The Wizard's Study

This has been one of those stretches of time when life intrudes on the enjoyment of a hobby. Where did the year go since my last post? By way of catching up this post will be more "show" than "tell".

The Wizard's Study is 98% complete. Sifting through stored supplies often turns up something I wasn't looking for but is "just right" for a previously "finished" project.

Foamcore Right Exterior View
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This was a "How Do I Do That?" project. I used it as an opportunity to try many new techniques. In later blogs, I'll share the many processes I learned. This box is made of Foamcore and covered with tissue wrinkled with a glue/water solution. Two major things learned were the importance of keeping things square (I didn't) and the tissue/glue technique looks better with one-ply tissue (used two-ply on this project).

Foamcore Left Exterior View

I bought a poster frame and cut the clear acrylic to make the box's front. Although I have enough left over acrylic to make another box front, I'm looking for a cheaper source of acrylic.

Center View

Left View - Lighted

Left View

You cant see much of the floor. It is made of stained craft sticks (tongue depressors).

Right View - Lighted

Right View

Most of the accessories are hand-crafted, It's the little things that make miniature rooms special.

Wall Unit

The wall unit was made from craft sticks (tongue depressors, my favorite wood source), mitered trim and braided floss to accent the base. The shelf items include: rolled scrolls, bead jar, clay candles, skull bead, aged paper books, crystal balls, and potion bottles.

Wizard's Desk

If you look closely, you can find the following hand-crafted items on the desk: clay candles, rolled and open scrolls, framed picture (my grandfather), leather bound closed and open paged books, bead jar, ink jar and writing feather, crystal balls, and of course a magic wand.For easy reference, the all important Zodiac is posted on the wall.

Open Scroll and Writing Feather

Wizard's Hat

Paged Books (Paper Binding)

Crystal Ball, Leather Bound Paged Book

Great Wizards (Google Images)

Wizard's Study is complete in time for Halloween. When I find that black cat somewhere in my stash, I'll add it to the scene. Until then, Happy Mini-ing.

Potting Shed 3 - Potting Table Tutorial

The dimensions of my purchased potting table overwhelms the interior of  the Potting Shed. As I sat looking at the beautifully finished commercial table, I wondered, how difficult would it be to replicate a smaller version.

Materials Used:

           Note: finished dimensions will be based on your needs.

          1/4" square dowel rod.(6 pieces cut to the same height)

          (Popsicle, craft, lolly) sticks - (2) sizes: one wide, one thin

               The larger (wider) sticks are used, side-by-side, for the shelf and top.

               The smaller (thinner) sticks are used as braces.

          Round tooth picks (to make the hanging pegs under the top shelf)

          Cutting Tool

          Sandpaper

          Craft Glue

          Paint

Step One: Determine how tall you want your finished table and cut the (6) table legs. If you prefer, the table can be made without the middle legs.

Step Two:  Using the thinner of your craft sticks, cut (6) cross pieces. the length of the  pieces is determined by how wide you want your finished table. Put (2) aside for later.

Step Three:  Decide on the height of your shelf and glue the cross pieces to the legs, as shown: One cross piece on the inside left legs, two cross pieces to the center leg, one cross piece on the inside right leg. Let dry (very important) leave it alone until the cross pieces are firmly stuck.

Step Four: Using the larger craft sticks, cut, install, and glue the shelf pieces.

Step Five:  Attach the remaining two crosspieces. One to the top, left, outside legs and one to the top, right,outside legs.

Step Six:  Cut the larger craft sticks long enough to reach from the left outside cross piece to the right outside cross piece. Lay the larger sticks side-by-side and glue. Let dry.

Step Seven: The upper shelf can also be as wide and as deep as you desire. My upper shelf construction is two skinny sticks wide. Using the two-stick wide model, I was able to use one long skinny stick (toward the front of the table), add a skinny stick shelf midway, and lock it in place with two smaller skinny sticks.

Step Eight:

    The top is finished off with two larger craft sticks, glued together at a right angle. 

    The round toothpicks have been cut into pegs and glued to the back of the right angle .

Step Nine:  Sand any rough edges and paint as desired. 

In a later post, I will share my method for making the little stools.  Until then,

Happy Mini-ing!

Potting Shed 2

Still working on my little diversion. I enjoy working on a variety of projects at once. Probably not the best approach. This way, it seems as if it takes ages to totally complete any one project. But for now, at least until I complete the projects I've started this haphazard approach will do.

The shelves for the Potting Shed are completely  painted and installed.

The shingles were stained with a solution of water diluted acrylic paint. 

Lighting is provided by two LED's hidden under the front roof line.  To accommodate the LED light switch, a hole was cut into the wall panel. The hole needs trim, possibly very, very small quarter round.  

A shelf has been added to the window. Support bars are still needed on the sides. The wall shelves are staggered on this side to accommodate the potting bench.

Now that the shelves are in, I really want to start filling them up with all of the garden goodies one would expect to find in a potting shed and of course the little surprises that find there way into a shed but have absolutely no business being there.

Until next time - enjoy mini-ing.

Potting Shed 1

Garden Trellis

Took a little deviation today. Decided to do some work on my "Potting Shed". The trellis was built using skinny craft sticks. The flowers are made out of clay. The flowers were hot glued to some store bought greenery. Of course I can't use a glue gun without burning my fingers. My tip for today (can't remember where I read it) is keep a small bowl of water nearby when using a glue gun. Cool water gives instant relief to burned fingers. Happy mini-ing.

The First Day

Although I am new to much of the 21st century's technology, I am looking forward to working my way through this program and learning to Blog. As indicated by the title, one of my passions is miniatures. Currently I only work in 1:12 scale. I fear the smaller scales while more appropriate for my physical space, may be too small for my aging eyes. It is my desire to use this space as a platform to share my completed works (and many works in progress). As well as a place where I can share the many tips and techniques I have learned throughout the years.

The very first dollhouse, I completed, was an expensive process because I had not learned many of the money saving hints I will share in this blog. For example. the wallpaper in that first dollhouse cost about $9.00 per room. Five (5) room dollhouse - $45.00. Scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, and for us older hoarders, stationary is available for less than $3.00 a room. One third the cost - a big savings.