Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-07
This and That
BIZ Charles +. Tr1ce,peH

Old cardboard boxes and cartons OF the
larger Sizes in which Christmas presents came.
usually receive the treatment commonly &C
corded to old leaves. They are swept up and
thrown away, or burned.
instead OF this summary treatment such
boxes and cartons may easily be transformed
INTO doll houses even whole villages of little
houses, stores, garages, ETC.
Not only will the adults have a great deal
OF fun in making these but the children of
the household no end Of pleasure
household kittens, even cats, will have al
IMAGINATION. probably would find them no
good except to chew.
Cardboard boxes in which lamps and similar
objects were originally housed may be trans
formed easily with the aid of sharp knife
and a little cold water paint
The formal doll house requires box at least
two feet square, and larger is better
First, some little prior consideration and
planning are necessary.
Figure out how many windows are needed,
the door, etc. An inner shelf may make two
stories, but most Of the impromptu houses are
best left in just one story
The doors are made by cutting across at the
top, at the bottom, and then squarely down
the center. Folded outward, there is the door!
Windows receive the same treatment, and
there are the shutters!
Quick drying cold water paint is best Houses
may have fiat tops, If one does not fancy try
ing to put on roofs.
After all, this is the day of electrical or sun
heating, when there is no need for a chimneyl
An entire series of houses and stores may be
connected with thick sealing tape such as used
in stores.
If kittens or cats are to be the pleased, doors
and windows large enough for them to leap
through must be provided.
flap hinged at the top, pulling outward
from the bottom makes much-lked entrance
The door split in the middle, somewhat re-
sembling garage doors, is also favorite At
first the animals may have to be forced
through but after they have gone through
lew times they soon get onto the method.
This is an interesting test of cat intelligence
Some specimens will take to such doors readily
while others require several days
House walls, even roofs, may be painted
white or cream, and the doors and shutters
pale pink.
Pale-blue window frames are excellent or an
easier method is simply to allow the door and
window frames to be represented by a half
inch of plain box.
The result from these boxhouses or villages
is quite charming. Few children who see
them will be able to resist them.
Countless hours of imaginative play with
w NSiN"
ed on.
The boxes are sturdy enough to withstand
all except the most ruthless treatment.
Very large cartons may be transformed into
real playhouses. The door may be made large
enough for entrance, or If not quite that
large, entrance may be made by removing the
entire back.
Ordinarily, painting need not be done except
on the front, sides and roof. The back may
be left plain.
1t should be stressed that no real work is
involved in this. just little judgment and
bit of care, and in a few minutes almost,
there energies something really nice looking.
Careful children land CATS may be treated
to growing village" throughout the year,
as large cardboard boxes and cartons come
into the house.
In such cases, the attic is the best place
for the layout of the cardboard village
little mixture of colors and house treat
ments, and soon fine assortment is developed
The train Set either electrical or windup
may be combined with the village Real cleo
trio lights in some of the houses give a good
effect but in such cases ventilation must be
secured, as cardboard is always cardboard, even
when decked in paint.