Making a DIY mole house

I've always liked the idea of an underground house for the mole family but I really can't afford an official one at this time! Also, making a mole house has been in my mind for some time now so I took the decision to build one! There are some instructions in a issue of the sylvanian magazine but it didn't really appeal to me! I decided I want something to have both the inside of a mole house but also a front side with a yard and door that I could use for photos! I searched online an I found many beautiful pictures of fairy and hobbit underground houses so I made a draft drawing of what I want. It is supposed to be under a hill but it also has a nice front yard, window and front door!
I started two days ago,I decided it would be fun if I share the procedure with all you in the forum, however long it takes to finish it!



 Sorry I didn't take more detailed pics of the procedure so far but I will try to explain what i did. I used air drying clay to make the front of the house! I made a thin layer ( I actually rolled a bottle on the clay to make it thin enough). I cut the door and window on paper first and then used them as guides to cut on the clay.



 With a sharp object (a small knife or toothpick) I curved some bricks on the wall and smaller bricks around the door and window. Also made some wood effect on the door.




 I let the clay dry and then I found a shoe box and a thin OSB wooden board to use for the base. I drew the outline of the front piece on the box and I cut the door and window.




 I cut the sides and upper part of the box (left it only in the part above the door) so it follows the shape of the clay part and stapled the free sides to the stable sides of the box to make it sturdy( this took me sometime to achieve but it's important for the sturdiness of the construction)




 Then I glued the clay on the shoe box, and I glued the box on the wooden board.




 I glued a bamboo placemat on the box to use it as a roof.




 Then I placed a piece of cardboard paper from a packaging box on top. I stapled it on the bamboo placemat and on the wooden board at the edges. Now I am ready to apply polyurethane foam spray to form the roof of the underground house. When I do it I will post pics!




 I also made some front steps and stones for the front yard!




 I applied the PU foam and I am quite pleased with the result. This is supposed to be the ground over the house. It was the first time to use it and I made a bit of a mess especially on my clothes! I left it dry overnight and now its quite hard and sturdy!



 I left a piece of the placemat uncovered so it looks like a wooden roof.



 I also glued down the stone pieces. Next phase is painting...!




I did the painting with acrylics. I experimented with the wall( tried to paint every brick stone separaletly) but I don't like the result as I see it now... The embossed surface is hidden behind the pattern, it looks more like a plain drawn paper. So I will repaint the wall with an even, more uniform, color. On the other hand I am pleased with the color of the stone path!


 The foam and the board are painted green and I will cover them with dry moss . I did try on a small surface just to see how it looks!




I repainted the wall with a light pale yellow color and I highlighted some of the brick stones - short of drybrushing - and I am satisfied with the result now because the carved details on the wall are more visual!
I also covered the green areas with dry moss. That was quite a task but I think it looks nice! I also made a chimney out of clay. I painted it and glued it on the foam. The pipe in the chimney is a piece of a pen cap!








This is how it looks from the inside.

I removed most of the shoebox to open more space inside. I only left one part as a side wall. If I knew better I wouldn't glue the placemat on the box but I would just staple it. Now I will need to attach a new placemat as a ceiling because there is too much dry glue and torn paper on the old one. I also made a cross on the window with wooden sticks.


 I fixed the door to the wall with a hinge. I used a small piece of wood (same width with door) to screw one side of it and then glued it on the wall. Then I glued the other part of the hinge on the door with superglue. I didn't fasten it on the door because the clay would crack. The screws are cut and only glued in place just for the effect!




 I made a new tree...


...and also made a window box with flowers (using fimo clay)and two small pots with the remaining clay. 



Finally I attached a clear plastic as a glass on the window from the inside.




I worked some more on the interior. I made a pattern of the wall using plain paper...


... and I used this to cut the wallpaper.


 I also made a pattern of the floor. I cut it on a hard paper and then I used adhesive paper with a wooden printed surface to cover it. 



I also used a new placemat for the ceiling...and here's the result...


 Now I only have to place the furniture!

I found some time to finish the little well and also made some fence pieces











Thanks a lot guys! I had a great time with this project! I am posting some final photos just to complete this thread!




Final from the front

 

 

Decorated inside

 

 



The Mole family!