Bridal Shop Closet Redux

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Hi, Dolly friends. Following the last post (Vickie's has always been popular in the last few years, thought we would go back to the beginning.) This is the second of the 'new' Vickie's...my husband built the box for me and the stairs...and the rest is me and my crazy imagination. I'm also a dedicated thrifter and many things are made from items saved from landfills...hence the name Barbieoldnewgreenredo! Enjoy---PS this is one of my most visited posts from Pinterest.

 (I will edit and ad bits here and there, Sandi)

NEW NOTE 2026: I never mentioned in the original post that this upper floor will be a Bridal Boutique,

perfect for Tuxes to Bridal and Party dresses! 

Mattel and other companies have issued so many closet carrying cases for fashion dolls, they now float around the thrift stores for pennies. (They can still be picked up for under $5 in 2026)

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I picked up 4 of these in perfect condition, minus a couple of shelves and a small door. They are still being sold new in stores for roughly $15-20. (Now $25-50-2026) Crazy huh!

I suspect they are being purchased for their included fashions rather than the case itself. This is the one I didn't use, but sabotaged parts from.

I paid $1.99 to 3.99 (2018) for each of these. Really much easier than building all kinds of shelving for the new Vickie's Vintage Boutique.

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First thing was removing the stickers from the outside, and dismantling the doors and handles. The handles were a piece of cake only two easily reachable screws. 

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The doors were something else though. I have successfully removed lots of silver pegs from Mattel channels/hinges before. But, these would not budge. Normally a couple of taps with a hammer and screw driver and they begin to slide out---not these. After an hour---of trying on various sets of hinges--I declared a truce and grabbed my coping saw.  

Normally, I would use a Dremel tool saw, but this plastic was very flexible and soft---so it would gum up----as a high-speed tool would melt the plastic, rather than cut it. The coping saw made quick work of removing all the hinge tabs, though not as neatly as I would have liked. I used a file to clean the edges. The doors are all still intact---so, I may be able to use them for another project. And, nicely they are a full 12" tall and can be used for diorama doors!

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I fitted the cabinets in the unfinished room----and yes, they will work perfectly. Now, that PINK, ugh.

I had some serious issues removing the paper decals on the right sections of each cabinet, despite soaking the areas with alcohol. The rest came very clean. 

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I make it no secret, I really dislike pink. Not pink in general---but the continuous use of pink on items that would never be this PINK in Real Life, ie ---a pink stove??? However, there are lots of wonderful textures on the panels of these closets. After a thorough cleaning and wiping down every surface with alcohol, (this is truly necessary for good paint bonding). I removed all the shelves and doors. I decided the hanging bars will stay black---so there is no chance of the hangers scraping paint off them. I may eventually replace them with metal---we will see how they hold up.

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We finally had a moderate day, that was dry, to spray and paint-spray and spray. (Recommended temperatures are important when spraying...I got some nasty leathering of surfaces in too hot temps). 

The three closets and shelves all took three coats of white satin spray---for plastic. I used a little over one can. (I still recommend Rustoleum Spray Paint for plastic, satin for Barbie and other manufacturers).

After spraying them all white, I covered the straight bar sides with shiny silver stickum from the scrap book section. I opted for a roll designed for those cutting machines that was on sale, instead of buying sheets. This was my first experience using adhesive backed plastic made for cutting machines. The quality was better than anything else I have used before.

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The girl's worked very hard on these cabinets....getting them installed with a little help.

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I left the little translucent shelves pink. A little pink goes a long way. The detail trim on the drawer fronts were done with a store brand oil-paint pen in silver. A perfect match for all the other silver.  (Acrylic paint pens are now very available and just as good.)

I have to figure out how to secure these two units together, might try some white plastic corner molding?

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The backs of the problem sections were covered with silver adhesive plastic, like the kind you use in scrapbooking cutting machines. I have smoothed out most of the bubbles since these pics. But, it was very easy to work with and didn't stretch like other products, and it was on sale. 

It does add a bit of bling, and the store is basically gray and white, so silver is a natural choice.

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(Here you get a view of the layout of the shop...It was designed to fit ontop a certain size dresser. The walls are thin plywood, the bottom floor a bit thicker. the stairs are wood. 2026)

The shop is coming along. Vickie is wondering if she needs to use a different rack now, since the stairs has used up some floor space. We will see. 

(2026 I did use a new rack, and note...I still pick up these cases, and still reuse the doors.) Every bedroom has a closet of some sort, and having a particular dolls clothing accessible instead of buried works well, unless you are looking for a particular outfit and don't know who is hoarding it at the moment!) LOL.

Supplies and Tools for this project:

Existing plastic doll closet(s) or carrying case(s).

Screw driver 

File

Hacksaw or coping saw to remove parts if desired.

Alcohol to clean all surfaces and remove any sticker residue

Spray paint for plastics-1 can almost did 3 units, front and back- 3 coats (necessary to not have pink show through)

Paint pens- I used silver or desired color for details (and white for touch ups) Oil or acrylic based pens work well

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Scrapbook paper or metallic self stick paper for inside or doors if you choose.

Exacto knife--to cut paper or adhesive paper

Square and straight edge for cutting papers

Double stick tape if using scrapbook papers for wall paper. Paint for stairs and walls, 

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks always for visiting. 

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Thanks for visiting and  for your cooperation, 

Sandi