This DIY American Girl Bounce House Craft was requested a while back. When I first saw the request I just chuckled to myself. It was a great idea, but seemed out of reach. Then as more and more of the same requests were made (bouncy house, bounce castle, jumpy house, etc) I couldn’t help but think about it more and more. It was such a cool idea. And then carnival things started popping up everywhere! Our Generation Day at the Fair, American Girl Ice Cream Cart, the display at the LA store that had a scene set up. It was time to make the bouncy house. This is the first of a few things we are adding to our carnival scene so be sure to leave your request in a comment below and we will try to fit it in our carnival!
Materials Needed:
- Plastic Table Cloths *We used four different colors
- Scissors
- Iron
- Parchment Paper
- Two Skinny pool Noodles
- Three Fruit Mesh Bags
- Recycled Bubble Wrap/Packing Peanuts
TIPS:
- If your pool noodle is too thick, you can cut it down. Just cut from one hole to the next and take however much out that you need. No need to glue it back together as it will be hidden in the sleeve.
- I practiced on several scrap pieces of plastic before I started. That gave me a good idea of how long to hold the iron in place. One second seemed to work best for me. You can always go back over it if it needs more heat.
- Make sure to only use the tip of the iron. If you place the iron down flat it will heat seal parts that you don’t need sealed. That could mean closing up your corner sleeves and you wont be able to slide your noodles in!
- It doesn’t need any more support than the noodles. However, If you want it to be secure for a photoshoot use supports at the top going from one corner noodle to the next. So make a square for the top out of foamboard strips or something similar. This will keep it still while you are taking pictures and posing the dolls. Otherwise, it bounces around like it’s supposed to!
- Don’t pull on the plastic table cloths. They will stretch out, leave holes and be no good to work with.
- You could also make this out of vinyl if you want to sew the entire thing instead of heat sealing it! Go for it!
Watch and tell us what else you want to see in our carnival scene!
43 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.
Can you look at your day at the fair thing on your blog because i requested for a bouncy castle too
So adorable! I love it! What a great mom! You are so clever and fun! ? <3
can you make American girl car?
I am almost done with my popcorn machine, so maybe you could make some Printables for a popcorn stand? That would be great!
Awesome…have to make this ! Can u please also do a video on how to make Peeps? They are so good.
Hi me agen Mary love the BOUNC HOUSE it sooooooo cute ! It’s raining ?⛈I don’t know how much money can you tell me ? I like the dog in the picture! It is cute ?Could you make a doll car ?Please that would be great! Are you doing a video every day ?I’m so happy today ! Hope you like the day or can you make a samata’s ice cream parlor ??! The Mal doll is sooooo cute! Be back soon ?
This is great! What setting do you set the iron on?
I had it on cottons.
Can you try to make a doll ring toss, or bean bag toss? That would make me, and my sister really happy! She is trying to make a doll carnival, but she really wants to add games!
Thanks for replying, Rudy! Now that I think about it more, an orange net might be fun! We never get apples in mesh bags, so if I want a green net, I will have to use Advocado bags. Thanks anyways!
You are sooo great ??
Make a doll car?.soooo cute ? My mom wood LOVE it ?
So cute!! Can you do doll playing cards and Diy peeps and other Easter crafts??
Could you do an ag bean bag toss game? #justcraftit
this is awesome and i love it how do you do it! you get so many great ideas i was thinking how you would make before i watched then i did and i was fascinated
This is so incredibly brilliant! You keep amazing me with these crafts.
So cute! i want to make it but, i like quick crafts.This one also looks confusing so I’m afraid if i mess up ill will just be wasting money.⁉️
I absolutely love your Easter basket tutorial!!! It’s soo creative!!! Can u please show us how to make Easter treats or goodies for our ag dolls!!!! Thank u!!!
Can you please make a Popcorn machine?
Could you please add a popcorn machine? That would be AWESOME!!!!! I am fascinated how you can put parchment paper over a tablecloth, then iron it to seal it! It’s awesome!
This is adorable! I HAVE TO MAKE IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
What fruit came in that bag? The only fruit we get that comes in a mesh bag are Cuties Oranges. I would use those, but the bag is bright orange. And I don’t really want make the net bright orange.
Sometimes we get Advacados in mesh bags! And those are usually green! Sometimes we get another brand of oranges, which also come in a bright orange bag. But this is SOOOOOOO ADORABLE!!!!!!!This was from a bag of apples. I think bright orange would be awesome! Any color really would work.
Very creative. I never realized you could join table clothes like this. Very impressed.
Could you make one of those kiddy fairest wheel?
That is so cute! You are really creative! ? ?
Cute craft!
You could make a photo booth or a clown costume.
that is so cute! i love bouncy houses!
Omg!!!! This is sooooooo cute!!!! You are very creative!!! My daughter wants a trampoline for her AG dolls the table cloths and fruit mesh bags might be good for that as well.
Thank you Rudy, so simple and so cute
Hi, can you make a doll pinata?
Awesome! Thanks Rudy! $10 sounds doable for me! ?
This is so awesome! I am going to build it right now. Is it possible to make a mini roller coaster?
This is so cute! Thanks Rudy!
So cleaver!! I am fascinated how you can seal the table cloth plastic that way!!! Looks fun!
Do you know how much it costed to make this craft?
I purchased three new tables cloths at $1.99 each and two pool noodles for $2 each. So around $10 plus tax. Everything else was on hand and recyclables.
Plz add an Ice Cream Cart, a Popcorn stand, and a Face Painting Booth! I know how to make a Popcorn Machine, but not Popcorn, and I can’t wait to see your replica of the AG Ice cream Cart! I also think you should convert the OG Ice Cream Truck into a Taco Truck or Pizza Truck!
I SRSLY NEED TO MAKE THIS!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOOO CUUUTTTEE!!!!!!!!!!!! Rudy, you are a genius!
First Comment!
hi first comment!!
April 12, 2016 at 10:05 pm –
I made this and didn’t have mess bags so I actually used a gallon size ziplock bag. It made clear Windows and worked out fine. I added extra support beams on top as well because it wasn’t very stable.
April 13, 2016 at 8:01 am –
That’s a great substitute!