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Friday, May 24, 2019

D.I.Y. Puzzle Kit Progress

The little DIY kit project I'd planned with my daughter worked out better than I'd even hoped for! She was really excited at the Cake Diary kit itself, but when she found out that she could replace the papers and flooring with stuff from my stash... Let's just describe her as giddy! I think she appreciates my hoard of craft supplies a little more now! :O)


She initially began looking at what scrapbook paper I had in teal and blue color tones, but once she saw the sunny orange with the blue tile pattern she was set. She loved the leftover piece of Houseworks oak flooring, especially once it was sanded and varnished and came out with the same warm tones as the papers. She also picked out and meticulously cut some brick paper that will wrap creatively from the inside of the shop to around the back side.  We still have a way to go as every step involved customizing, but she couldn't have enjoyed herself more!


Here she is cutting her very first shelf pieces from balsa. We both didn't like the flimsy card meant for the shelving, so we made our own. My smarty pants girl was even very impressed with my math skills! See? Mom does still know something! She will be adding lace detailing to the shelf edges on our next play date. I'll share more progress as we make it! And btw... She said this was the perfect kind of mini project for her because she thrives with a little direction!


On my Chocolatier project I also made some great progress. I began assembling many of the accessories from the kit and quickly had ideas for even better details. For the shelf unit, I auditioned some glass candy jars from my stash and found a few that seemed to work in half scale. I filled them with metallic beads meant to look like foil wrapped chocolates.


I also used some Woodsies and wooden heart shapes to make candy boxes. The paper ones that came with the kit were just fine, though a little too large for where I needed to use them. I laminated three Woodsies pieces together, painted, edged them in gold leafing pen and then added stickers to the tops.





For the small glass case on the main counter, I made "chocolates" using flat backed pearls and stars. I colored them with Krylon Shortcuts paint marker in brown. I like the shiny finish, though I should have left them to dry a bit longer than I had the patience for. The kit provides boxes of chocolates, but they are just a photo inside a box. I like that you can take the kit a step farther if you want to.


I also made chocolate dipped cookies using paperclay and an inexpensive silicone cookie mold. I colored them to look fresh baked, then dipped half of them in white and milk chocolate. Man they made me hungry!




The interior is nearly finished with the exception of a tiny cash register. I am going to attempt with my scroll saw and lots of sanding to create one from a block of scrap wood. We'll see!





I have a few more of the exterior elements to make up and all of the lighting to do. Maybe another week or two and I can say I have completed my first DIY puzzle kit! I am really enjoying it though, and believe it or not. the Storybook Cottage has begun to call me again!


Have a lovely weekend everyone!

xo xo,
Jodi

42 comments:

  1. I love it so far. So pretty! And your cookies are making me so hungry.

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    1. Thanks Sheila! I brought home both cinnamon rolls and cupcakes from the bakery this weekend, so it's definitely influencing me too! Maybe I need to begin building a gym, lol!

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  2. What a perfect mother/daughter visit. I love how your daughter is impressed with you from this new perspective. We found that we didn’t get “smart” until our children turned 30. Looks like your daughter is younger than that, so just think of what a genius you will become. The projects are adorable with your embellishments.

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    1. It was such a great feeling to have my daughter think I was smart! She is a Magna Cum Laude science girl, so her opinion packs a big punch with me! 😊 Although she will turn 32 this July, she really has only begun to appreciate her parents the way adult kids eventually do recently! It's so wonderful to connect with her through minis!

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  3. Hi, Jodi - I'm in love with the little shops, and if only I could shrink down to that size, I wouldn't be able to tear myself away from all the luscious delicacies in the chocolate shop! I'm not a bit surprised that you carried the steps for the kit just a bit further - I wouldn't have expected anything else from your imaginative mind! It makes me happy that you and your daughter could share this creative time together. (And I'm glad that you pulled out those impressive math skills!)
    Marjorie

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    1. Thanks Marjorie! I was compelled to buy cinnamon rolls and cupcakes at the bakery this weekend, so the influence of this project may just show on my hips! They are wonderful little kits with loads of opportunity to customize, so maybe you might enjoy doing one after the soddy is complete. One for you and one for your granddaughter! ☺

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  4. Lovely memories being made along with lovely projects. Enjoy.

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    1. Thanks Marilyn! You'll have to let us know if you decided to gift them to your granddaughters in Canada!

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  5. Both yours and your daughter's shops turned out gorgeous. I wish you many more hours of creative work together with no less success.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thank you, Drora! Getting time with Natasha is always a treat, especially because she is always so busy! She enjoyed herself so much that I may just be able to compete a little better for her time! 😜

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  6. What I'm enjoying the most, is seeing your daughters unabashed Delight in making her project!
    And your Sweet Shop is Absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS! Your eye for those extra little details is what makes this quickie project so much FUN to view. I love the beads in the glass canisters,Jodi- they are the Perfect choice!
    It will be a Treat to see how you daughter's shop develops as I love her unconventional colour choices and pattern mixes- LOTS of the Wow Factor! :D

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth! It was really fun to have her hurry me along with meals and such so that we could get beck to the project! Just like when she was little! We talked of "someday" doing the Kensington Dollhouse Festival together, and this weekend she was already trying to book dates! I had to tell her I'd need at least one more year to save enough $$$, but we may just share the experience in 2020 or 2021!!! Wouldn't that be a dream come true!
      It is really interesting to see how her mind works for color and pattern choices. She was very girlie growing up and has really gone in the opposite direction as an adult!

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  7. Esos chocolates se ven muy apetitosos.
    Hummmmmmm Un saludo

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    1. Gracias Marian! ¡Y mucho menos engorde, tambiĂ©n! 😊

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  8. What fun - and what fantastic results so far! But what I love most is hearing (and seeing) that your daughter was enjoying herself so much. It's really nice that you're doing these two projects together - and even in a much improved version. Your changes and additional little details are stunning - no surprise those delicious tiny cookies watered your mouth. I also admire your daughter's color scheme, this will become sunny and inviting. But now I have to deal with the discovery that something like "Poodleskirt Pink" exists… *LOL*

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. Thanks Birgit! We really are having a fun time with the kits! It was surprising to me that she did not go with an octopus theme because she seems to be fascinated with them of late! I am looking forward to the dessert making part with her because in spite of her own opinion about herself, she is very creative!
      I hope you enjoyed your discovery of the Poodle Skirt and why here in the US it warranted a paint to be named after it! 😊

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  9. Una escena preciosa y lo mejor el disfrute de hacerlo en compañía de tu hija. Buen fin de semana.Besos:-)

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    1. Gracias Rosa Maria! ¡Los kits y el tiempo juntos son muy agradables!

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  10. Oh, how fun! I love your beads as "foil-wrapped candies," and the idea of painting flat-backed pearls for chocolates! How clever is that? So much simpler (and cheaper) than buying the little molds. Your cookies are divine. Everything looks good enough to eat! I'm so happy your daughter is enjoying it, too. You can tell how happy she is by that beautiful smile. :-)

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    1. Thanks Deb! You can see in the one photo that I have a candy mold, however, I do not have the dexterity to paint and manipulate something so small!!! I am definitely going to have to work on that! Maybe using a baking clay that starts out brown might make it a little easier than the paperclay. But the flat back pearls are an option as long as you let them set overnight! Natasha in general is a very jovial person, but definitely did enjoy working on her project! It was neat to see her creativity active!

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  11. Prachtig mooi chocolade winkeltje de koekjes en chocolade lijken erg echt,
    erg mooi gemaakt samen met je dochter.

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  12. La escena tiene un aspecto precioso. Y ademås con tan buena compañía tiene que dar gusto trabajar.

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    1. ¡La compañía fue la mejor, y poder compartir algunos conocimientos y tĂ©cnicas con ella fue maravilloso!

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  13. It looks so much fun. I am so happy for you and your daughter. It is wonderful to share this amazing hobby together. And on top, you both are doing a terrific job!! Great!

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    1. Thanks Alex! It was neat to show her some skills and then to see her realization of the possibilities! I think she really became aware of why making minis is such a challenge but so rewarding!

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  14. Hi Jodi! What fun it must be to create these kits with your daughter! She clearly is enjoying herself! But I am sure You are enjoying Her enjoyment as much as you are enjoying the kit building! :) The chocolates you have created look fantastic... and those little jars are gorgeous! I am really glad the Tea-Time Cottage is calling to you again... sometimes we just have to let things "brew" for a while to get the best results!! :):)

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    1. Hi Betsy! You are exactly right - seeing her enjoy something that brings so much joy to me was, well, so enjoyable!!! She believes that because she is so science/math-centric that she can't be creative. It was fun to show her that the part of her brain that can dream and design works just as beautifully! She left believing in herself and looking forward to making the vision for her shop come true. That was awesome!
      I am super excited about the shabby loving side of my brain becoming active again so I can work on the tea cottage! It is so close to being a complete house and if I actually finish it, I'll gain a project drawer back, lol!

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  15. Jodi, this looks so cute! The great part if having a daughter you can share the mini dreams with....

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    1. Yes Marion! Like when you collaborated on the seaside cottage with your son! If they aren't going to give us grandchildren, the least they can do is play minis with us!

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  16. Que bonita estĂĄ quedando!!! las galletas se ven deliciosas y todo encaja perfectamente,trabajar las dos juntas,le darĂĄ a la escena un toque muy especial!
    Besos.

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    1. Gracias pilar ¡Estoy tan contento de tener algunas cosas que podrĂ­a hacer en mi escondite para dar un poco de detalles 3D adicionales!

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  17. Both kits are fantastic. Your pink sweet shop is lovely; the beads in the jars are perfect and the biscuits are so delicious.

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    1. Thanks Faby! I am so happy that I had some things in my stash that could pass in half scale and that added just a little uniqueness! It's really fun to make these kits your own, isn't it?

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  18. Jodi it’s so fun to read about this project with your daughter. I smiled the whole way through! I love the foil chocolate idea, so cleaver and looks amazing! The shelves in the back really stand out, especially with the gold accents. What a cute scene! Can't wait to see it finished!

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    1. Thanks Kristine! It is so much fun to have a buddy to be in mini cahoots with! Now that I have won her over giving minis a chance, I just have to finagle more time with her! She's a busy traveling saleswoman with a fiance and a whole load of friends!!! The competition is tough! :O)

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  19. Both kits look great Jodi! And you both look like you had a blast. I think sometimes putting together simpler kits is so fun because you just don’t have to think so much. Hopefully you’ll have the chance to do this sort of thing more often! X

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    1. Thanks Shannon! I agree - I really needed something simpler as a break from pushing my limits on the New Orleans. And the wonderful discovery with half scale is that wonky doesn't look as wonky! Wonky almost makes it look cuter! It's like a free pass not to be so finicky! Why didn't you tell me sooner, lol! I am coming for one of you structures... SOON! :O)

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