You may remember how I took the Greenleaf die cut kit and gave it a few upgrades...
Using trims made on the Cricut, some wooden legs, and some "real" hardware.
I had fun making the kit "upgrades", so that's exactly what I did for the wall shelf. Starting out with a Lost Creek Station seed shelf kit, I added more display space and a place to hang the towels. And I exchanged the seed poster with something more befitting a Christmas themed bathroom.
I made up some resin bottles with water slide decal labels, made tiny cotton balls, q-tips and "bath beads" (no hole beads), then gave some misc. items a little more bling with a gold leafing marker. Later I added a Kleenex box (square bead painted with red nail enamel and a tissue peeking out) and a box printie.
To fill in the bathroom, I needed to get into the "accessory making business". I found and printed artwork for painted plastic and metal frames.
I love that Santa in the tub and in the outhouse, and how about little elves warming their frozen toes in tubs of hot water?
I even made a clock (printed clock face) inside a cabochon frame, but you can't see that in place yet - the Glossy Accents is not quite dry and clear yet.
Why two? Well, it wouldn't be a very nice Christmas without gifts... :O)
I used some of the broken off branches from the fragile Christmas tree and some twigs from my stash to make a holiday swag.
And a laser cut sheet of holly leaves, more no hole beads and more twigs for a floor display. The vase is plastic and comes in a set of four from HBS. Really cheap. I just painted it with the gold leaf marker to make it look pricey! ;OP
Oh! And a Squeeze Me tree with a star wand jewelry finding in a Silver Cup Box Feet planter.
Need a sea sponge for the little folk to scrub with? All you need is some Creative Paperclay, a sewing pin and some spongy colored paint...
To fill up some floor space, I thought a little table with a lamp might be cute. I had a Chrysnbon non working hurricane lamp, so I made it a working one. Drill hole, insert candle flame bulb with wires and viola!
Except that the candle flame bulb was too fat to fit inside the chimney. But I just so happened to have a larger chimney which was slated for a future candle/centerpiece so I was back in business!
Hi ho, on we go to make the lamp table...
And then it was too big for the space...
But us miniaturists always have a back up plan...
HOM Candle stand to the rescue! Perfect fit! And then, when it was in and wired to the main wiring, the light stopped working...
A few magic words later, I resigned myself to the idea that sometimes lights just stop working. Usually after having been tested properly all through the process so that you feel confident and glue them in.
I can hear the words from my son's very wise friend Janin now. "Sounds like a Western problem". Meaning: be grateful. It's only a dollhouse light. :O)
All the other lights still work! :OD
Some printed rugs helped to warm up the space and hide the floor paper warp.
Good books to pass the time...
Now, I am on to the outside where I need to pick the perfect paint color and experiment with textures. Think Gingerbread...
Have a wonderful weekend!!!
xo,
Jodi
jodi, jodi, jodi, get a friend to say your name 3 x like cary grant, then you will have the effect i want to share with you....lol, you my dear, are so talented! i love how you take pics along the way.. and you share your experience in each phase or mini step creation. i love being a nosey neighbor and peeking in at your creations. i kinda get lost in your blog world clicking on different things and it opens a new page but I'm loving every moment! at one point (well many times) i was lost and then found your post about your stair case and how you ripped it out and made a return, i think you called it??? that was fantastic! all the little details just on the stairs and the walls.. everything is so perfect and not one detail left undone. i only hope i can do half the work you do. i mentioned to hubby today that i need a good camera so i can take pics and get help. do you plan on writing instructional books or making instructional videos? hint hint hint
ReplyDeletexoxo debbie ;0) ..... he's winking at you!
You are way to generous with me, Debbie - thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement! You will soon discover that there is a wonderland of creative and talented miniature folks here in blogland, and I am so excited for you! If you go look at some of the blogs in my Great Reads section, you will see true artisanship! Lots have tutorials, and many have tutorials or links to great books. Have fun, my friend!
DeleteWhat a great little bathroom. Everything is so well coordinated! (I was just thinking how plain my real-life bathroom is - just a bottle of shampoo, odd towels, a tube of toothpaste and a bar of soap). You are really good at making cohesive color palettes for all your dollhouse rooms.
ReplyDeleteI love the paint colors you are going to use for the exterior and I am guessing that you are going to use them all for the various shades of gingerbread. (They all have awesome names too.)
Thanks, Sam! I used to have a gorgeous real life guest bathroom. Magazine worthy, because no one used it. Then my adult son moved back home. Now, I get to make mini ones! :O)
DeleteI am going to pick only one color for the main body of the house, and hope I can find the perfect method to create a cookie texture. I am down to two choices - hope I pick the right one!
jodi, im sorry i ment to mention how sweet the bathroom is... your details are tremendous! i get so caught up in all your pictures and all the steps. i get so excited i get ahead of myself sometimes when i want to talk to you and how fantastic your work is...
ReplyDeletethis is the second time i have navigated around your blog or anyones blog for this period of time.. i get lost.. im afraid to click on the pictures of other peoples stuff you have on your blog bc that takes me to their blogs and then i dont know how to get back to you... its fun and takes alot of time.. but I'm loving the adventure.. dont stop doing what you do! take care and post, post, post, for nosey neighbors like me.... what kind of camera do you use.. this is a quest of mine too? i want to be able to take pics and post them so i can get proper instruction of what im doing wrong..im praying for you and your dad!
Thanks, Debbie! I am glad you like it! It is fun to drop into the blog rabbit hole!
DeleteIf you right click and select 'Open Link In New Window' you will be able to use 'alt/tab' to get back to where you were.
I use my phone for the photos, as I have no camera skills! In fact, I gave my Cannon to someone who needed it more than me! But it works, and I am grateful to have it. I find it is usually a matter of getting the lighting right, which I have difficulty with.
Thanks for your prayers! :O)
All the colors! Stippled on in layers. Mmmm, gingerbread.
ReplyDeleteClever sponge, I may use that idea one day.
Interesting concept... Will have a go at it...
DeletePlease do! You'll bring it to the next level, I'm sure! :O)
What an lovely bathroom! I love all the amazing details, even the printed rugs, everything in style!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photos.
Hugs, Drora
Thanks, Drora! I am so enjoying working in this old fashioned style!
DeleteHello Jodi,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely bathroom and what an incredible upgrade to the kits. You really pushed the kits to a whole new level and they look fantastic. I really love wall shelf. What a beautiful finish. as always the room is beautifully accessorized and of all your miniature marvels, I think the sponge most impressed me. It is perfect.
Big hug,
Giac
Thanks, Giac! It's so much fun to see what's possible with ordinary things, isn't it?
DeleteOh my, looks wonderful! So many little details. And your upgrades to the wall shelf are amazing! Love your towels and all the little bottles. Your swag looks perfect above the window.
ReplyDeleteI still can't get over how great the Greenleaf kit looks with your updates. It fits the room perfectly.
Thanks, Sheila! There is always a use for everything somewhere, and a way to make it better! It's a lot of fun to try while knowing you are not going to ruin something special or expensive!
DeleteHi Jodi!
ReplyDeleteI must say that I think that you must be working at Warp Speed 7! First a fully-loaded and completed kitchen, then a living room and now the bathroom and each one CHOCKABLOCK FULL of delicious EYE CANDY to feast on!
This little gem is simply Adorable and the way in which you have up-graded the bathroom fixtures and made them not only unique and looking functional but also Really Beautifully Done! This is quite the achievement for a Greenleaf bath set, however it is the Accessories which are really the stars of the show.
Your talents and ability to transform the ordinary into The Extraordinary are bar none! Each little item makes a cohesive whole and helps to tell your charming little Christmas Story, in a fun and magical way- Well Done once again, Jodi! :D
elizabeth
Thanks Elizabeth! I think after spending years working with monthly deadlines, I manage my time well under pressure. And this project hasn't stopped speaking to me, which always helps to move you along!
DeleteI am glad you like the details - everything was really fun to make, and as usual I had to let some of the ideas go for lack of space and time.
I am starting on the outside next, working in themes and mediums that are new to me, so send me some prayers that I continue to stay on track to meet the Thanksgiving deadline! :oD
Gosh Jodi!.. I agree with Elisabeth you are working at warp speed.. I just came over to have another look at your living room and here you are already done with the bathroom.. lol
ReplyDeleteI really love it.. I still can't get over what you have done with the greenleaf kit.. I would never have considered buying it before but now it speaks to me for this kind of storybook project for sure. :)
What a great way to reuse that failed tree! Reuse, recycle, repurpose.. a miniaturists mantra. :D
The swag is great.
Santa in the bathtub is precious as are all the pictures you have chosen and the wall shelf upgrade and the accessories you've added are fantastic. I love the little cotton balls and q-tips. Details, details everywhere!
You really do come up with great solutions.. who would have thought of paperclay and a pin to make a sea sponge.. and the wand jewelry finding for the tree topper.. genious! Oh and I really love the wallpaper in this room.. such a tiny delicate pattern. Perfect.
It's all perfect!
*runs off to research water slide decals*
Thanks Sam! Your comments re-excite me for the next steps of the project! Necessity is definitely the mother if creativity around here. So many projects, so many ideas, and such a guilty mini spending conscience, lol!
DeleteI've been using the Testor's decal paper. My pack came with three clear and three white half sheets. I will probably purchase the white Lasertan pack the next time, because they are full sheets and a better per sheet value (both on Amazon). The trick here is to let them sit out of the printer for an hour, then spray them in clear matte varnish. I have Patricia Nimmocks and Testors, both work well. Let them sit overnight. When you're ready to apply them, use warm water. Too hot makes them curl, and too cold makes them not adhere as well. I call it Goldilocks water. :O) On some surfaces such as pottery, a coat of Triple Thick or other gloss varnish makes the lip from the decal all but disappear and it looks like it's been painted on. On anything that is supposed to look like a label, you don't need a varnish.
Och Jodi I did a brilliant reply (easy for me to say) response to your wonderful bathroom and then lost it. Basically it said I love all the details, the cohesive colour scheme, the upgraded sanitary ware, the wonderful sponge and the printed rugs, and, and, and, and See how lucky you are that you got the shortened version. As for getting the right gingerbread colour - this is easy - (1) buy one dozen gingerbread men so you can see the average sort of colour or the blend of colours (2) choose paint(s) (3) eat the gingerbread. Tough but someone has to do it. love watching this project move forward. Such fun especially on a dreary rainy day like I have here today. Thank you for the smile. M
ReplyDeleteThanks Marilyn! I appreciate the sentiment!
DeleteYour idea for researching gingerbread is brilliant! I am off to the market now! :O)
Dear Jodi,
ReplyDeleteThis bathroom is simply charming...so many special and lovely pieces that capture the Christmas feeling that many strive to capture at that very special time of the year. The transformation of the Greenleaf kits are such a visual improvement to where they began. It amazes me at how quickly you have been able to create a scene that contains so many Christmas delights that are indeed a visual feast...each small element works together to make a cohesive scene that is wonderful to look at....details, details, and even more details create the setting beautifully. The little sea sponge tutorial is great as are all the photos you post to share the process from beginning to end. The paint colours with their yummy sounding names will be used to create the perfect blend of colour as found in a real gingerbread man...you'll research that colour blend as you munch! As the song says "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"...thanks so much for sharing such a lovely and heartwarming project! Cheers, Alayne
Thanks Alayne! I am so glad that it evokes fond Christmas feelings for you, too! :O)
DeleteHi Jodi! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the prints you found for the bath room! They made me smile ear to ear! Clearly you are in the "zone" with this project and it is very inspiring to watch you fix up all those kits and make them look like they belong right where you put them! I always have trouble with the "accessorizing" of projects... I hate to glue things in place and I'm not proficient with internet sourcing of printables..... Someday I will get caught up on the learning curve! Meanwhile... I can almost smell the gingerbread and I think it is the perfect motif for this cottage!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Betsy! If only I could paint as beautifully as you do, there would be no need to find prints any longer! My uncle Ted Hildebrant paints beautifully - he also took lessons from my first boyfriend, Roger Wyant. Both amazing nature and animal artists. All these talents near me throughout my life and still I hesitate to try for fear of being terrible!
DeleteWhat a fantastic little bathroom Jodi! All those accessories you made are perfect, and the trees and the light too. I think this may be my favourite room in this little cottage. And for what it's worth, I am liking Moroccan Spice for the exterior, as it has a warm red undertone. Have a great week! Xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Shannon! Your opinion means a lot! Seeing them on the wall and in the light, you are right about Moroccan Spice. I also like Nugget Gold. The other two - not so much once on the wall... It is going to be fun to play with them to see what we can do!
DeletePlease forgive me for envying you so much! Your ability to transform something ordinary into something magical amazes me. Your creativity to make and place on the perfect spot all those adorable little things. Your blog and entries are a pleasure to me. I always leave wanting to come back soon. Thank you Jodi. Your bathroom is magical and beautiful. I love Christmas and this house of yours is turning out just perfect!
ReplyDeleteAlexandra thank you so much for the kind words! I love that you want to come back and share this adventure with me! As for the ability to transform, you have it in spades my friend! I love that we inspire each other so much!
DeleteOoooooooooooh!! What a fantastic bathroom! The colors, the finishes, the patterns and the accessories. *standing ovation* Delightful, my friend, just wow! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Brae! Mark another style/era off the list! :O)
DeleteWhat material did you use with your Cricut to dress up the kit? Also, did you hand draw the designs? I have a silhouette machine which is similar and never thought of using it for minis. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteThe material I used was 1/16" chipboard along with the deep cutting blade for the Cricut. I had it set to make 2 passes on each cut, and it seemed to work well. I imagine the Silhouette machine has similar blades and cut settings. Good luck and have fun!