I finished shingling the dollhouse and touched up the stain on the shingles. Instead of using a wooden dowel or skewer on the exposed edges at the top of the roof, I chose to maintain the rustic look by applying shingles sideways to create the roof peak. I still need to fill in some areas with wood filler and add more stain.
I also worked on the yard. I purchased faux grass to complete it. First, measure the grass for the yard base to ensure you get the right shape and size. If you prefer not to use grass, you can opt for stone or tile instead. Once you cut the grass to fit the yard floor, set it aside without gluing it yet to avoid getting glue or paint on it.
I gathered all the pickets for the gate and dry-fitted them, marking their positions with a pencil. This way, I can keep track of which pickets belong to the fence and which ones are for the gate. The gate pickets are designed to create an arch at the top and are easy to identify because they lack the usual arrow tips found on fence pickets.
I measured the yard base by dry-fitting it against the dollhouse to check for a proper fit. It’s important to do this before building the fence. I had to trim some tabs for a snug fit against the dollhouse, allowing a little leeway since the grass adds extra area in the back. I glued the sides to the yard base, ensuring they were square and level. Lacking green paint that matched the grass, I decided to stain the sides instead.
While that dried, I painted the posts and fence pieces. Once everything was dry, I glued these pieces onto the yard base. The assembly is straightforward since each piece fits only one way, but I found more guidance from the dollhouse box picture than from the instructions.
After that dried, I glued on the fence posts to cover any tabs and joints. To attach the grass sheet, use spray adhesive, a glue stick, or a thin layer of tacky glue on the wood surface. Avoid hot glue as it can create a lumpy surface. Apply glue sparingly; it’s just meant to keep the grass in place and not hold anything together since gravity will keep it flat.
Next, I glued the yard with its half-built fence to the dollhouse. It’s important to place your dollhouse on a sturdy, flat surface so that everything dries evenly without slanting. Protect your work area from glue drips by placing something underneath. The yard should fit easily against the dollhouse since you measured it beforehand. I clamped the end posts to secure them against the dollhouse walls while ensuring no glue dripped onto the grass area. I left it clamped overnight for a tight bond. Although you can hinge the gate, I chose to glue it instead. You can space pickets as closely or as far apart as you like; there’s no wrong way to do it. I used one picket as a spacing guide.
To add a decorative touch, I placed a small finial on the front gable where there was a hole. This is why it's useful to save interestingly shaped pieces; you never know when they might come in handy later.
Finally, I added some trees to the front yard that I had leftover from other dollhouses.
