Dollhouse Miniature Trash to Treasure Button Picture Frames

Watch video here.

This week for our trash to treasure project we are making a picture frame from a button. You can use any size button as long as the button has the recessed inset. Also any color will work as for this project. So this is really a fun and easy project.

I found that if I marked the circle to cut around about a 1/16^th to 1/8^th of an inch bigger than I want the piece to be it was about right. That way when I cut off the marked line it was the size I wanted.

You can find photos anywhere, in magazines, on photos you have taken, old calendar pictures, post cards or online. Really anywhere. You want to find either a small photo or just use the small areas in the background of the photo you choose.

Supplies for the wiring part 2 tutorial

I asked on the Facebook group if it would be helpful to have the list of what you will need ahead of the videos for the Wiring Series. Everyone that responded felt it would help them out so here is the list for this week. 

For part 2 of the wiring series we will be making a practice board for our wiring so we can learn to make connections and how to do the basics with the kit.

If you have any questions contact me and I will do my best to explain the items.

a piece of foamcore about 8” by 10”

the wiring kit we talked about in part 1 (or the items that are in the kit if you purchased them separately)

transformer

source of electricity (outlet or extension cord that is plugged into your house electricity)

screwdriver that fits the screws in the transformer

needle nose pliers

straightedge/ruler

pencil

scissors

sewing pin

Dollhouse Miniature Easy Corner Roombox pt 3

Watch the video here.

This week we are getting the outside of our corner roombox ready to put in the electric wiring.

So what we are doing is getting the siding ready to paint and then painting it. We also add the needed trims to the siding and the door.

The trim for the edges/corner of the siding was cut 3/8” wide. Be sure to cut the corner one on the corner of the box with 3/8” on each side of the fold.

For the trim around the door I cut the trim ½” wide then cut them to length when I was ready to glue them in place. Be sure to touch up the paint on the ends of the top piece.

My roombox has developed a curve to the front wall but I will show you how to minimize that when we put in the wallpaper. (that comes later after we do some of the wiring)

Tips for Dollhouse Miniature Crafting- Working with Chalk

Watch the video here.

This week we are going to cover the basics of working with chalks on your dollhouse miniature clay projects. We are really only scratching the surface of working with chalks. I just want this be an introduction for you if you haven't played with chalks much.

I love the effects that I can get with chalks and similar products on my clay projects. They just seem to glow.

So if you haven't played with them grab some scrap clay and just play with them to see what effects you can get. I am pretty sure once you try you will be hooked and you will have so much fun experimenting.

Be sure to show me what you create!

Dollhouse Wiring 101 pt 1

Watch the video here.

This week we are starting the series on wiring your dollhouse that I promised. I just go over the things you will need to have in order to proceed with the rest of the series and follow along with me. I intend this to be a very hands on series. I will be going slow and showing you step by step how to do this.

So the things you will need to follow along:

Tape wire

Brads and grommets (eyelets) these are sold specifically for use with the tape wire.

Pilot punch

Junction Splice

Lead in wire for your transformer

Test probe

Transformer the correct size for you project.

These are the main things you will need I will be telling you other common household items to gather up as we proceed with the series.

For part 2 of the series you will also need:

a scrap of foamcore (about 8” by 10”)

a pencil

and access to an electrical outlet (to plug your transformer into. 

Dollhouse Miniature Trash to Treasure Coffee Table

Watch the video here.

This week's trash to treasure project is a fun one. We only need a couple of items many of which you probably already have.

For the table top any scrap of thin wood will work. For the legs we are using flat headed machine screws that are 1” long. Be sure you get the ones with flat heads, that is important for gluing them to the bottom of our table top. Machine screws have flat ends too so they work fantastically for table legs.

I used epoxy glue since I want the metal screws to stay in place. Some E6000 or Household Goop would probably work well too. The downside is pretty much any glue that is going to work for this project is going to smell horrid.

Once the glue is dry paint of finish your table as desired to go in your dollhouse setting.

See that really was easy wasn't it??

Dollhouse Miniature Easy Corner Roombox pt 2

Watch the video here.

First let's talk about the door. Since I want this project to be super easy and inexpensive (the room part) I decided to use some paperboard (cracker box) to make the fake door for the front. I really don't want the door to go through the wall into the interior. I could have used wood but I had the cracker box here and wood would have required a trip to town. Besides I love working with paperboard, it is fun to make it look like something it isn't.

As far as cutting sizes you will need:

I piece 3” by 7” for the door.

Then some strips that are ½ “ wide

2 @ 6”

2 @ 3”

2 @ 2”

1 @ 1 ¼”

1 @ 1 ½”

1 @ 2 ¼”

Then you will also need some pieces ¼” wide that 3 layers thick to surround the door.

Be sure to try each piece on your door before you start gluing and trim as needed.

When the door is complete glue it centered to the front wall.

Now the siding

This week we are also going to be adding some siding to the exterior of our corner roombox. I decided this would be a good time to show you a method I have wanted to share on this channel for several years.

I had first learned about this just after I purchased the siding for my Brookfield dollhouse. I have wanted to try it out ever since. I am so glad I did this on this roombox but I really wish I had tried it before, it works even better than I imagined.

So the material we are using is the cardboard tack strip that is made for upholstery. It is used at the back of upholstered furniture to help make the top of the fabric that covers the back have a nice straight line.

The roll of the strip I bought was 20 yards long so you get a lot to work with. I think I will be thinking of some more projects for it.

A few hints-

Be sure to measure the width of the strip with your ruler. You want to make sure that only is the strip the size you think it is but that your ruler is correct also.

Especially on the longer pieces try to take some of the curve out before you try to glue it down. Take my word for it that will make your life much easier.

Only glue on a few strips at a time. You don't want to accidentally move the pieces around. You really want this to be straight.

The most important thing is to take you time and work carefully. This took me all week to do for the video.

Next week we are going to go on to the introduction of the electrical series then the following week we will come back to our roombox to finish the exterior some more.