In the process of work on the Woodland Elf House, I built TWO pot belly stoves alongside each other! The main one is done in 1:12 scale and will be installed into the kitchen of my cardboard cottage while the small one is 1:24 scale and will be installed into the Woodland Elf House, which is nearly finished. These stoves are built from recycled household materials and glue. The large one is made of paper, cardboard, packaging plastic and a sewing pin. The small one is made primarily of a thread spool, paper, cardboard and the tip of a toothpick. They were painted with craft paint and then dry-brushed with more craft paint to bring out the details.

Once construction began on the main stove, I realized I wanted to make a small shovel to remove ash from the stove. I instantly imagined a shovel I remember being used in the fireplace growing up. It was stamped from one piece of metal and then crimped and bent into shape. I basically recreated that shovel (using recycled cereal box chip board) which was a wonder to me as a child.

Later, having the stoves and the shovel led me to realize I would be making a small bucket where the manager of the pot belly stove would put the ashes. Using simple scrapbook card stock and a length of thread I was able to make a handy bucket. As a point of interest, I place the contents from a couple of “do not eat” silica packets which include both black and clear pieces and look mysteriously like ash in the bucket, but this detail was not included in the video as I did it much later.

If you’re merely interested or if you endeavor to build pot belly stoves for your dollhouse, then please take a look at my video posted on my YouTube channel. Drop me a like and make a comment if you’re so inclined.