Flashback: Fall Tablescape

Let's take a walk down memory lane and revisit last year's Fall Tablescape shall we?

An intimate table for two. There is nothing I enjoy more than an enchanting dinner with my husband. Cozy and warm inside by the fire while taking in the views of the crisp autumn scenery outdoors.

This meal offers a very simplistic set up. Enjoying the fantastic view of the patio.

An ornate silver charger grounds each place setting. The second layer is an elegant white plate with black and gold filagree detail.

 Next is a salad plate with gold ivy border.
On top is a ceramic pumpkin bowl with stemmed lid.
A small soup toureen, clear goblets, and fine silverware complete each seat.

The centerpiece is a simple pumpkin perched atop an antique urn set on a bronze pediment. The gold candelabra offers a romantic touch.

Thank you for letting me reminisce.

Credits:
Chargers- Imperial Silver circa 1970
Plates, bowls, silverware, goblets, candelabra- Re-Ment Japan
Pediment: Clock parts
Urn: repainted Barbie piece
Lg pumpkin: Hobby Lobby floral craft
Table/chairs: Barbie
Windows: Barbie cottage
View: my patio

Happy Crafting!

Stephiejo

Barbie Dollhouse Project: Upstairs

The upper level of the dollhouse posed the greatest challenge in this remodel. I had no idea how I wanted to use the space. At one point I envisioned a large closet but quickly scrapped that idea when I realized it would completely block the largest window. The rooms just evolved as I pulled furniture out to place in the space.

The first space to come to fruition was the bathroom. I wanted to use the 2007 Mattel bathroom set but the layout was a bit tricky. In the end I removed the pedestal sink from the tile wall so that it would take up less space.

 Once I determined the position of the sink the other pieces fell into place. The mirror above is a refrigerator magnet with a mirror tile glued onto the back. I removed the sconces from the Mattel sink unit and attached them to scrapbook tiles. The lights and mirror are adhered to a foam core wall papered in a light blue.

 Across from the mirror is a piece of framed art that I printed from the internet and glued to black foam for dimension. The potted plant was removed from a terra cotta pot and placed in a painted Barbie urn. Every bathroom needs a little greenery.

The toilet lid and soaking tub lost the hideous pink in favor of classic black. The toilet paper holder was left as is. Flooring is a piece of scrapbook paper.

The floor under the tub was non-existent in the original house. Why it was made this way is beyond me.

In order to make this niche functional I simply cut a piece of foam core to fit snuggly into place. I made it a bit larger than the opening in the floor so that part of it rests on the dollhouse floor and part is free floating. Eventually I will glue supports in place to hold the floor better.

I so wanted to include the adorable little rubber ducky in this vignette but its location at the moment is alluding me.

A large bedroom takes up the middle portion of the second floor. The bed came first. I used the headboard and footboard from the My Scene Party Pad play set.


The bed itself is simply foam core wrapped in black fabric. It is nestled in the bay window without being permanently attached. The throw pillows are sewn from various fabric scraps. The blue pillows are from the Modern Luxury decor set. A Christmas ornament chandelier is the focal point in the sleeping nook. Keeping the installation looking clean took some creative thinking. I decided to treat it like a real chandelier.

The large ceiling medallion is a resin picture frame painted white. I filled in the center of the frame with a piece of foam core. I looped a piece of wire around the top of the chandelier and thread it through a decorative scrapbook embellishment. This piece is plastic and required a small hole to be drilled using my Dremel tool. Now I had a second ceiling medallion. Then the wire was threaded through the center of the foam core and taped securely to the back to keep everything flush. The whole piece was glued to the ceiling with my handy E6000 glue.

The hounds tooth area rug is a piece of scrapbook paper. I took my ruler and measured a quarter inch border all the way around which I colored with a black permanent marker. (must have craft supply!)

A vanity table dressing area utilizes the final window niche. Clean lines of the Jonathan Adler side tables positioned side by side contrast with the ornate antique mirror. I removed the silver bases of the tables in order to create the illusion of a vanity. They pop on and off rather easily.

The stool received upholstery in a funky zebra pattern. A few accessories complete the vignette.

The final room in the house is the stylish nursery. The focal point is the wrough iron crib whose canopy mimics the arch in the window. A mousepad area rug anchors the furniture and unifies the color scheme.

The furniture was part of a 2004 Barbie Play Set.

The furniture received a paint job and new knobs for the dresser. A corner lamp, small wooden rocker and a few baby accessories are the finishing touches.

That completes the tour of the newly renovated Barbie High School Musical Play Set into Barbie Mansion. Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!
Stephiejo♥

Dollhouse Transformation: The Kitchen

I have to say that by far, the kitchen is my favorite room on this project. Why am I so obsessed with tiny kitchens? It really was a challenge as this "room" had no more than french doors and a teeny partial wall.

 Fortunately I own more than a few Barbie size kitchen sets. I think I pulled each and every one out to test in the space to determine what would work best. Yes, I believe I have 8 kitchens. Not including a custom set that I am in the process of building from scratch! You'll see that in a future project.

 The base cabinets were part of a pink Barbie kitchen from the 1990's. I acquired it second hand and it did not have the backsplash or range hood (or any other pieces for that matter). Unfortunately the cabinets are molded into the piece and are not functional. This is what it looked like when I started.

 I primed the unit and gave the cabinets a cream colored base highlighted with raw umber glaze. Silver spray paint updated the stove. I used black permanent marker to give the oven glass and knobs a more authentic look. The countertops and backsplash are cream and covered with a cream/gold marble paper.

The upper cabinets were built from scratch using laminated cardboard (heavy duty) for the frame, back and shelf. I trimmed them out with scrap wood to make them look more substantial and painted to match. The outside of the cabinets were glazed as well. The ornate corbels underneath the cabinets are scrapbook paper embellishments that I bought a few years ago. I wish I had bought more! I absolutely love these. I gave them more presence by adding strips of wood where they meet the wall and cabinet. Then painted to match.

 

The cabinet section of the kitchen is actually an addition of sorts. Walls here did not exist in the original house. I added a box bay made from foam core. It is not a permanent piece should I ever decide to "remodel". Rather than adhere the cabinets directly to the foam core I used a piece of the heavy duty cardboard instead. It was cut to fit snuggly inside the foam core box. I covered the upper half with the marble paper. Glued the upper cabinets and corbels directly to it. The base cabinet is loose and can be removed or changed if desired. The refrigerator is part of the My First Kenmore set.

 

The kitchen table came with the High School Musical play set. I appreciated that I didn't have to alter this piece. The white top and silver base went well with my overall color scheme. I like to mix and match finishes in a room. Cream with white. Silver with gold. My style is completely eclectic and fun. The Gloria furniture dining room set provided the chairs. I painted the frames black and chair seats white.

 The zebra rug is a piece of printed felt and what house is a home without a few furry friends?

 I made hanging pendant fixture by deconstructing a Christmas ornament. I attached a plastic bowl to the bottom of it to look like the light shade.

That is the kitchen portion of the dollhouse in a nutshell. I hope you are enjoying your tour so far! Stay tuned for the next installment-the upper level.

 Happy Crafting!
Stephiejo ♥

Nevermore

Happy Halloween


Stephiejo ♥