Barbie Craft Project: Tile

Quick and easy project that has a multitude of possible applications. There are a variety of ways to create scale tile, this is one method that I use frequently.

Supplies:

Thin cardboard (scrap from a notebook, cereal box, or scrapbook tablet)

Xacto knife or scissors

Ruler

Mod Podge

Paint Brush

Pencil

Scrapbook paper,  contact  paper or wallpaper in suitable pattern (example: granite, marble, solid, wood, stone)

Step #1: Lay your scrap of cardboard on top of your piece of patterned paper. Trim paper just slightly larger than the cardboard.

Step #2: Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the cardboard. **Note-Mod Podge is waterbased and will cause the cardboard to warp slightly. This is ok.

Step #3: Lay your patterned paper face down on your work surface. Place the cardboard on top of the paper-glue side down.  Press down firmly with your hands. Start in the center and work your way to the edges to remove most of the air bubbles.

Step #4: Place a stack of magazines or heavy books on top until the glue dries. This will flatten out the cardboard.

Step #5: Trim the excess paper to the edge of the cardboard using a straight edge & sharp xacto knife or scissors if you can cut really straight.

Step #6: Draw a grid on the back side of the cardboard the size you want your tiles. I made mine 2 inches by 2 inches. This will equal a real life 12 inch square tile.  **Hint-look at websites that sell tile for size & design ideas.  1" x 1" = 6" RL tile, 2.5" x 2.5" = 18" RL tile

Step #7: Cut along your grid lines. Voila you have tiles!

This will make a fantastic backsplash for a kitchen, a great floor or fabulous surround for a fireplace. 

Here is one example of this tile used in a Barbie sized setting. I customized a vintage Sears kitchen fashion doll playset and added my own backsplash:

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Stephiejo

Retro Diner Love

When I first started collecting furniture and props in Barbie size I happened upon a fantastic deal at Big Lots on fabulous Bratz playsets. Since I have all boys in my house I had not seen any of these gems when they were available via regular retail establishments. I have to thank my fellow collectors for turning me onto these detailed pieces. They have so many components and are versatile enough for many different scenes. I particularly love the Retro Diner Cafe. It is a great foundation for displaying my Rement and Orcara restaurant themed miniatures.


This is the cutie patootie playset-

One word of warning..the playset is NOT red..it's more of a deep pink color. Something to keep in mind if you are looking to acquire this set for photos.


The coffee pot is to. die. for. I used it in a coffee themed grouping a few years ago:

I LOVE the Mickey Mouse Cafe series by rement. So far I've only purchased the burger set and can't wait to get the remaining pieces. Of course I had to purchase in pairs. How does that saying go...double the pleasure...double the fun? LOL...or something like that. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

In the background you can catch a glimpse of the Orcara Caca Food Shop series. Also known as Popcorn Sweet Snacks (or at least I've seen it listed for sale that way).
This set is a smidge too small for 1:6 scale but the details are amazing and I HAD to have it. Fortunately the rear counter of the Diner is extra short so these pieces fit in just right!

Yes, that says Cara Orla...and it looks like it is really dispensing soda!

The hotdog set is super cute too. The hotdogs look like they are cooked!

The blender is part of a fruit smoothie set but I thought of it for milkshakes in this diner. Now if I could only get my hands on an old fashioned mini milkshake machine I'd really be happy...add to the list of "wants".

I had a few visitors during my little photo shoot. My Silkstone waitress stopped by to check the place out. I promptly put her to work filling orders.

One of my brown eyed girls made herself at home perched on the counter no less.

She couldn't stop eyeing the milkshake so I relented and let her have it. I'm a sucker for those baby brown's. :-)

 Until next time..



Happy Crafting!
Stephiejo

Garden Style Tablescape

Yes, it is October and autumn is in full swing. Mother Nature on the other hand has her own plans. Since it has been such a warm and sunny week here in the mid-west I thought I would hold on to those last fleeting moments of summertime. What better way than to host a casual garden inspired brunch.
Thank goodness I live in a tiny house or my obsession with dishes would spill over into the 1:1 world. That would be bad. Very, very bad. Pretty tablescapes require not only dishes but linens, silverware, napkin rings, centerpieces, flowers, and all kind of accoutrements that I have no place to store. It is challenging enough storing the little ones!
Although I am not able to create fun little vignettes on my own dining room table, I certainly can and do create them in miniature.
Treasure hunting recently I stumbled upon an assortment of vintage handkerchiefs. Darling little floral prints for under a buck a piece. What to do with them?

Hmmmm...how about a tablecloth?

The vintage floral pattern had the most darling color scheme. Fresh like a summer garden.
The yellow ties in well to the breakfast room patterned wallpaper and the greens coordinate with the banquette pillows and chairs.
Can I just say how easy it is to whip up some pillows when they are only 3" by 4" in size? My kind of craft project!
 Delicate gold trim on the charger and sandwich plates add a feminine touch. Blue bird is enjoying his view perched front and center near all the activity. He's from the Fairytale Dinnerware collection. Can I just say that the Fairytale set is divine! You'll see more of that later. (I bought 6 full sets!!) Crazy I know.

The blue ruffled dishes add just a hint of color in an otherwise monochromatic place setting. The prosciutto wrapped melon is light enough to enjoy with the entire basket of crusty bread...hmmm...carbo load anyone? Do you like your tea with cream and sugar? One lump or two?

An elegant table setting must always have a shiny object inserted randomly in the vignette. Shiny. Gold. What more can a woman ask for? The porcelain flowers in urns are part of a tic tac toe set I picked up a thrift store on one of my travels. Aren't they just the cutest things? I didn't even have to paint them! Bonus! I have a habit of repainting/repurposing most of what I buy second hand just to put my own stamp on it. Annoying, right?

Thank you so much for joining me for a cup of hot tea and a little something to whet your appetite.
I'd love to see what inspires your decorating vignettes.

Credits:
Kitchen Breakfast Room Diorama: SS-Designs Doll Interiors
Gold Rimmed Dishes, food, baskets, silverware: Re-Ment Luxury French Restaurant Series
White Patterned Dishes, tea set, gold serving tray, cake pedestal: Re-ment Princess Tea Party
Table and Chairs: Barbie

To view more inspirational tablescapes I am linking to Tablescapes Thursday at Between Naps On the Porch

Happy Crafting,
Stephiejo ♥

Barbie Craft Project: Bulletin Board

Today I am paying homage to the title of my blog and offering a little craft project. One would think with my prior experience creating user manuals in the corporate world I would be able to draft a simple how to tutorial. I will apologize now for my shortcomings. While I know exactly what I need to do in my head, that doesn't always translate well to my directions. ☺

Yes, I am still creating the illustrious "Craft Room" diorama. What can I say, when I get stumped I put the project aside and work on something else. I have furniture, some walls, and quite possibly a floor it is the small finishing touches that I am struggling with.

One item I knew for sure that I wanted in this space was a functional bulletin board. Super simple-you'll be finished in 30 minutes. I have completed this project not once, but twice for good measure ~ only because I was unhappy with my first attempt.

These are the supplies you will need:

Miniature frame (mine was from Michaels Crafts-picture frame ornaments work quite well)
Cork tile (from the Dollar Tree)
Head pins for jewelry making (sorry, I'm not sure what gauge)
Craft knife with new blade
Needle Nose Pliers
Wire cutter
Ruler
Super Glue
Pencil
Seed Beads in your choice of colors(to fit on head of pin)
Wax paper (small square is plenty)

Step 1. Lay your frame on top of cork tile and trace just inside the frame. Make sure you get the line as close to the inside edge as you possibly can.

Step 2. Re-trace your lines using a ruler to make sure they are straight and score along the lines with the craft knife using your ruler as a guide. This will result in the cleanest cuts.

Step 3. Clean up any rough edges.

Step 4. Place the cork inside the frame. I had to bend mine slightly to get it into the frame but it fits very snuggly and did not require any glue. You may glue in place if you wish. (dry fit it first!)

Step 5. Pull out the number of head pins and seed beads you need for push pins. Hold the sharp end of the head pin with a pair of needle nose pliers in one hand and clip off the other end with wire cutters. I cut mine about a quarter inch in length.

Step 6. Over the wax paper place a small dab of super glue on the head of the pin and slide the seed bead over the top. This will be your decorative push pin for your bulletin board.

Allow the beads to dry for about 10 minutes or so. You may need to use the pliers to push the pins into the board as the sharp end is no longer there.

 Here's the finished product:

If I lost you anywhere along the way-please let me know! I like comments...
Happy crafting!
Stephiejo ♥