Re-imagining the Doorstop Mouse: A Creative Journey

Hi, I’m Fran, and I’m excited to share my creative journey of replicating and reimagining a doorstop mouse project without taking apart the original. My goal was to reinvent something unique while drawing inspiration from an existing design.

Techniques and Materials Used

• Body Base: I started with a Seven Up plastic bottle for the body. To ensure it stood steady, I filled the base with aquarium gravel. Then, I covered it with a nylon tight to achieve a smooth finish.
• Head Construction: For the head, I used a 5-inch styrofoam ball and attached it to the bottle cap for stability. I used smaller plastic golf balls for the cheeks and nose.
• Fabric and Embellishments:
  • I incorporated various fabrics, including fluffy adhesive fabric for thickness, t-shirt fabric stabilized with HeatnBond, old wool, and beads.
  • The dress was crafted with ruffled lace, some sewn plain and others gathered for ruffles.
  • I added an apron, and the collar was repurposed from my son’s old Halloween clown costume.
  • For the doll’s hair, I used dollar store wool, braided to give it a unique texture.
• Hat Design: Instead of a simple circular hat, I chose to make a bonnet. I enlarged an old doll pattern by an inch all around to fit the larger doll and decorated it with ruffled ribbon and covered buttons.
• Purse Accessory: I crafted a unique purse from an old tin lid, folding it in half and embellishing it with cording, lace, upholstery stripping for the handle, and small heart accents.
• Arms: Rather than a simple tube, I designed sleeves from sheet material and attached them to the sides of the dress.
• Finishing Touches: I added HeatnBond hearts made from polka dot and t-shirt fabrics, and small doily yo-yos with beads for extra detail.

Best Practices and Tips

• Replication without Destruction: The main idea was to replicate a project by observing its construction, not tearing apart the original.
• Stabilizing Fabrics: When working with t-shirt fabric, I found that stabilizing it with HeatnBond made it much easier to handle.
• Finishing Edges: Always ensure no raw edges are left when stitching; tuck seams underneath or use a serger for a clean finish.
• Embracing New Ideas: Sometimes, unexpected supplies, like different-sized styrofoam balls, can spark new project ideas, such as Christmas ornaments or smaller doorstops.
• Patience: This project was a labor of love, taking more than a few hours.

I’m very happy with how she turned out! While she’s not a mouse yet, I’m considering turning her into a “Lacy Lemur” by adding brown ears and whiskers.