DIY Fairy Door Using Cardboard

I made a rustic fairy door lamp recycling some cardboard from a thin rectangular box, a matches box and a couple of pizza boxes. The only bought materials I used are the colors, the hot glue and a little piece of craft foam that I used for the hinges. It took me about three days to finish.

I started by drawing the door and the wooden frame around it. Then I cut the pizza boxes in small pieces that I glued together to make the wooden frame around the door. I wanted to have some depth so the frame looks like thick wooden beams. I glued the matches box in front of the door as a step. This will be the hidden compartment where the batteries and the lights switch will be. I used pizza boxes to create the little roof with tiles and everything. I also made flooring and and door details using the same kind of cardboard. For the hinges I used a little piece of craft foam I had.

I sanded and cut the rough edges so I end up with an old looking wooden frame and door. I made the textured wood using a ball pen and pressing the wooden pattern deep in the cardboard. It adds such a nice effect and it will help a lot in the next step when adding color and patina.

Painting the little door was fun. Remember I told you about the texture? Here's how it works. I cover the surface in a base color first. Then I add a very bright color or even white, but only to the surface of the texture, so I get a nice contrast. On top of that bright color you can add other colors. I made the door blue and the roof red but you can play around with any color combination you like.

I glued the little door in place and now it can be opened and closed with ease. I covered all the surface in with a water based varnish and glued the whole thing to the wall and turned on the lights from the secret compartment. Let me know what you think.