Vintage Style Mini Mannequin Upcycle
Hi there! I hope you’re having a great week. I had lunch with my sweet friend Nancy on Wednesday, and she “talked me into” sharing this project with you. I wasn’t sure about it, but she squealed with excitement when I showed her, so I guess that means she liked it, LOL.
I try to involve something vintage-y in all my crafts, because vintage is my great love (as you know). So projects either start with something vintage or end up looking like something vintage. Today’s project–a vintage style mini mannequin falls into the latter category.
Do you have an empty dish soap bottle and a paper bag? Then you can make this project!
Almost all the materials you need are probably already in your house somewhere. The one exception would be the doll stand that I used for the mannequin’s stand, but that was purchased at the dollar store.
I chose a bottle that has the shape of a human figure and trimmed the bottom off, leaving 5.5,” (including the lid).
This post contains affiliate links for products necessary to complete the project. This is both for your convenience as well as to support my blog, as I receive a small compensation whenever you click on such a link and make any sort of purchase, for which I thank you.
I ripped the paper bag into small pieces and began applying them to the bottle with matte finish Mod Podge and a foam brush.
I wanted to put some numbers near the neckline, since many vintage mannequins often have numbers. After finding the right size and style numbers, I stamped a few on some paper bag scraps. When I had the configuration that I wanted, I glued the scrap onto the mannequin.
For the stand, I used a doll stand that I picked up at the dollar store. I bent the curved “arms” (made to hold the doll) upwards, as you can see in the photo.
Next to the doll stand, you see what remains of the lid to the soap bottle. I pried off the top off the lid and filled in the hollow portion with hot glue (this will be the “neck” of the mannequin).
I spray painted both the doll stand and the bottle lid (the “neck”) with matte finish black paint.
Here you can see how I glued the stand onto the inside, back of the mannequin, using hot glue.
Here’s a look at the neck, reassembled on the “body” of the mannequin.
And there you have it, a miniature mannequin. I think it would look great wrapped in vintage music or dictionary paper, too.
It’s the perfect size for holding a few bracelets.
Or one very busy bracelet.
This craft would make a terrific mother-daughter activity or Girl Scout project. Don’t you think?
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Love your articles, Love the vintage and how you bring back my memories. But, this one really caught my attention. Thanks for the how to plans.
Now THAT is super, super cute! Yes, it would make a great GS project, and I have a niece who is the leader of her daughter's (my grand-niece's) troop. I will be passing this along!
What a clever idea. I love it!
Now that is very creative and adorable. I love the way you think Diana!
This is really cute, Diana! Thanks for the tutorial!
What a clever idea! And so many ways you could style "her"!
Now that is one cute idea! Tucking that away til I need it…thanks for the post.
Diana, that is about the cutest craft I have ever seen. I'm going to make one with my granddaughter. She will love it. sb
Too Cute and a great little project. Thanks for sharing your steps too. The ideas to decorate the form are endless. Happy Creating.
Hugs, CM
Well that is so cute! I love it!
Yes, absolutely! My little Bebe is going to be bored one day very soon this summer… and I am going to whip out these materials!!!! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
oh this mini mannequin is TOOOOOO cute! love it and so fun! i could see a couple dozen of these on a shelf modeling different outfits or jewely! Ok maybe that's too much but wow you are so awesomely creative!
We are highlighting this adorable itty bitty tiny mini mannequin at the creative challenge tomorrow. Hope to see you there! Thanks for sharing with us, you are an inspiration to us all!
Diana the dress form is brilliant! Jo
Omgosh this is so genius! Love love love it and I can totally see doing this for my dd's room.
Creative +. Love it, vintage look and cute.
Oh my gosh how did you ever think of this?! It's so creative! It certainly takes the cake for ingenuity. Being a jewelry-maker I've always loved mannequins for jewelry display. Love, love, love this!
xoKathleen
love it. so cute.
That's just as cute as it can be love
Love your blog and Love to invite you to Fabulous Friday Party going on now!
http://www.simplenaturedecorblog.com/fabulous-friday-party29/
Thanks Maria
So cute Diana! I would have never guessed it was a dish soap bottle. I just made a scrap book out of paper bags on my girlfriend get away. Haven't quite finished it yet. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Very cute and clever and ingenious. Will be pinning for me and my grewt granddaughter <3
Diana this is the cutest project ever! Thank you for sharing your craftiness at THT.
Diana – this is a GENIUS project! You are so creative…we will never look at a dish soap bottle quite the same. Thanks so much for linking up with Karen at Something To Talk About!
Vicki and Jennifer
2 Bees in a Pod
I have been enjoying your projects along the way, but I am loving this one. Very clever repurposing and recycling.
Brilliant!
This is ADORABLE! I would love it if you linked it to Snickerdoodle Sunday!! http://www.sadieseasongoods.com/snickerdoodle-sunday-link-party-79/
Thanks so much!
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
Oh Diana, you are so clever! What an adorable project. Happy to feature you at Be Inspired this morning. Thanks so much for sharing!
Beyond brilliant!! What an incredible idea. I love the idea of making this with something I normally would recycle!
~Michelle
What a cute and fun idea.
Cindy @ Upcycled Design Lab
Fabulous Friday is next week, had to post pone it because just moved into a new home, see you next week and thanks for sharing your last post vintage mini mannequin
Maria
I just made one too! Thank you so much for the wonderful idea!
http://www.falafelandthebee.com/2015/05/25/recycled-mini-vintage-mannequin/
Since seeing this, I found that instead of using the attached lid and having to fill the hole with glue, most soda bottle lids fit perfect and no hole to fill!!
What a brilliant idea I have just spent the last two days sewing and stuffing a mannequin pin cushion to put a dress on wasn’t really happy with how it turned out but am going to try your idea
I haven’t been able to find a doll holder. Any suggestions for a substitute?
LOVE it!! Any thoughts where I might find the doll stand?
That is soooooooo cute! Gotta do this!
I make baby burial/christening gowns out of wedding gowns, for my charity group in WV.. and have been looking for something just this to ‘ model ‘ them on as i am sewing them…. what a perfect idea, THANK YOU… i am making 2 this afternoon !
Sarah
What a sweet charity to work with, Sarah; I’m so glad my idea is going to be a part of it. I’d love to see photos, if you ever get the chance 🙂 You can email me at adirondackgirlatheart [at] gmail [dot] com.
I don’t understand the materials used to make the maniquin stand. There just isn’t enough instruction or specifics. 🙁
Hi Robin! The mannequin stand is a doll stand, made for holding Barbies or souvenir dolls. I bought mine at a dollar store, but they can be purchased for a dollar or two on Amazon 🙂 Hope that helps!
this is genius!
Thanks so much Sharoona–so sweet of you to say 🙂
This is such a unique idea, I love the brown paper it really makes it look vintage. Might have to make one for myself!
So glad you like the idea Brittany! I’d love to see pics should you ever make one 🙂