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Use Embossing Tools for Easy Miniature Table Mats

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:54:40 +0000

While cutwork embroidery isn't feasible in small scales, you can mimic the effect somewhat using soft, draping paper and scrapbook embossers. Here are instructions for how to make miniature embossed placemats, doilies and serviettes (napkins) .

The placemat and napkin shown here are made from facial tissue, but tissue paper works as well. Combine this technique with the one to make miniature paper lace if you want an openwork effect.

Flights of Fancy with Miniature Glider

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:47:28 +0000

Balsa wood gliders were a key part of my summer. I spent hours flying them across the fields and down the driveway. I made this miniature glider in dollhouse scale to add to a dollhouse child's bedroom. I only wish they would fly like the toy versions!

This tiny glider is made from a surprising material, a wood veneer cheese box. I keep an eye out for these to use for wood plank floors, shingles and other miniatures where fine grain, light weight wood is an asset. You can straighten the wood from a round cheesebox by dampening it and then ironing it with an iron on a cotton or linen setting.

Make a Dollhouse Scale Drinking Glass From Recycled Plastic

Sat, 11 May 2013 01:16:00 +0000

One great thing about dollhouse miniatures is that many can be made with simple handtools and a bit of imagination. That is certainly the case for this drinking glass and egg cup made from the cap of a discarded makeup brush. This project uses just requires cutting and sanding to make two useful miniatures.

The same technique can be used to make dollhouse vases and votive candle holders. Before you throw any useful material away, think about what you might be able to upcycle it into to support your hobby!

Make a Miniature Breakfast Tray

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:30:37 +0000

On Mother's Day, my children used to bring me breakfast in bed. In honor of that I've made a tiny breakfast tray. If you wish you can give one to your mom as a promise of things to come in full size, or decorate it to represent her favorite pastime and use it with a clothespin doll to decorate a Mother's Day Cake.

If you add a magnet to the back of the tray you can post it on your mom's fridge, to remind her of something good, redeemable when she wants it. Fill the tray with miniature pastries, a pie, or your mom's favorite meal. There are lots of choices on the miniature food list!

Dress a Clothespin Doll in a Simplified Kimono

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:43:38 +0000

Continuing the theme of international costumes for clothespin dolls, I've added a tutorial to dress a clothespin doll in a kimono. I used a quilting cotton fabric for my kimono, but you could use a handkerchief, plain silk or scraps of fine lawn to make a kimono for your doll.

These little dolls don't take much time or effort to make. The Japanese doll joins the collection which includes:

Make Flaky Dollhouse Miniature Croissants

Fri, 03 May 2013 01:19:08 +0000

You can use this tutorial for flaky polymer clay pastry to make all kinds of miniature and dollhouse pastries and strudels, items that would in real life be made with strudel dough, filo pastry or other 'laminated' doughs. The technique uses simple mold releases for your particular brand of polymer clay to keep the thin pastry layers separated while you shape your dough.

It may take a bit of extra effort to shape the croissants and pain chocolat pastries using this technique, but it means you can open your tiny croissants to detail lovely flaky centers much more easily than if you have to texture a glob of polymer clay. For those who prefer a simpler method, I've shown how to make croissants from simple rolls of clay, and included instructions for mixing the basic "dough".

Make Beach Sandals For Dolls

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:48:11 +0000

If you are dreaming of better weather, make some of these miniature beach sandals and flip flops as earrings, props for a dollhouse scene, or as shoes for almost any size of doll. The ones shown here are on a 1:12 scale ball joint doll.

I'm tempted to make a few tiny pairs to glue on the logs at my local beach. I'm sure the bright colors would attract attention. Using appropriate materials you can make them easily for dolls as small as Polly Pocket and other roughly 1:24 scale dolls. They are designed to fit best on doll's with flat feet.

Clothespin Doll in Nigerian Dress

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:40:48 +0000

This African clothespin doll mother for Mother's day was inspired by the African Aid Angels project I mentioned in the blog before Christmas. African Aid Angels raise money to support African families affected by HIV/ AIDS. It is a wonderful use of miniatures to support a cause. This Nigerian version of the basic clothespin doll wears a Gele headdress made from wired ribbon to hold its shape.

You can find the tutorials for various clothespin doll costumes elsewhere on the site.

Make a Sari for a Doll

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:56:10 +0000

I've finished a tutorial for dressing a South Asian Clothespin Doll in a Sari. If you want to make sari's for other doll sizes or scales, adapt these instructions using ribbon or fabric strips or scarves which work with the size of your doll. The width of the fabric needs to be sufficient for a full length skirt on your doll.

I'll be posting more instructions for special costumes for dolls in preparation for Mother's Day. The clothespin dolls make great cake toppers or table decorations for a Mother's Day Tea! The next project this week will likely be a Nigerian doll.

Clothespin Dolls For Mother's Day or Baby Showers

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:20:07 +0000

These cheerful clothespin dolls make great gifts and decorations for mother's day and baby showers. In the coming weeks I'll be setting up instructions for a range of simple national costumes for the dolls. The basic clothespin doll tutorial features the contemporary doll shown, with and without a clothespin baby. If you'd like instructions for a particular national costume for your doll, please leave a request in the miniatures forum and I'll see what I can do.

As the dolls have flexible arms, and hands which can hold small items, you can use the other miniature tutorials on the site to make hats, clothes, kitchen items, teapots, baked goods or pets to help customize your clothspin dolls. This is a another great miniature project to work on with a child. Once they learn how easy it is to make the dolls, they can customize characters for dollhouse scenes or dioramas.