Tools For Making Dollhouse Miniatures- Chalks and Brushes

Watch the video here.

This week I thought I would talk a bit about the chalks I use for making dollhouse miniature projects and the brushes I use to apply them. Primarily I use these for making doll foods but there are other projects you could use them on. Really any clay project that you want that translucent effect that chalk gives. I am thinking that I should try making some doll dishes and use chalks on those. I think that might be fantastic.

Anyway the products shown in the video are the ones I use the most. The stick chalks are from Michael's but any similar product will work just as well. Here is a link for the ones I have if you are looking for them.

The brushes are just cheap eyeshadow brushes for the dollar store. Look for the ones shaped like the ones I showed in the video (and in the photo at the top of the page) I like that shape the best. 

Dollhouse Miniature Easy Corner Roombox

Watch the video here.

This week we are beginning construction of a really simple roombox. I had decided a month of so ago that I wanted to make myself a new roombox to take photos of my projects in. You have been seeing the same backdrop in my photos for a few years now and since it is just made of foamcore it is starting to show some wear and tear. At first I was just going to make the box and not do a tutorial. And if I had gotten around to it in the meantime that is probably what would have happened.

Then I got to thinking about what I was going to use when I start the electrical tutorial series to show you how to do the wiring. I realized that with a couple of changes to what I had planned to make it would be the perfect structure. Well, not totally perfect because it is made of foamcore but I will get into that in the electrical tutorial series. For showing you how to wire it will be fine. And for you to practice it will be fine. I am just not sure if the connections will last long term. Again I will go over that in the electrical series.

Then this last week I starting cutting the pieces for the box and thought maybe some of you would want to follow along with me. Since this is a really easy project to make I decided to throw in this as a series too.

The two series will be running at the same time. That is because in building a real dollhouse you have to do other things between the parts of the wiring.

So this week we are making our basic structure. I will say that I buy my foamcore from the dollar store, it is slightly bigger panels than the stuff from the craft store. For the pieces that I cut for this project I used 2 sheets but I have a lot of leftover pieces.

I started buying this foamcore for the size since I use a lot of it for making projects for my larger 18' dolls. I have come to prefer the way this stuff is made over the traditional foamcore from the craft store. You can use either but I am not sure if you will get all the pieces from 2 sheets. You will have to measure that out for yourself.

So here is the list of the cutting sizes that you need. (Note I misspoke in video on the size of one of the upper wall pieces- the correct measurement is here)

So you need to cut-

Base 10 ¼” by 13 ¼”

1 floor 10” by 10”

1 ceiling 10” by 10”

1 wall 10” by 10”

1 wall 10 ¼” by 10”

1 porch 10 ¼” by 3”

1 upper wall 10” by 1 ½”

1 upper wall 10 ¼” by 1 ½”

I do admit that the short upper walls were a total add on at the last minute the room. I had one of those middle of the night realizations that I needed to add a short wall on the top “floor” in order to do all the wiring. If you are just making your roombox for display and aren't going to be using it to follow along with the wiring tutorial you won't need the short walls on the top.

In addition to the foamcore, something to cut it with and glue you will need some straight sewing pins. Get the ones with small heads so you can hide them. They make our structure so much stronger. If you are adding the short upper walls you will also need some thin toothpicks.

Next week we will be adding some siding to the outside of our roombox and if all my electrical supplies arrive like they are supposed to we will start the electrical tutorial the following week. (Just so you know the first week of the electrical tutorial will be just an introduction where I show you what we need- that will give you a week to gather supplies too)

if you make this or any of my projects be sure to share a photo with me. I love to see what you make.

Dollhouse Miniature Trash to Treasure Umbrella Stand

Watch the video here.

This week's trash to treasure is super easy and probably one of the shortest videos I have ever made.

This one is really all about training your eye to see the possibilities of things you already have. So take a look at the nearest tube of lipstick and see if you can see the lid as an umbrella stand. Most of the lids but not all will work. I am sure you can even find some nice ones at the Dollar Tree and then they are really cheap. Mine all happen to be Avon because I have way more tubes of Avon lipstick than anyone will ever need.

If you the lid of your tube is too curved to stand you could even glue a button on for a base.

I know I had just seen a bunch of those umbrellas we made a few years ago but I can't find them today so I just used some fancy toothpicks to act as the handles of the umbrellas to so you could get an idea of how they would look filled.

Dollhouse Miniature Sled

Watch the video here.

It seems like forever since I recorded a video!! The area where I live has had some horrid winter weather- snow, ice, flooding, slides and power outages. Since Christmas I have been snowed in off and on for about 2 weeks, I am soooo tired of winter and snow and cold weather. However, before we leave the season I thought maybe the kids that live in the dollhouse might want to go sledding on their snow days home from school. So the project this week is a fun and easy sled.

The materials list is really small for this one- 2 regular size craft sticks, 3 skinny sticks, a short piece of light string (I used embroidery floss)

You will also need glue, something to cut the wood pieces with, a ruler, a pencil and scissors.

I cut the skinny sticks for the top of the sled at 2” and the little cross pieces at 1”.

For the runners mark at 2 ¾” and using this mark as your long edge cut at a 45 degree angle.

For the rope cut the string at 5 ¼”

How you finish this sled is up to you. I am going to leave mine plain this time but I have painted many of them as decorative sleds over the years. They look cute no matter how you use them. 

Tools for making Dollhouse Miniatures- The Easy Cutter

Watch the video here.

This is the first installment on a new series of Thursday videos where I talk about some of my favorite tools for making Dollhouse miniatures. Since this is the first in the series I wanted to share my very favorite tool this time.

I have been using my Easy Cutter from Midwest Products. I have to say it is probably the most used tool in my craft room. If you have been watching my videos for any length of time you already know that though.

Here is a link to the manufacturer's website to each version of the tool so you can get a better look at the features.

The original Easy Cutter

The Ultimate Easy Cutter

The Super Easy Cutter

Here's a link for the replacement blade that I found also.  This website seems to sell the Easy Cutters at a slightly lower price than the above links. 

Trash to Treasure Thursday- Dollhouse Miniature Coffee Can

Watch the video here.

I know a lot of you have missed my Trash to Treasure series. I am bringing it back in the new year but not every week. Right now my plan is that on the first and third Thursdays of each month there will be a Trash to Treasure project. I will be announcing the details of the schedule on both a blog post and on the Facebook group so keep an eye out for that.

This week we are creating a can of coffee for the dollhouse. This looks so cute sitting on the kitchen counter or in a mini store. I am sure you will find a lot of places to use it.

The label I cut was ½” wide by 2” long, you will need to measure your canister in case the sizing is different. Most of mine seem to be the same size but I usually buy the same brands of stuff so other brands might use a different size.

I used some matte sticker paper that I had a scrap of on my desk, you could certainly use any paper that is handy. I used a Sharpie marker to make my design because I knew once it got dry it was less apt to smear. If you are using a plain paper and glue to attach your label be sure to test the glue with whatever you are planning to color your label with.

This could easily become another type of can too. I have seen some wonderful paint cans made of these. I think it would also work for a can of shortening in the kitchen. I bet if you look around your house you will be inspired with all kinds of things you can make using this same method.

Q&A Time

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Happy New Year everyone!!!

First I want to thank all of you for watching my videos and reading the blog. I have some really cool things planned for the new year. More details on those will be coming during the year.

Also something I forgot to mention in the video. I added a widget to the blog page so you can search for blog posts on this blog. I hope that makes finding the projects you want to reference easier in the future.