I started by priming the entire dollhouse with white acrylic paint. As it dried, I noticed some areas of the wood turning yellow due to acid, so I made sure to prime everything to prevent it from seeping into the stucco. I didn't prime the floors because I plan to paint them brown later, as my floor covering will be dark brown wood.
Once the primer was dry, I applied stucco using Greenleaf Dollhouse Stucco. Be cautious with the amount of liquid you add; it's best to mix slowly and stir continuously to avoid ruining the stucco. Aim for a consistency similar to oatmeal for better texture. I used all the stucco that came with the dollhouse and an extra bottle, mixing in some white acrylic paint and water to help with the thick texture. Applying the stucco is messy but enjoyable. Make sure to cover every surface, including all nooks and crannies, both inside and outside, including the fireplace. Use a swirling motion with your paintbrush and dab it to create more texture. Keep extra stucco on hand until you finish your project.
When mixing paint with stucco, it tends to lighten in color, so use your stucco mix for touch-ups to keep everything consistent. The container from the dry stucco powder is great for storing your mixed stucco, but don't store it for too long as it can get moldy.
Don’t worry about any tabs that may show on the dollhouse; they will be covered by the half-timber trim, dormer, door, and bay roofs. Stucco is also effective for filling gaps. As the stucco dries, it may crack. You can either add more stucco or use spackle to cover these cracks.
I chose not to stucco the chimney or foundation since I plan to use river pebbles there. Next, I glued river pebbles around the foundation of the dollhouse. Be sure to place the door steps before adding the pebbles, and use tacky glue for a strong hold. After finishing the pebble foundation, I painted all of the half-timber trim. Once that was dry, I attached it easily by following the pictures on the dollhouse kit box. After the half-timber trim dried, I added pebbles to the chimney.
Once that was complete, I turned the dollhouse right side up and primed the floors with brown paint in preparation for installing them tomorrow.
