Thursday, July 22, 2010

Blogger's Own: House and Configuration


















So how good can I get one of these toys to look? Well, if you don't know already I am quite the scrooge when it comes to purchasing houses and materials. The last three homes I bought were $9.99, $9.99 and $13.51, all plus shipping of course. They usually come dirty, broken and discolored, though sometimes I have gotten great, minty parts for bottom dollar because someone was just wanting to clear space in their basement and it was a slow week on ebay. The house in this post is non painted, all posts are chip free, all windows hold position, all doors have all pegs. Thats the benefit of buying 4 houses, you get to constantly upgrade parts. Since I make a profit of about $100 per flipped house, my complete and minty house was more than free. In the corner of my spare room (and bathroom) is where everything is cleaned, super glued, painted, polished and parts are matched. I bought a metal shelving unit at target for $42 (not pictured) to store all the loose pieces and furniture and it works well. Anyway, here are the photos of how bright the colors are on a house that was matched with the best parts of 3 1/2 houses, and furnished with vintage Mattel and repainted Gloria furniture. The jukebox was a late '80s pink, I spray painted brown, added wood grain shelf contact paper, silver contact paper and it came out well. The newer looking kitchen is an old barbie set I did the same treatment to. To get the 'marble' contact paper to shrink wrap around the counters hold it over a lighter (carefully) then wipe off any black smudges with a rag. The flat screen is a glass frame from target for $6, the bed is a cereal box covered in fabric. The rocking chair was a cheap white Gloria bedroom set chair I painted to look 'seventies'. The bathroom, dining room and piano is also Gloria, alot of work, but well worth it. You will also notice some Barbie Talking House furniture. The green shag carpet is a dollar store bi-fold picture frame turned upside down. Clear vases and wastebaskets are Tiki shot glasses from the dollar store. You can see I used the 1982 McDonald's as an outdoor kitchen. The patio furniture is a 1984 Arco set. The bottom photo is where my minty A Frame/California Contemporary lives. Its on a discarded closet door, so is sturdier than it looks. Enjoy, and ask any questions you have.

8 comments:

  1. Wow! Your A-frame is awesome! :) I just got one today for $18.00. It needs work but I am in heaven! I was putting my stuff in bookcases and getting so frustrated.
    Can you tell me where I can find replacement parts? Do you sell them? I am watching ebay but haven't found what I need. Windows and doors mostly.
    Love the blog. I was so excited to find others interested in the same thing :D

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  2. Hi Daphne. Glad you were able to acquire one. The best way to get replacement parts is to buy another house. There are lots of details to that explained in the post, How to Get a Minty House Affordably post from July 2009. Have a look through the blog there is lots of info on all aspects of the house. Good Luck.

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  3. I am very sad. I have just brought my A Frame down from the attic for my daughter, cleaned it all up, only to find no screws to put it together!

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  4. This is GORGEOUS! I love all your furniture...very creative!

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  5. Tallulah: I have bought replacement screws at the hardware store. I have some extras in storage but I just moved so have to find them and if you want to buy them you are welcome to them. I will follow up in another post. You could actually sell the parts on ebay and just buy another house with screws. Keep checking back.

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  6. I just found one of this on ebay I can't wait till I get it :) I would of gotten the new one but I dont like it I like the old one better

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  7. Does anyone have assembly instructions for this Barbie dream house... I finally have my own room to put it together and there are no instructions on how to do it. So it has been sitting since May. My e mail is phoenixangelheart@gmail.com if anyone has any they can send. Thanks ever so much!

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    1. I have posted instructions on this blog, just scroll through to find or enter it instructions in the search box.

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