Dollhouse Miniature Dollar Tree Floral Haul

 

 

Watch the video here.

 

I know I have been absent from YouTube and this blog for a while, I do apologize. Some stuff happened which I will cover briefly at the end of this post. Hopefully I will be able to maintain a consistent schedule going forward from this point.

So for today’s video I decided to do a bit of a haul video of some floral items I picked up recently at Dollar Tree. I do have a tutorial planned using at least some of the items I show today along with some of the planters we have made over the last couple of years on the channel. I hope to get that tutorial filmed and ready for this coming Sunday.

The Dollar Tree I shopped at for this video is brand new (as in I was shopping on the day they opened for the first time) and I found these floral stems in two areas of the store. I am assuming that some are seasonal and some will be regular stock. I don’t remember where in the store each stem came from.

 

 

The “spiky” purple and yellow stems I think will work really well to replicate those stems of blossoms like delphinium and such. I did have to look up the flowers I was thinking of when I filmed. I will need to look up what colors those come in also. I am also thinking that by dry brushing on some green paint over the yellow pieces I can create something that looks like hanging greenery.

 

 

 

 

Next up I showed you a stem of greenery that consists of what looks like a little mini plants with really tiny leaves. I think other than cutting them apart I won’t need to do much with them to get them to look like a real plant.

 

 

 

 

The next stem has both some very tiny pale yellow flowers that are in bunches on the stem. Those I think can be used as is or re-painted in other colors and used. The leaves on this stem should cut down nicely and the very tip of the purple part reminds me of the purple hyacinths I used to have in my flower beds. I know a lot of people grow those in pots also and I think I am going to try to use some of this stem this way.

 

 

 

 

The next stem has a bunch of little leaves, I picked it because the leaves are fairly small, kind of a medium size in 1:12 scale and they look very generic. They will make wonderful “filler” plants in pots or with some flowers added to make larger plants.

 

 

The last stem I almost passed by because the flowers are way too big to use in the dollhouse. However, the spiky part I think can be cut down to make a nice mini flower of some type. The leaves seem to be fabric and I think I will be able to cut them down to make small leaves to go in amongst the other pieces to create greenery “filler” in some of the pots.

 

 

So those are the stems I picked up. I might pick up a couple more before I film the tutorial to go with these. But whatever the case the next video I have planned is a tutorial using at least some of these pieces in some of the various pots and planters we have made on the channel over the last few years, as well as a couple of the pieces from blind bags and some found objects also.

As for where I have been. There was a family tragedy and we learned of the deaths of 2 members of the extended family. That in and of itself was bad but then because of the circumstances of the deaths both my adult kids and I had to watch it unfold in the media. The situation is not completely over as of yet but the worst of it and the shock of what happened has at least passed. I am finally feeling up to trying to get back to creating

As always I do want to sincerely thank all of you for watching my videos and reading my blog posts. It means so much to me that you are supporting me in this way. If I could ask you all to do just a bit more by subscribing to the channel and liking the videos and leaving comments. Those help more than you can imagine. Also if you could pass the links on to your friends I would appreciate it so much.

Dollhouse Miniature Temu Haul

 

Watch the video here.

I really wasn’t sure I would get this video up this week. It took forever to get shipped and then it sat after it cleared customs for longer than I have seen packages sit in the past. Then according the tracking it took a really round-about trip to get to me. Then it reached Fargo where I live and tracking stopped. UPS said they had turned it over to the USPS. Meanwhile the USPS tracking said that UPS still had it. Then out of nowhere I got several messages from the various tracking systems that it had been delivered. Now the made dash to film and edit and upload this so you can all see what I got.

So I have been thinking about getting into UV Resin for several months and I decided that it was time to just dive in.

So what did I get??

 

The UV Resin itself, I got a smallish bottle since I am not sure what I want and how it works or if I will like using it. The bottle I got is 100 g and cost around $6.75. This one says it is crystal clear, non-yellowing and fast cure. I guess as we use it we will find out if those things are true or not. It also says it is odorless, again I guess we will discover that for sure soon.

The light, the other important element of this adventure. I do know in a pinch you can cure UV resin with sunlight but I have heard that takes a very long time. I picked a small light that is charged with a USB cable so I don’t have to plug it in while I am using it. I paid $2.19 for the light. Is this a good light. I have no idea at all. Again this is all new to me and I am going to learn as I go. I figured to start I would get this one and if I find it necessary I will upgrade later when and if I feel the need to.

The gloves, anytime you are working with any kind of resin you should be wearing gloves. I decided to try this set to see how they fit and what the quality is like. As you saw in the video I tried one on and it fits exactly like I hoped it would. I did get a size medium in case you are curious. I paid $1.48 for a package of 10 gloves (5 pair) but now that I know I like them I will definitely be getting a much larger package. And yes they are food safe so the same gloves for in the kitchen and the craft-room is a nice thing.

The tweezers, these are not really part of the resin haul other than I ordered them at the same time. I needed a new pair of tweezers and I happened to see these and just ordered them. They come in 3 colors- the purple, a pink, blue, and white. They cost was only $1.48 so I wasn’t sure how they would be but so far they seem really good. They feel good in my hand and they spring back really nicely.

And the last item the resin pigments I got a set that has 24 colors hoping that I will be able to make anything we decide the dolls need. The bottles are tiny about 5ml each and I have no idea how long they will last. But again this is all new to me and I need to learn more to even know what I need to get. The cost of this set was $5.39.

I decided to take pictures of the bottles grouped by color so you could see what I got.

The neutrals-

 

The yellows and oranges.

 

 

The greens.

 

 

 

 

The purples.

 

The reds.

 

And the blues.

 

 

So I am super excited for this purchase and I hope to be getting some food tutorials up on the channel soon. I was hoping that I would get started with those in January but life happens and the best plans don’t always work out.

So let me know if there are specific foods you want to see.

As always I do want to sincerely thank all of you for watching my videos and reading my blog posts. It means so much to me that you are supporting me in this way. If I could ask you all to do just a bit more by subscribing to the channel and liking the videos and leaving comments. Those help more than you can imagine. Also if you could pass the links on to your friends I would appreciate it so much.

Dollhouse Miniature January 2024 Blind Bags

 

Watch the video here.

This week I have another batch of blind bags to open for you. This batch was ordered on October 27^th with an expected delivery date no later than December 26^th. They arrived on November 24^t well before the expected date. This is another of the Cup Model sets, which are my one of my favorites. The cost was under $3 for the set of 10 blind bags.

So lets look at the contents of each blind bag and I’ll give you my thoughts about each one.

 

 

1- clear “glass” mug, this is really cool and unlike most of the mugs we get in these sets we will be able to showcase a fun drink in it and actually see what it looks like. I’m thinking some kind of coffee drink with layers would be a lot of fun. The quality of this mug is very nice and as far as I remember this is the first clear mug we have gotten.

 

2- I was so sure I had hit record on the camera before I opened this one and only found out I didn’t when I was getting ready to edit the video. Since the contents of this bag are the same as one that is coming up (# 7) I’ll tell you about it when we open that one.

 

 

 

3- I would call this shape wine glass a red wine glass and I think we have several of these now. I am planning to fill some of the wine glasses soon. I just need to get some supplies ordered first.

 

 

 

4- another footed glass this time one that is more suited to holding some champagne for a special occasion in the dollhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5- I absolutely love these “cut glass” looking glasses. They pick up the light so nicely and are just really pretty.

 

 

 

 

6- I also refer to this shape wine glass as a white wine glass because of the slightly taller skinnier shape. Again I can’t wait to start filling some of these in future videos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7- this is the blind bag that held the same object as the one I managed to miss filming. They are large glasses with tops that have a hole for a straw. I am thinking we need to make the dolls some bubble tea for at least on of these.

 

 

 

8- another repeat, this time we get another white wine glass. I actually am very happy to get repeats in these pieces because that just means we can make more beverages for the dolls and still have more to fill the cabinets in the dollhouse.

 

 

 

 

9- these amber color glasses that we get in the blind bags are like taking a trip back in time to when I was growing up. I think everyone’s mom had a set of these in their kitchen back in the day.

 

 

 

 

10- this to-go coffee cup with the lid is a first in the bags and I am really excited to see it. I do think I will paint it to make the details show up better but it is really cool. And so many of us do have this style cup at our side a lot anymore. (mine is sitting next to me filled with hot tea as I prepare to edit the video and get this post written)

 

So what are my thoughts on the items we got in today’s blind bags? I am very happy we got some more of the some of my favorite pieces for previous sets. We also got a couple of new pieces and I am very excited to see new things showing up. I love the idea of cups with lids, that is going to add some new possibilities of what we can do with those pieces.

Again, I am sorry I missed filming the second bag. Not sure what happened because I was sure I had hit record but apparently I didn’t since there was o clip for that one. Thankfully it was the same as #7 so you got to see me open that one at least.

I also want to take a couple of moments to compare these to the pieces I recently hauled from Temu. Overall the quality is the same. The big difference is that these don’t require me to clean off the little bits of plastic from the molding process. They are all cleaned up and ready to use unlike the pieces from Temu. Once cleaned up I don’t think anyone could tell the difference between them.

So I guess the big question would be is it worth it to pay a few cents more to get the pieces ready to use. I will probably keep buying from both places for the foreseeable future. There are pluses to both sources. I do love opening the blind bags so much, it’s like opening up birthday or Christmas presents. The surprise is really fun. I do love that I have little or no work to do with the pieces before I use the. On the other hand. On Temu I can see pretty much what I am going to get (I think I had a couple of substitutions from the picture in mine) so if you are looking for a certain piece you are more apt to get it there. Also the price is much lower on Temu and they come much quicker, normally I get them in about a week as opposed to the month that the blind bags normally take.

Be sure to let me know what you would like to see in some pf these. Or are there other things you want to see on the channel in future videos? Let me know.

As always I do want to sincerely thank all of you for watching my videos and reading my blog posts. It means so much to me that you are supporting me in this way. If I could ask you all to do just a bit more by subscribing to the channel and liking the videos and leaving comments. Those help more than you can imagine. Also if you could pass the links on to your friends I would appreciate it so much.

Dollhouse Miniature Another Temu Tableware Review

 

Watch the video here.

Last week’s Temu haul had so many items I decided to do this set as a separate video even though I had purchased both at the same time.

This set is all clear plastic and was labeled as basically a 15 piece set of tableware, cups, and dishes. Here is a screenshot of the listing so you can see exactly what it is called in case you want to find it for yourself.

At the price of $1.29 it is extremely inexpensive and I was hoping it would be similar to the pieces we get in the blind bags from eBay.

So let’s look at each piece and see what I think and get a closer look.

 

 

1- I think I’ll just refer to this one as a vase, it is simply too large to be anything else in my opinion. But as a vase I think it will be absolutely gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2- this stein is similar if not the same as some we have gotten in blind bags. I do love the way these look and the size is really good for the dollhouse world.

 

 

 

 

3- this large footed bowl I am sure is the same as some from the blind bags. I think it will look wonderful filled with some kind of food on a dollhouse table.

 

 

 

 

 

4- after looking more closely at this piece and at the photo on Temu, I think this might be a lid for one of the containers. It does seem to fit the skinny pitcher almost perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

5- this clear fluted bowl is so pretty in person I hope the camera picks up on the details. I think this one will look lovely with a fruit salad or something similar in it.

 

 

 

 

 

6- I have to admit I am a bit stumped as to what to use this pretty footed bowl for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7- this skinny pitcher is really pretty and modern looking with it’s simple clean lines. I think it will look really nice in several different settings. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the one that what I am assuming is a lid (#4) fits.

 

 

 

 

8- this small plate will be fun to fill with either a dessert or a salad. A very useful piece to add to the collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9- So what do we call this one and how do we use it? To me it looks like a dish you would get an ice cream sundae in but I think it’s way too big for that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10- The heart shaped cup is really cute. I can’t see it being very practical in real life but in the mini world that isn’t really an issue.

 

 

 

 

 

11- This large pitcher really appeals to me. I love the size and the shape of it and it looks like it needs to be in a party scene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12- the wine glass. In real life I really don’t like glassware that flares out at the top like this one does but again in mini those things don’t matter.

 

 

 

 

13- this plant pot is one of my favorites in this set. It is just a simple plant pot but that is really appealing to me. It is clear so it will need to be painted to make it look the part but this is going to be a fun project in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

14- so is it a lid to something or is it a candy dish. I don’t see any items in this set that it would really fit as a lid. At least not any where it would stay on by itself and not have to be glued. I suppose it could be displayed sitting next to item #15 but then I would probably loose it. I think I will use it as a candy dish unless I can figure where it is supposed to go.

 

 

15- I do love this sweet little dish it has some wonderful details molded into it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is almost the right size for #14 to be a lid for it but just not close enough for it to stay on by itself.

Now for a few of my thoughts, first I know that here in the US buying from Temu is a bit controversial. I am not going to enter into that discussion other than acknowledge it this one time. I really see it as no different that buying the same items off eBay shipped from Asia.

I will continue to purchase from both as long as the quality stays as it is or gets better and the prices stay low. I can get a lot for my money from these sources.

I also purchase items made in the US as well as items from Europe and elsewhere.

Compared to the blind bags these are cheaper and you do get a better idea of what you are going to get. I did take a closer look at the listing photo and I think I have a couple of different ones from the photo but I am not positive. For the most part I got what is in the picture. These also arrive much faster than the blind bags of eBay.

But, for me these are not nearly as much fun because I really have come to love opening all those little bags in the blind bag sets. It’s a lot like Christmas and it is so much fun to try to guess what is inside each bag before I open it.