The birdbath base is a nipple to a baby bottle whose top has been snipped off. A cylinder, wooden bead offers support for the bowl. I purchased the wooden bowl from a craft store and added Liquid Illusion for the water. The braided accents on top of the bowl and the base of the bath is Crayola Modeling Compound. Roll out a thin snake-like pieces and twist together. The compound dries overnight. The bird is made from the same.Pictures can also be seen on the Picture Page under "The Bird Bath."
is used for all my food and a lot of my mini replicas. Remove crusts from a piece of white bread, tear into small pieces, and add 1 Tbsp. of white glue- Tacky Glue works best. Knead with hands until dough forms. This dough will dry overnight.
Here is a very important tip I should have mentioned when working with the bread dough recipe: If you feel your dough is a bit too sticky to work with knead a little longer with hands or sprinkle dough with cornstarch powder. I have used everything from Baby powder to Shower to Shower and they all work great.
This beautiful cake was made from bread dough and painted with acrylic paints. For the chocolate icing dilute brown paint and drizzle on with a toothpick. Make the indentions on the cake using the toothpick as well. Use a dollop of white paint for the creamy middle.
Use the plastic bubbles from toy machines (usually found in grocery stores) for fancy "glass" cake covers. Top with a bead for a handle. I have also gotten several mini toys for my projects. So it is a 2 for 1 deal!
Roll a small ball of bread dough or modeling compound and paint red. Poke toothpicks into apples. This will help get the "apple" shape as well. Mix up Liquid Illusion (LI) as shown on package. (see bottom of page for more info and picture for LI) I added red paint until desired color was achieved. Dip apples into LI just up to the toothpick. Let excess LI drip off and set apples on wax paper to dry. I noticed as my LI set out on the counter it hardened a little and I re-dipped apples for a more realistic look.
Small jars can be purchased from craft stores or made out of pieces of clear straws. I used cupcake sprinkles for my mini gumballs and mini balls of bread dough for jawbreakers.
My husband cut some thick phone cord recently and inside the cord was a bunch of thinner, multi colored cords...TAH DAH!!! Old fashioned candy sticks were born. I didn't have to paint them just cut to size and put in a jar.
Cover a prize bubble (the plastic ones from the grocery store vending machines) with dough or modeling compound to achieve the cauldron shape. Paint black when dough has dried. Mix Liquid Illusion (LI) as directed and add paint if desired. Remember, the inside of the cauldron will be white from the dough or compound, so if you leave LI clear your "witch's brew" will be clear with the white showing through. I added red paint to look like blood. While LI is wet, but not runny stick cotton or batting into cauldron to get the smoke look.
For perfect homeade cookies use cupcake sprinkles from the grocery store. You can find small shapes like hearts or Christmas goodies for the holidays. I have even run across mini bunnies. Paste them onto a mini cookie sheet and serve 'em up. Be careful! They may be hot :)
The tips of cotton swabs make wonderful cotton candy. To color the sweet treat dilute paint or food coloring and brush onto the cotton. Use a straight pin to fluff the "candy."
Fold paper or cardstock into "fans" to make curtains or mini blinds. Remember when we did these as kids? Just fold the paper back and forth and cut to size for each window. I have also found the inserts from light bulb packages to be handy. They are corrugated like blinds or babmboo shades. Roll them up and tie with floss for cabana style windows.
I found an inexpensive bag of lollipop sticks at craft stores and these work great for curtain rods. I painted them gold and stuck beads on the end for an elegant look.
I use the Liquid Illusion here also but mixed brown paint instead. The tins that hold the fudge are eyeshadow holders. I just popped them out of the case and rinsed away any leftover shadow with water. When fudge was setting, but still soft I cut with a knife to show the individual pieces. The dish on the right has a little white paint mixed in to give a "peanut butter fudgy" look.
These were an inspiration from the ghosts we made from Tootsie Pops as kids. Remember all you needed was the Pop and a tissue. I snipped desired sizes of paper clips and glued a small bead on the end of clip to get the round shape for the head of the ghost. I cut small circles of white tissue paper (about 3 circles) and wrapped them around the head (bead). You can add a small drop of glue to the bead to help keep tissue paper in place. Next, wrap white thread around the "neck" of the ghost and tie a tight knot. Add eyes with a marker. Your ghosts are done before you can say BOO!!
This may be a trick known to all miniaturists, but is definitely worth repeating. Keep the clear plastic that take out food or store bought cakes come in. They are excellent for glass in windows. The plastic can easily be cut to size and sometimes has a design or scalloped effect. Besides, it is a great reason to eat cake!!
Small coffe creamer containers, suction cups, and mini muffin paper cups make great lamp shades. All can be decorated with lace or beads and the suction cups look great faced up or down when stuck on paintbrushes.
Magnets are usually inexpensive and come in all things imaginable, from bags of popcorn to mini stoves. I purchased these cuties at a dollar store. Not really sure what scale they are, but I can always work around them.
Don't let these little sweet treats intimidate you. Just roll a piece of the bread dough or modeling compund into a snake and cut to desired size. Roll into balls with finger then smash softly to form the disk shape. Paint red stripes starting from the middle of disk and down along outer edge.
I used the plastic prize bubble here again and filled it with Liquid Illusion tinted with red paint. Before it set completely I added some pineapples made from modeling compound.
If you are in a bind and need a quick purse use these little paper clasps. They can be decorated or left as is. You can also remove the metal clips to make a doctor's bag. Use a toothpick to write the dr's initials or simply add "M.D." Works great for your favorite vet also. Thanks to my mom for the medical bag idea and my friend, Richard Ruiz for the purse.
I recently ran across this idea in the book Tiny Treasures: Amazing Miniatures You Can Make. Use bottle tops for your pie tins. Cut a small strip of felt and glue it around the inside of the bottle top to look like crust. Use Nerds candy or beads for your filling. Cherry Nerds work well for cherry pie and so on. Brush the top of the candy with clear nail polish for a wet look.
Because this pattern is copyrighted I cannot list it on my site, but I can tell you it came from "Dolls' House Detail: Over 500 craft projects in 1/12 scale" by Kath Dalmeny (page 162). This is just one of the wonderful patterns this book has to offer. I used felt for the pieces and a cut up cotton ball for the trim. The beard is also felt that is glued to a paperclip. I should say I do not sew, yet found this to be very easy. So don't be intimidated.
Emery boards or large craft sticks make fun mini skateboards. Just cut to size and glue beads on bottom for wheels. Use small stickers or cutouts from magazines to decorate.
Need I say more. Buy cheap sponges, paint them the color you want the "icing" and eat up. Cut a small triangular piece from the cake for realism and paint a thin strip of "jelly" along the middle with a marker. Can't forget the yummy filling.
I made these cuties years ago as gag gifts--Belly Button Cleaners. It wasn't until recently I saw mini toilet brush cleaners for dollhouses. Just snip a piece of pipe cleaner insert into a bead with the help of needle nosed pliers for a tight fit. You can use any color to match your room's decor.
This project was so fun! I bought a small terra cotta pot and glued some florist's styrofoam in the bottom and painted a lollipop stick brown for the stem of the plant. Use a melon baller to get the shape of the topiary started from the styrofoam. I was able to mold it the rest of the way with my hands. Put white glue all over the balls and sprinkle them with dried parsley flakes. Use as many balls as you like for your own topiary design.
Trashcans, thankfully, in the mini world come in all shapes and sizes. I have used the tops to large tipped markers (Magic Markers) for office or kitchen cans and even used a Tic Tac container for a more modern trashcan. Remember the bottoms of the prize bubbles you get in grocery stores can be used as lids, especially on the marker tops.
Cut fabric to any size circle you want and glue to a dowel or colored toothpick (as used in picture). Twist fabric with fingers and glue together to achieve the folded look. Decorate ends of stick with beads. The umbrella holder is a contact lens container (the larger ones used for disinfecting) painted with a gold paint marker.
After finishing a box of chocolates I noticed the plastic they were in had small raised bumps all over. I immediately saw a welcome mat-you know the cheapy ones usually made out of rubber? You can flip them over and engrave a message for a raised effect. Just remember when working from the back to write backwards. Some bottoms of take out containers have the same design.
Other Useful Tips
I never throw anything away until I give it a good look. At first glance, some things aren't always as they appear.
Liquid Illusion is just what it's name says it is. It will give you the look of water without any spills. I found mine at Wal Mart, but have seen it at craft stores as well. I paid just under $7 and it last a long time when dealing with minis. The package comes with two plastic bottles-a resin and a hardner.
When using fabric or yarn, line the back with aluminum foil so you can get it to lay exactly the way you need it.
(found in hobby shops) is wonderful for keeping your minis in place temporarily. If you are like me I want to still be able to hold stuff and let friends inspect my work for themselves. However, I have a very curious cat and 2 year old. Mini Hold is very inexpensive and since you are working with miniatures you don't need too much at a time. For those of you who wore braces, this resembles the wax used for the rough spots.
Since coupons usually have smaller logos on them they are perfect for mini food packages or movie covers. Cut the logo or movie picture out and glue to cardstock or small wooden blocks.
If you want to add a personal touch to your room box or dollhouse, use the thumbnails that come with certain film. I use the Kodax Advatix film and get an "index print" instead of negatives when I develope my pictures. It shows a smaller version of all the pictures I took in case I want to order enlargements or duplicates. Cut these out to use in mini picture frames for your mantle or bed-side tables. If your camera doesn't use this film ask family members to save theirs for you. That way you still get the personal touch.
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