A savvy mother who wanted to reduce waste has transformed cardboard boxes into a replica of a house in her local area.
Victoria Harris, 67, from Leamington Spa, told how the little house is a copy of Oak House, Upper Holly Walk – which she describes as a ‘very old and beautiful house.’
‘I love this old house so much and I get to teach belly dance in the room that I call the ballroom every week,’ the mum-of-one told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk.
‘Oak House is basically falling to bits – it’s a shame such a beautiful old place has lost its grandeur. Sarah and Geoff, who run the club, love the old house so much. ‘
Victoria Harris, 67, from Leamington Spa, wanted to reduce waste and so transformed cardboard boxes into a replica of a house in her local area (pictured, before the full transformation)
The cardboard house (pictured) is a copy of Oak House, Upper Holly Walk – which Victoria says is a ‘very old and beautiful house’ in Leamington Spa
She continued: ‘About three months before Christmas, I decided to try to make a replica of the house for Sarah and Geoff so that if anything happened and the house was no more, they would have the little house to remember it by.’
‘The house is a Grade II listed building built by local architect William Thomas circa 1838 – I would hope he would like my house as much as I like his!’
Victoria used old bits of cardboard and also bought some Fablon to pep it up. She also made the accessories for inside the house using old pieces of plastic and cardboard from around Leamington Spa.
‘The house probably cost about £12 to make,’ she added. ‘The only thing I bought was the cream Fablon to cover the front of the house.’
Victoria said the doll’s house was easy to make as she used a picture of the actual house and just copied it. Pictured, the cardboard waste Victoria used
Dance teacher Victoria added the pool table (pictured) is made from a box of Swan Vesta matches with beads and green and black felt, with cocktail sticks used for the cues
The thrifty homeowner made the accessories for inside the house using old pieces of plastic and cardboard from around Leamington Spa. Pictured, the bar area
Victoria added she loves doing up old dolls’ houses, which is why she had all the bits to furnish the house with like the chairs and tables (pictured)
‘I love doing up old dolls’ houses which is why I had all the bits to furnish the house with like the chairs and tables.
‘The pool table is made from a box of Swan Vesta matches with beads and green and black felt, with cocktail sticks used for the cues.’
Victoria, a dance teacher, says that despite the house being gorgeously intricate, it was surprisingly uncomplicated to make.
‘It was easy enough to make – I used a picture of the actual house and just copied it,’ she explained. ‘It’s a great way to recycle plastic and cardboard.
‘One good thing about making it was the fact if I made a mistake there was always plenty of cardboard for me to try again! My husband calls me the cardboard carpenter. The inspiration was the real house, it’s in such a sorry state it’s heartbreaking.’
Thrifty homeowner Victoria told how she loved every minute of making the miniature house and was sad when it was over. Pictured, the interior, made from recycled cardboard and plastic
She continued: ‘I am thinking about making the city by night next. When I had finished it I couldn’t believe I had done it – I loved every minute of it and actually felt quite sad when it was all over.
‘The best bit was presenting it to Sarah and Geoff at Oak House – they absolutely loved it.
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, commented: ‘If you’re guilty of ordering loads online and then taking mounds of plastic and cardboard to the recycling bin, then this is a fantastic way to reuse packaging.
That it cost Victoria just £12 to make shows it could save you a lot of money if you were planning on buying a dolls house for your child and is probably much more fun to create from scratch.
‘A brand new dolls’ house like this made from wood costs £363.25 at Amazon. I’m just not sure my dolls house would be very appealing with it being made from used Domino’s pizza boxes.’
Victoria added that making dolls’ houses is a great way to recycle any unwanted plastic and cardboard. Pictured, miniature drinks in a bar