DIY American Girl Camper

Posted on Jul 14 2017 – 1:02pm
by Rudy



DIY American Girl Camper

This is one of those projects where I designed the plans a long time ago. Almost two summers ago! Other crafts got pushed to the front and since we had Lanie’s camper it wasn’t an urgent project for us. There have been so many requests for this and I apologize because I know some go way back. There has been a lot of talk lately with American Girl bringing back retired pieces and reusing them in new ways. Personally, I really like seeing the retired pieces brought back to life. It gives people a second chance to get the items without having the “retired” price tag that goes along with it. It would be really cool if AG brought back Lanie’s camper. However, with the new pop up camper I highly doubt it will happen. That’s why I finally finished this project. I want to share this awesome piece with you! And it is awesome! You can use the plans and build it out of wood or MDF instead of foam board. Whatever your preference is. With every new foam board project I get better and better and I learn new tricks all the time. Just like the plans, I got the nylon hinges a long time ago. I put them away and forgot about them. I remembered I had them once I started looking at ways to attach the doors.  They are amazing! I really hope you enjoy this craft, it is a big one. Pace yourself.

Watch and tell us what you like to do when you go camping!

Materials Needed:

TIPS-

  • I used hot glue for attaching the hinges on the foam board and it worked just fine. However, Gorilla glue or E6000 glue will last longer in my opinion. Those will just take longer to set. I did drop the camper though and nothing popped off! Whoops!
  • Spray paint all your pieces before assembly. It’s much easier this way! Also, give the foam board overnight to dry. This way as you firmly press the pieces together when hot gluing, you don’t make fingerprints in the paint.
  • If you don’t have the foam board circle cutter for the tires, just use an X-acto knife. The jagged edge looks good, like tread. I used the circle cutter and then cut up the outside to give it the jagged look.
  • Take your time. I spread this project over three days just as I did for Gabriela’s Left Bed.
    • Day 1: Cut all the pieces. (approximately 3 hours)
    • Day 2: Paint all the pieces. (2-3 hours)
    • Day 3: Assemble. This took me 6 hours. It shouldn’t take you that long. I was filming and that always drags out the time.
  • Watch the video before you take this project on. See how I painted the pieces. Watch how I attach the hinges. This will help guide you.

Cut List:

Camper Frame:

  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 28 1/4’’ x 11’’ – Sub Floor
  • 2 – 1/2’’ @ 28 1/4’’ x 3’’ – Sub Floor Sides
  • 3 – 1/2’’ @ 10’’ x 3’’ – Sub Floor Supports
  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 28 1/4’’ x 11’’ – Floor

Camper Shell:

  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 29 11/16’’ x 19 3/4’’ – Left Side – See Diagram
  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 26 3/4’’ x 11’’ – Roof
  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 19 3/4’’ x 10’’ – Back
  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 19 3/4’’ x 2 1/4’’ – Back Right Side
  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 10’’ x 9 3/4’’ – Front Bottom
  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 10 1/2’’ x 10’’ – Front Top – See Diagram for Window
  • 1 – 1/2’’ @ 19 3/4’’ x 4 11/16’’ – Front Right Side – See Diagram
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 10’’ x 3 7/8’’ – Front of Camper – Window Shelf Top
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 10’’ x 9 1/2’’ – Front of Camper – Window Shelf Top Support

Storage Bench:

  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 9 7/8’’ x 3 7/8’’ – Storage Bench Lid
  • 2 – 1/2’’ @ 5 5/16’’ x 3 15/16’’ – Storage Bench Sides
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 9 7/8’’ x 5 5/16’’ – Storage Bench Front

Kitchen Cabinets:

  • 3 – 3/16’’ @ 8 1/8’’ x 3 3/8’’  – Cabinet Drawers
  • 2 – 3/16’’ @ 8 1/8’’ x 7 3/16’’ – Cabinet Drawer Sides

Kitchen Refrigerator:

  • 2 – 3/16’’ @ 7 3/16’’ x 4 3/4’’ – Refrigerator Sides
  • 2 – 3/16’’ @ 4 3/4’’ x 4 3/4’’ – Refrigerator Top & Bottom
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 9 11/16’’ x 4 7/8’’ – Refrigerator Left Side Wall
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 4 3/4’’ x 1 1/8’’ – Refrigerator Top Cover
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 5 5/8’’ x 4 3/4’’ – Refrigerator Door

Kitchen Counter:

  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 11 3/8’’ x 8 1/4’’ – See Diagram for Counter Top & Sink

Camper Bed:

  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 19’’ x 8 1/4’’ – Bed
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 16 3/4’’ x 1/2’’ – Bed Support

Camper Doors:

  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 19 1/2’’ x 13’’ – Left Door
  • 1 – 3/16’’ @ 19 1/2’’ x 9 1/2’’ – Right Door

Camper Wheels & Front Supports:

  • 6 – 1/2’’ @ 5’’ Diameter – Wheels
  • 2 – 1/2’’ @ 2’’ Diameter – Bottom of Front Supports
  • 8 – 3/16’’ @ 2’’ x 1’’ – Front Supports

Camper Trim:

  • 2 – 3/16’’ @ 28 5/8’’ x 1’’
  • 2 – 3/16’’ @ 18 7/16’’ x 1’’
  • 2 – 3/16’’ @ 5 11/16’’ x 1’’
  • 4 – 3/16’’ @ 11’’ x 1’’

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DIY American Girl Camper was last modified: July 14th, 2017 by Rudy


32 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Michelle
    August 5, 2017 at 7:42 pm –

    My daughter and I have been able to find all of the supplies but 1/2″ foam board. Even Amazon is very limited. Where do you get your 1/2″ from??

    • Rudy
      August 7, 2017 at 7:37 pm –

      I get it from Hobby Lobby, Michael’s and Blick Art Supply.

  2. zainab
    August 2, 2017 at 11:12 am –

    hi my name is zainab i am 12 and i really love your vids and i love that you made a camper and an icecream truck but can you please make a car i have been wanting to do one with 4 seats for months now but i couldnt figure out how please make one with foam board

  3. Elizabeth19
    August 1, 2017 at 7:33 am –

    This product is so cool! I love everything about it! can you make little camping supplies to go with it?

  4. Terry
    July 23, 2017 at 5:39 pm –

    AMAZING!!

    Can you tell me where you get the bowls and toaster from?

    Or how do you make them?

  5. Jade
    July 20, 2017 at 12:04 pm –

    Did you ever make a jam craft?

  6. Jade
    July 20, 2017 at 12:00 pm –

    In the back ground you see he Aunt Jemima craft. I really liked that one.

  7. Dana
    July 20, 2017 at 8:20 am –

    Hey, I might have missed it along the way, but could you please let me know where you get all of your foam board? I am in canada, and am not sure where to look

    thanks so much, love being able to make all of these crafts with my girls!

  8. Laura B
    July 18, 2017 at 1:01 pm –

    WOW! That is amazing, perfect for summer. We like to go hiking when we’re camping. I’d like it if you made a sleeping bag. And anything else for camping that you’re willing to do would be great. Tent, camp chair, camp stove, ice chest, Sawyer water filter, water cooler to keep the clean water in, hammock. . .

  9. awsomecookie
    July 18, 2017 at 12:50 pm –

    i love your build a bear! my doll loves it to!!!!!!

  10. ginnie
    July 17, 2017 at 11:10 am –

    I love this! It looks fantastic! Thank you for the tip with the hinges! We made a camper for our dolls a few months ago out of cardboard boxes, and it is still holding up really well. ?

    https://fakingitmostly.com/2017/02/06/diy-pop-up-lanie-hollands-camper-part-one/

  11. Tigerlilly2007
    July 16, 2017 at 4:57 pm –

    Can you make a doll banana split? Can I have a shout out?

  12. Claire
    July 16, 2017 at 2:37 pm –

    Can you please make a doll braille book?

  13. Lily
    July 16, 2017 at 11:34 am –

    You can make almost anything! Could you maybe try to make an ATV?

  14. Julia M. H
    July 16, 2017 at 10:40 am –

    I think that the camper needs s’mores materials!!!!!! Such a cute craft, good job Rudy!!!

  15. Lily
    July 15, 2017 at 3:45 pm –

    Can you make a cook book!

  16. Jewel
    July 15, 2017 at 2:47 pm –

    SO CUTE Rudy! I like that it is different from the AG version. I just did a really fun Photo Story: http://www.dollnotebook.com/blogs/post/Daring-To-Be-Caring-A-Photo-Story/. Feel free to leave a comment.

  17. Aeryn_123 ?
    July 15, 2017 at 11:16 am –

    Ashpheonix

    Diy back yard

    •green felt

    Lay down the green felt.

    Done.

  18. Adele
    July 15, 2017 at 10:24 am –

    Okay. Thank you, Rudy!

  19. AshPhoenix
    July 15, 2017 at 9:09 am –

    Can you make a bible or a backyard

  20. Ferdy AKA Frog_lover
    July 15, 2017 at 8:54 am –

    I agree Bookfanatic 102. Braces and a retainer would be really cool. Also, I would really like it if you could make a stage so my dolls could do plays like me.

  21. Bookfanatic102
    July 14, 2017 at 6:27 pm –

    Can you make braces and a retainer for when the dolls get their braces out?

  22. Althea
    July 14, 2017 at 5:35 pm –

    cute, can you make a microwave or chips ahoy cookies?

  23. Linda Reynolds
    July 14, 2017 at 4:00 pm –

    WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! You are AMAZING!

  24. Tigerlilly2007
    July 14, 2017 at 3:38 pm –

    Can You make a doll car? I really want you to make a car because

    I have been trying to make a doll car forever. Can I please get a shout out?

  25. Adele
    July 14, 2017 at 2:24 pm –

    This is awesome, but I’ve mentioned before that I don’t have easy access to foam board. I was just wondering if the instructions would be the same if I were to make it in wood? Also, can you please make a hammock, the Grand Hotel and a slip ‘n’ slide? Thanks!

    • Rudy
      July 14, 2017 at 4:37 pm –

      You use the same plans to make it out of wood. Just as some of my previous wood projects can be made out of foam board. As always, there will be slight adjustments. If you work with wood, it will not be a big deal to adjust.

  26. Terri
    July 14, 2017 at 1:56 pm –

    wow, wow, wow!!!!!!! Fantastic!

  27. Piper
    July 14, 2017 at 1:51 pm –

    So cute and a sleeping bag would be cool

  28. Ama
    July 14, 2017 at 1:13 pm –

    I would love to make this but I don’t have the supplies. Could you please make this out of wood or cardboard? And please hotel!!

    • Rudy
      July 14, 2017 at 4:36 pm –

      You use the same plans to make it out of wood.

  29. Aeryn_123 ?
    July 14, 2017 at 1:04 pm –

    WOO HOO! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO EARLY! ?