bring some paper and make notes on ideas you would like to incorporate to the finishing of your house. We are sure that you will come up with more ideas than you have room for.

Tools. These are a few simple items which you will need to assemble your dollhouse kit. Pencil, Ruler, Hobby Knife Sanding Block or Sandpaper and a bottle of Wood or PVA Glue.