Lots of people, not just little girls, are into 18" dolls, like the American Girl Dolls. But if you haven't noticed, the stuff American Girl sells for dolls is crazy expensive! While there are companies out there that sell cheaper accessories, why not look around the house, dollar stores, and used sales for even cheaper accessories? Here are some ideas for things that work great for these dolls.
(Left image) Infant dresses, if you can find ones small enough, work great for these dolls. If they are a little too big around, tie a ribbon around the waist for a sash. Baby tiaras, yes, there is such a thing, also fit well.
Coin purses make super cute handbags for dolls! Little baskets are fun too.
Bracelets, like the elegant pearl one on the right, make good necklaces. Streched out pony tail holders are good for hair wraps. The one in the picture is a fancy glittery one, but plain ones are pretty too.
Jewelry chests or small jewelry cabinets work very well for dressers and closets. If you're a yard sale shopper, people seem to sell jewelry and jewelry boxes all the time. It won't take long to find one for your dolls.
Toys and party favors are perfect for dolls! Party favors include: food shaped erasers, tiny decks of cards, bouncy balls, mini yo-yos, mini stuff animals, tiny dice (not like the ones pictured. there are dice much smaller than a dime), airplanes, and lots of other toys. Some things make good toys, some things, like food erasers for doll food, can serve other functions. Be creative! Squishy balls like the soccer ball and foot ball below are a great size for dolls, and booths at virtually every fair or convention give them away for free. The Dollar Tree sells mini guitars that can be tuned! The Dollar Tree and probably lots of other dollar stores also sell mini stockings, skateboards, lamps, wastebaskets, you name it. If you make something really small, you can sell it really cheap, so dollar stores have great finds. The last toy item I've though of is tiny dolls and figurines like Polly Pocket. Why not give your doll dolls and doll houses to play with? Little animals like horse figurines also make good toys.
Some odds and ends:
Little plates like tea cup saucers for doll dinner plates.
Get cheap mini spools of thread, wind little balls of yarn, sewing pins for knitting needles, and little buttons to make a doll sewing kit.
Knitted baby hats for doll slouch beanies. (They're a little big for dolls, so they look kind of like slouch beanies)
Mini note pads/books and pencil stubs.
Stuffed dog/cat for a doll pet. Why buy a fancy 18 inch doll pet?
Don't like dogs and cats? Plastic toys like frogs, lizards, or fish.
That's it! I was obsessed with dolls for a few years, but it's been awhile, so that's all I could think of right now. Comment below if you know of other things that could be added to this list.
I'll be doing a tutorial on the blue pillow case dress that one of the dolls is wearing. Look for it in this category!