Prop Alert! Cute Miniature Lanterns

One of the best places I have found to source realistic miniature props is in the Christmas ornament section of any store. That is the first place I head these days when I am out shopping. Actually I start looking in July when the craft stores start stocking their holiday items. I like to look for things that can be used as is without any alteration as well as items that can be updated to suit another purpose in a miniature scene.

This year I found these adorable red glitter lanterns at WalMart.  I will say that these are what I consider low-quality in the realm of ornaments. They are made of cardboard, glitter and thin plastic sheeting for the "glass".  However, they are cheap, $1.97 each so they suit my budget and are detailed enough to make an appearance in a diorama scene.  The greenery on top of the lantern came with it, but the candy canes did not. Just a little extra touch I added when setting up this diorama.

The lanterns are quite large so while they are great as oversized props for the 1:6 scale crowd such as Barbie, Monster High and Fashion Royalty, they would be perfectly suitable for the larger dolls-American Girl, Tyler Wentworth, Gene, Dollfie and similar 16-18 inch range. Multi-purpose props are the best! 

Without further adieu, a quick front porch diorama dressed for the holidays.

  

Here's how I made this scene:

Shingle siding: printie (found image on Google & printed multiple copies & taped together)

Porch floor boards: printie (found image on Google & printed multiple copies & taped together.

Door: Barbie dollhouse door. (no idea which house but it has a B logo on the top half). It came in a bag from the thrift store without a door handle just a long hole where one should be. This is what the detail looks like.

Door Knob: I printed the face plate from Google & sized it to cover the hole. Then I used a round knob from a jewelry box. It has a nail sticking out of the back so I just cut out a piece of foam core for it to stick into. The foam core is the size of the door plus the surrounding trim. I then glued the trim to the foam core. The door is stuck in place with the knob. (so I can use it again).

The trim & threshold are also made of foam core covered in scrapbook paper. Isn't that crackle look divine?

The hole I had to cover (from the back)

Merry Christmas Sign: Printie from Google. (you can see I didn't even bother with adding trim to the top of the door for this scene!)

Mini Pine Trees: loot from the thrift shop

That's it. Easy peasy.

Thanks for stopping by!!! What are your favorite sources for mini accessories other then traditional miniature retailers?

Have YOU played today?

Stephanie

Baby It's Cold Outside

Brrrr…I hope you are all staying warm! This early dip in temperature has me reaching for something to warm me up on the inside. What better way to do that then with some yummy hot cocoa!

I have enough to share. Please help yourself.

There is warm milk in the teapot and hot cocoa mix in the tall apothecary jar. Don't you just love those jars? I wish I had ten of them to fill with all kinds of sweet treats.

Marshmallows or whip cream? Which do you prefer? Me, I'm all about the whip cream. And maybe a splash of a little something, Rumchata perhaps? That will really get you toasty!

I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit and to enjoy some refreshments. Bundle up and stay warm. This is just the beginning of the cold weather round these parts.

Enjoy!!

Have YOU played today??

Stephanie

Staying Warm...With A Teddy Bear Winter Tea Party

The weather outside is certainly frightful. We have had sub zero temperatures for a few days along with plenty of fluffy white snow! It is cozy warm inside and I am thankful for blessings. 

While I wait for the weather to improve, I'm so glad you stopped in. Please pull up a chair and join me & teddy for some tea and sweets. Hope you are staying warm!

Reader Question: What Material Can I Use for Walls in a Barbie House?

Hello my lovely blog readers!!!  I can hardly believe that the holiday season is upon us once again.  It has been a whirlwind of a year. I won't bore you with all the details but I am BACK with ideas to share!  Thank you all who emailed me asking if I was planning on returning to the craft room.

A reader by the name of Rhonda recently sent me an email after discovering my fun little blog.  She is constructing some condo units for her dolls using shelves & was wondering if using cardboard would make the finished project cheesy. 

First of all, kudos to you for your vision, your energy to tackle this project & brilliant idea to use readily accessible inexpensive materials to create a charming space for your dolls.  Many miniaturists use non-wood materials to create backdrops in miniature scenes. I personally find that it is much easier to work with and I do not need specialty tools.  I am an instant gratification kind of girl so this works for me on so many levels!

In addition to cardboard, one of my absolute FAVORITE mini wall surface is FOAM CORE.  The picture above is a quaint breakfast nook scene that I created with foam core.  It is light weight, inexpensive, and found at most Hobby stores (even at my local dollar store!).  The window that you see...shhhh...I'll tell you a little secret. You know the pre-school MATCHING card game? When you get a set new you have to punch out the little cards. What is left is a piece of cardboard with evenly spaced squares that resemble a multi-pane window! Add a little wood trim & a window sill & you are DONE. 

I use foam core extensively to create backdrops for my photography.  I cover in appropriate scale wallpaper or scrapbook paper to transform the space into a realistic setting.

 I even use it to build furniture. It really is quite versatile & creates a sturdy alternative to wood.  The upper cabinets in the photo below were constructed out of cardboard & trimmed with wood.

And the countertop. It's cardboard. Wrapped in faux granite contact paper. Bah-bam!

This entire Chicago Bears Themed room was built with cardboard.  I even created faux stones with recycled egg cartons. (tutorial to come)

   

You can either glue the edges together to form your walls, use T-pins or even duct tape to secure the corners together.  Even better-use the walls to create some architectural interest. Add in a closet, a bay window-complete with a seat, a fireplace or any other structural element to help reinforce the wall to allow each one to be free standing within the shelving unit.  

I also like to use old Barbie boxes to add a niche to an otherwise flat wall.

The beauty of constructing a dollhouse in this matter is that it is flexible. You can move the walls around without having to dismantle the entire thing. How is that for ultimate creativity? Could you imagine being able to do that in your real house? I know I LOVE to rearrange furniture, décor & artwork frequently. Having the ability to do so in my mini projects is a MUST.

I really want to thank Rhonda for reaching out to me. I am thrilled you found my blog and are INSPIRED to create your own fabulous rooms! As always I love pictures! If you would be so kind as to share your project once you are finished I would be thrilled. I enjoy seeing the creativity my readers produce. You all are so talented! I am humbled that I inspire you to get creative with your doll spaces, but truth is you all inspire me as well!

Thank you for stopping by

Happy Crafting!

Stephiejo

An Apology to My Readers

I didn't want to have to do it, but I've been forced to make a few changes to the comments section of the blog. Comments can be made by registered users and you will have to submit a word verification. I really hate to have to do that because I do not want to discourage my readers from commenting on posts. However, the spam posts have become ridiculous and Blogger is missing 90 percent of them.  I apologize for any inconvenience but it's the only way I can combat the rampant adult oriented spam being put in the comments section. Thank you for your understanding!

Diorama Prop Alert

With winter holiday season just around the corner, check the Christmas ornament aisle at your local retail stores.  Craft, big box, hardware, home decor and even grocery stores sell tree ornaments.  You can find many items suitable for Barbie in amongst the holiday decor. 

 Wally world is selling these adorable faux chandeliers. I found black & blue. They are covered with glitter and have the most charming sparkly beads. You can make these even more charming by stringing beads between the arms. Even though they do not light up, they still add a layer of glamour to your dollhouse or diorama scene.

They also have these delightful trees that look like they are made out of peppermint candy ribbons. Look for this tree to make an appearance in an upcoming holiday diorama. 

Picture frame ornaments are fantastic too. These black ones are from Wally world. I love the ornate details. Made out of resin, they are meant to hold a photograph. You could put in a craft mirror, printable artwork, images from cards or old books, and even your own photo to create custom art for Barbie & friends.

What great treasures have you found lately? Any tips for using non-doll items in a doll setting? I'd love to hear your comments!

Thanks for stopping by~

Happy Crafting!

Stephiejo

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!  To all my American readers, a little red white and blue to celebrate our nations Independence!

Happy Crafting,

Stephiejo