Dollhouse Miniature Nightgown

Watch the video here.

This week's video is a bit shorter than normal because it is just too hot here to sit under the filming lights for very long. My craftroom is around 90 today already.

So the project this week is a nightgown that can be displayed draped over a piece of furniture or in a shop. I love pieces like this because they set the stage in our mini scenes to make it appear that someone was just in the room and/or will be right back in the room. It just adds life to the mini scene.

This one is really simple because all you need is a piece of wide trim- either lace or eyelet from the fabric store. Look for a piece that is about 2 ½” to 3” wide. You want a piece that is flat as opposed to gathered. Try also to find a small design. I really like the one I found, it is just so pretty and looks like it would be very comfortable. (can you tell it has been too hot to sleep here)

If you don't want to use glue on your project feel free to sew it. I just feel that for this project the glue was a lot easier and faster. Glue the back seam, then glue on the shoulder straps and a top trim.

The shoulder straps are cut 1 ½” long and try to glue them on spaced evenly. I tried to get mine about halfway between the center and side on both the front and the back.

Then glue on the top trim to cover the top edge and hide the ends of the straps.

Now wasn't that easy? Just the perfect project for a really hot day.

Be sure to send me photos of your projects. And if you have ideas for future projects let me know!

Dollhouse Miniature Flyswatter

Watch the video here.

The end of summer and beginning of fall always means a lot more flies trying to get into the house. No matter how hard you try they seem to get in anyway. Especially if you have kids that go in and out all day long. At least that's how it is here where I live, on a farm.

I was browsing some photos of dollhouse scenes the other day and got to thinking that is really is the little things that make the scene more realistic. Things like a flyswatter off in a corner somewhere.

And think of the mini scenes you could stage with a flyswatter, how about a kid that has knocked something down in his eagerness to get that fly. Just let your imagination go wild and come up with something wonderful. Or for some realism just stick that flyswatter in logical place in the dollhouse that someone might notice while looking around (my real one reside on the top of my fridge at the back corner)

So for this project we really only need a couple of things some cardsock, some tulle, some fine wire and some glue. Along with cutting tools and a jumbo craftstick.

I picked a bright pink today mostly because I have 2 colors of tulle (white and bright pink) and I figured the pink would be easier for you to see. According to the Joann's website the tulle in the 6” wide rolls comes in around 30 colors and it is priced at under $5.

Once you have everything together fold the paper so you can work on a fold. Draw a line 3/16” from the fold then again at 1/8” from the fold. Next mark off ½” areas. Then mark the end cuts about 1/16” form one end and 1/8” from the other.

I find it much easier to cut out this little square area before I cut the shape away from the cardstock piece. Just be as neat and careful as you can be.

Be sure to cut the little corners off to give your flyswatter the iconic shape.

Now glue one of those shapes to the tulle and set aside.

Create the handle and then assemble the flyswatter.

It really is an easy project, it is just a bit fiddly trying to cut that inner shape out to create the frame of the flyswatter.

If you make a scene with your flyswatter I want to see it. Be sure to send me a picture or post one of the Facebook page.

Dollhouse Miniature Shelf

Watch the video here.

I was trying to do some organizing of some stuff in my office/craftroom and came across a box that held some of the extras I had made back when I was active in a lot of dollhouse miniature swap groups. For most swaps I would make at least one or two extras of the items I made just in case.

I had forgotten all about this little shelf but it was just so darn cute I decided to make one for you today. Originally I had made the shelf all from wood and I was sure I had a piece of the wood for the back. I looked all over and couldn't locate the wood so I subbed some heavy paperboard. This time from the back of a tablet. If you do use paperboard I suggest using a similar piece since this stuff is usually really thick. I still used a double layer just to be sure it was sturdy.

Cut the back piece 1 ½” by 1”

You will also need the shelf piece I used a regular size craft stick also cut to 1 ½”. For shelf supports use a piece of dollhouse miniature moulding, here is a link to a similar product. Look through your stash and see what you have on hand that might work.

For little coat/towel hooks I used the decorative end of some decorative toothpicks.

Just glue everything together and paint or finish as desired.

One the one from the swap box I had glued some little bottles made of beads to the shelf and I love how that looks. A mini box of Kleenex or a small vanity mirror would be really adorable too.

So that is how easy this one is.