Well, deck the halls with boughs of holly . . . it's Christmas at the tin dollhouse!
Is it bad that I stole the bird's home and made it into a Christmas decoration?
I won't get in trouble with Santa for that, will I?
But since the birds weren't overly impressed with my dollhouse turned birdhouse in the 1st place, I kicked out the ungrateful birds (don't get your tinsel in a tangle, that's a joke, no birdies were harmed), brought the house inside and started decorating it for the holidays.
I actually think I've played with this tin dollhouse more than the one I got as a kid.
A little snow here (just in case you were wondering, it's fake snow).
A few bottle brush trees there.
A little Santa action on the roof.
And a few vintage ornaments turned kitschy lawn decor.
Even a tiny little mid-century modern silver tree for the living room.
One of my readers, Ann (Hey, Ann!), told me about a video Kate from Retro Renovation did on making a mini tinsel tree. It was perfect for my picture window, because if you have a picture window you just HAVE to have a tree in it.
While you're at it you can see how Kate makes a vintage ornament wreath also. I need to make one of those this year.
Let's not look too far inside the dollhouse though.
The previous renters had to move out quickly and they took all the furniture with them. I'm thinking of filing a complaint against them, but then again they've probably flown off to Florida by now.
Oh, and I almost forgot to show you the coolest part!!!
I climbed up on my little ladder and strung Christmas lights on the roof!!!
It's a battery operated set I bought at Walmart and it has all these different patterns it can make. I left it on "steady" for this photos, but they can blink and all sort of things.
Probably cause seizures too if you look at them too long.
More birdhouse/dollhouse/Christmas house shenanigans:
My tutorial on how I repurposed the tin dollhouse in the first place - Vintage Tin Dollhouse Repurposed Into Birdhouse (from July)
And my thoughts on the birds not appreciating my efforts - Tin Dollhouse Birdhouse Update (from early November)
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
I love your little house so much, Pam...I think it is my favorite decoration I've seen this year!
Pam
Pam, soooo cute! I remember a little tin doll house when I was little. Oh, how I wish my
parents had kept it for me! Don;t worry about the birds, that metal siding would make
it too cold inside/outside anywhoo.
Deanna Rabe
That is adorable and fun!
Vickie
I'm all for unexpected Christmas decorations that make me smile, and your mid century modern dollhouse does just that. Love the snow, lights and especially the tinsel tree! We had one of those for a few years when I was growing up and I thought it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw. Your dollhouse has found the perfect nesting spot. Sorry birdies!
Leslie in MN
I'm so happy you are using the doll house for decorating. It looks so cute! I was honestly disturbed when you left it outside for those ungrateful birds. I wish I had a neat pink tin doll house. I'm getting so nostalgic for things of my youth. Thanks for the delightful image.
Stephanie C.
I really liked the dollhouse birdhouse but the Christmas dollhouse is my favorite of all the Christmas decorating I've seen this season. The string of lights is perfect.
Shelley
LOVE it
Mary W Ferguson
Your doll house is so pretty and you did a wonderful job on it. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Mary
Karen Steinmann
As always you brighten the day with your smart, inexpensive decorating. I found a old metal globe in Waynesville the other day. Have my old plastic sleigh and one reindeer to put on top like yours. Did find a small Santa to put in the sleigh in Waynesville too. Thanks for all the ideas.
Pam
You are welcome! I'm so happy you were able to find some good stuff. I think I went to an outside antique fair in Waynesville a few years ago. Cute town!
Linda
Oh. My. Gosh. I absolutely love, love, love the Christmas dollhouse. Now I want one!
Pam
They're sort of addictive. I'll probably give this one back to the birds in the spring, so I'll have to keep an eye out for another one when I'm out thrifting because I'm dying to start collecting the plastic furniture for them.
Brenda Kula-Pruitt
Very cute, Pam! No, Santa will not be mad at you because you rescue so many things from being taken to the landfill. Santa does not like seeing gifts end up in the landfill and unloved. You save them and give them love. You are on Santa's "Good" list!
Brenda
Pam
Well, that's something then! I would hate to get on his bad side 🙂
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage
This is great Pam. Love the little lights. Super cute.
Pam
Thanks, Kris!
Ann
I love what you've done with the joint! The lights are the crowning touch! It's much more fun to decorate a little tin dollhouse for Christmas...Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your family, Pam!
Pam
And much quicker too. I'm STILL putzing around in my real house trying to finish up decorating. And I've even scaled way, way back this year!
Barbara O
LOVE IT!!!! I need to do something like that with the grandgirl's Barbie dream castle!
I had a similar tin dollhouse in the '50s! LOVE the little tinsel tree - we had a real tinsel tree in the 60s. sometime around 2000 my Dad took it and the light with the 4-colored wheel to a resale shop and got $30 for it. He was THRILLED - it was more than he paid for it new. I just had to bite my tongue to keep from telling him how much the resale shop guy was going to sell it for.
Pam
That's funny. Better to let him think he made a killing on the tree when it was really the resale shop that did!
Lorraine
See I'm so tired I misspelled decorating!?
Fonda Rush
I thought you were using a combination of decorating and curating. I think you've coined a new word!
Lorraine
Good thought and Recovery! Have a wonderful Christmas.
Pam
I thought the same as Fonda. "I guess she's being creative :)"
Lorraine
This post made my Day! I was starting to run out of steam for decurating. I'll plod along now. Thanks Pam.