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Paid or Free Woodworking Plans


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Paid or Free Woodworking Plans ~ For Dollhouses ~  If you have been involved in the dollhouse hobby for long you know as we do that there are a multitude of ideas available today. So aim at only two for study at any given time. And this way you will happily avoid any state of confusion. The enemy of creative fun.

Paid or Free Plans? 

4 Steps to Help you Begin

Paid or Free Plans for Dollhouses

1. It all Starts with Research

Research is key to making great choices in paid or free woodworking plans.

From the get-go when researching paid or free woodworking plans you have to determine what you really want. Whether established quality or something perhaps unique to explore.

  • With paid plans you receive, most of the work is done for you. All of the instructions are provided by the plan suppliers.
  • In free plans you end up doing most of the legwork yourself. Like for instance, gathering everything you need as far as information and techniques. Most of these are featured independently on privately owned websites online or books.  

So never be in a rush while exploring either plan scenario. Rushing through choices just makes your final decision one that may not be the best outcome for you.

2. Choose Two exciting Examples

As you research online, at your local library, or from volumes of books, aim at isolating two main choices in paid or free woodworking plans. Only two will give you a limited group of characteristics to research.

If you have been involved in the dollhouse hobby for long you know as we do that there are a multitude of ideas available today. So aim at only two for study. And this way you will happily avoid any state of confusion. The enemy of creative fun.

At first go only for looks. Narrow your selections quickly. Then begin to peer inside each one of your choices. Exploring all of their interesting attributes.

3. Dare to Compare to Succeed

Paid or free woodworking plans you decide.

Pick apart each product. Whether paid or free. Decide by using a pro and con ideas list. Think about which one you would definitely enjoy more while building.

  • Does it have any special features you particularly love?
  • Is one more interesting to visualize in the finished state?
  • Can you see the finished product working. And working well for whomever you give it to?
  • Is it easy to imagine the furnishings you will want to place inside your structure?

These are just some questions to get you started. But the more demanding you are of each choice the better product you will get in the end. Aim at excellence in all your paid or free woodworking plans.

4. The Mindset of Selection

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The mindset of true enjoyment in the entire plan is something to work towards. Loving your choice is a great value in the decision making process.

If the paid or free woodworking plan you choose does not interest or excite you then you should go back and do another search. Every plan should be like buying thee best whatever it is you are dreaming of... purchase. You know when you are genuinely anticipating that special item you have wanted forever. 

Yes like the purchase of a new home or car or something that sizzles as you think of it. Or even like meeting thee person you have always dreamed of meeting. It should be that good! Your personal treat, just for you!

With this kind of motivation, can you imagine the project you will select? You are liable to have the most fun doing what you love that you have ever had.

The mindset you have to have when searching for paid or free woodworking plans. Act as if you have paid for everything every time and test these plans to see if they measure up in your tiny world. Develop your own rigorous checklist.

Project: Develop your Own Free Plans

Seven Easy Steps to Follow

Your Own Free Woodworking Plans

  1. Select an architectural plan software. We have reviewed and searched for ideas that would work well with dollhouses. But sadly there does not seem to be many good ones on the market. At least that are professional and easy to implement. Check out what Amazon has available for architecture software. The keyword "Architecture" or "Architect" software gives you the best results. Check this link for ideas of what is currently available. They do have a varied selection. (The link will open in a new window.)

    That said however we have found and do like Home Designer. It is easy to use and design with. If there is something else available that you have had success with we would appreciate knowing. Other programs did not seem to have the caliber of Home Designer. Contact us here about your findings regarding paid or free woodworking plans software.

  2. Get Trial Versions if Possible. Obtaining a trial version is great in that it allows you to try it before committing to a purchase. Absolutely priceless feature that will tell you if you and your chosen new software will click. If you can understand and use it as well as if the software will perform the way you will need it to. All of us have ideas and not every software is for every person.

    If you find a couple examples of products available. It will be necessary to study each program. So download trials of all candidates. Actually use software you find available if possible so you can do an adequate comparison. 

  3. Open your software and begin learning how it operates. That is the next step. To know how to work in your program is essential. With Home Designer you have a huge selection of learning videos available. You just simply click the link in your program and go right to them. These videos deal with everything from being an absolute beginner to having a degree in architecture. Absolutely priceless for developing your own free woodworking plans.

    If using Home Designer. Begin studying the videos by going back and forth between learning and using to get the hang of your new software. It is easier to know what to design if you have control of your program software and can easily put it to work.

  4. Purchase a home design magazine or book. If you are new to designing purchasing a design magazine full of real house plans will give you something to study. Then after you have studied a bit of designs you can start to create on your own. We like these kinds of tools because it helps you know something that may be needed in your plans. Ideas that you may never have thought of on your own.

  5. Experiment and enjoy the creative elements of learning. Or in other words play at creating your designs. Continuously build your own excitement so you are always liking what and how you are doing. Your dollhouse hobby should be the relaxing, stress-free environment you are seeking in a leisure activity.

  6. Decide on which software program to purchase. If you have been using a free trial in a couple of program choices it is now time to decide what program you enjoyed using the most. The easiest may be a natural selection for most people unless you like certain features better in one program than another. Only you can decide which you liked best.

    Already bought your software? Second guessing yourself? Having doubtful moments and really know the other product was right? Ask for your refund and get what you like. It is after all your choice that counts and a few days is not going to make that much difference in a refund. It may surprise you at how much companies will help you out. Mostly though do not buy until you are sure.

  7. Finally after all the practice and learning begin designing your first plan. It is always great to reach the point where you feel confident enough to put all your practice to work. That is to work on projects you find excitingly motivating and rewarding. And then to finally go in the direction of completion. Where you now have the building finished and you are inspired to pursue the interior.

Home Designer Architectural by Chief Architect

Home Designer Architectural 2014

Check out all the Home Designer Architectural details with this link or by clicking the picture above.

  • Tutorials available for all parts of the software program. Both on YouTube and that come with the program itself. You do not have to be a paying customer though to access the tutorials inside each software program they sell. Simply go to their website and select "Training Videos" located at the bottom of their site. www.homedesignersoftware.com

  • This program is conveniently linked to informative videos. So you do not even have to leave your software interface to watch them. You will find these videos in the start-up menu as you open the software to begin working on your own free woodworking plans.

  • Easy to follow and start using. They have the best support. They want to teach the how-to's of use to their customers. 

  • Prices range anywhere from $59 - $495. With a price to match most budgets.

Example of the Videos available for Home Designer

This featured video is the first one in a series of 8. Let them play through to the end. Each one is only a few minutes in length. Longest one being 4 minutes and 57 seconds (4:57). Shortest one is 55 seconds.

These videos let you see exactly how this software works in helping you design your own free woodworking plans. All 8 are only a few minutes long and can be viewed right in the video box below for your convenience.

As well as all the videos that come with this program they also have ongoing yearly updates too. Great tool to become familiar with for design purposes

With this software you can, if you desire, change all the measurements for walls, etc, to your dollhouse measurements. But it may be easier to work in large and then to convert your measurements to the scale you want after you print out your free woodworking plans. Shrinking the scale in the software does make it small and hard to see details.



at the doll house View or Buy Miniature Kitchen Hutch. at the doll house
Designers Pencil
In the Spotlight




Another Way to Dollhouse Plans

Jon Lash of www.DollhouseDesigns.com

The Original Mary Kay Dollhouse Design

There was one source for online dollhouse plans that was great. However they were not free woodworking plans. These did have a very affordable price attached to each plan. On his site Jon Lash had developed eight (8) adventurous products.

These offers could help you get an idea as to what exactly goes into the production of such creative resources. Namely your own free woodworking plans. If that is your aim. Study what others have available.

However never copy designs always come up with your own. You get into far less trouble legally that way. When every bit of a design is literally all yours, you definitely have peace of mind. So be smart in your design work. Never copy. 

Learning from Others made Easy

What others have done will help you in making a system to assist you in your own design ideas. Use those as patterns sort of in creating what you like.

  • For instance look at the designs package you receive when ordering these plans. 
  • What info is presented in your purchase? 
  • How is it laid out? 
  • What steps are first, second, third, etc?  
  • Study everything as a how-to package. 
  • Write down your ideas from your study time. 
  • Begin imagining what and how you could do something similar. 
  • Learn from someone who has already done what you want to do.

But then again don't simply study get busy building the dollhouses that have been supplied for you. They are all intriguing to look at. Perhaps one of those will become your next dollhouse project. And as you build learn from all that has been supplied in aiming at your own free woodworking plan.

As with so many businesses online and off this website has disappeared from the web lineup. Too bad really we enjoyed the designs we found there. But with everything in life where one dies another can emerge.

Jon Lash had imaginatively Creative Ideas such as:

  • Country Cottage
  • The Mary Kay
  • Columns
  • The Stephanie
  • 1869 Cottage

Pictures from DollhouseDesigns.com

The Ariella
1869 Cottage
Sample Design Pages
1869 Cottage
The Mary Kay

All illustrations used with permission from DollhouseDesigns.com

All PlanSets are CAD drafted and include detailed dimensional drawings of cut patterns, construction and assembly details. The plans will walk the builder through the construction of a scratch built dollhouse. Quote from DollhouseDesigns.com

Barbie Doll Structures & Furnishings By Marl B. Davidson


DollhouseDesigns.com


Dollhouse Toy Shoppe The Toy Shoppe Visit our Dollhouse Store Online for houses, furnishings, dolls, kits, supplies, books..... for ideas on wares, designs and ready-made goods.
At-the-Doll-House.com




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