This handmade tiny treehouse is my new favorite kid craft. It is simple yet sculptural, collaborative yet kid-led, and the best part? You're left with a stunning piece to decorate your space and encourage creative play.
When Jude and I discovered the amazing miniature treehouse sculptures by Jedediah Voltz we were so inspired we couldn't help but try our hands at making our own.
This is a really great winter project. It may be too stormy to play outside, but you can bring the outdoors in with this sculpture that doubles as a play platform for your kiddo's favorite toys. We chose to keep our design fairly simple, but you could really go all out, the skies the limit! Your kids can create the treehouse of their dreams, no major construction required!
It all starts with a cool plant! We got this gorgeous Aralia Fabian at Urban Garden, if you are in Sonoma County you have got to visit their shop, if you live further away they have a website full of great stuff for your home and garden too!
The construction of this tiny tree house is simple and all connections are made with hot glue. School-aged kids will need help with cutting the wood, but otherwise should be able to take the lead on this project. I hope we inspire a whole tiny treehouse movement!
How To Build A Tiny Treehouse
You'll need
- A cool houseplant in a sturdy pot
- Sheets of balsa wood
- Square rods of balsa
- Bamboo skewers
- Toothpicks
- Wooden craft (popsicle) sticks
- Exacto knife
- Hot glue
Directions
- Decide how you would like your tree house to look. Draw up a plan or just start adding pieces!
- Use balsa sheets to form the base, trimming the wood as needed with your exact knife (obviously, in most cases an adult needs to use the knife). If you need to go around a branch you can join pieces underneath with hot glue and craft sticks.
- Use bamboo skewers as supports, stabbing them gently into the dirt and holding them to the base with hot glue.
- Add a roof with more balsa and trimmed skewers.
- Create a railing by cutting the square rod into small even sections. Glue them around your base and top it with more rod.
- Create a ladder by gluing toothpicks to two skewers at even intervals.
- Optional: Add accessories! We made a hammock out of a scrap of fabric and string. More cotton string and a lego tire made the perfect tire swing.
Now for the fun part: play! It's like a dollhouse only living!
And when it's not in play it can be displayed in your home. Ours lives in the living room. It is such a fun conversation starter and it's even inspired me to keep the plant alive!
I sure hop you make your own and share the results! Happy building!
