Tardy Traveler

If there's anyone still coming by here, HELLO! I know, I know. It's been a long time and it seems as though I'd fallen off the face of the Earth. Nothing quite that dramatic, though many unexpected life changes left me not feeling much like making minis. I haven't got the heart to talk about all of it today, so I'll just keep this post about a new mini project that I started a few weeks ago...

A trailer?!? I know. When I last posted I was still working on the treehouse. What can I say? The long hiatus caused me to lose my inspiration for it. Seasoned miniaturists know that if you want to have fun with minis, you have to follow your inspiration. No matter how many unfinished projects you have giving you the evil eye. So yes... as the photos above suggest, I got down the dusty Travel Trailer Kit. It seemed bite sized enough to encourage me gently into my mini groove again.

As ever, I'm unable to leave well enough alone. Straight away I was cutting holes into the walls. Actually, all I did was make the concession window opening a bit longer in order to add a "slide out" feature. Gotta maximize the space, especially in a dinky travel trailer! Mine won't actually slide in and out, it just looks as though it can. I boxed in the cut out wall by adding 2" deep walls/floor/ceiling with 1/8" basswood sheet.

Added 2" deep side walls, floor and ceiling.

Affixed to the trailer.

The exterior looks a little more interesting, too!

The "slide out" was the perfect place to install a compact but cute kitchenette. Just enough space for a stove/oven, microwave, sink, mini fridge and a small bit of counter space.

Cabinets courtesy of chipboard cut with the Cricut Maker.

Finally! A use for all those leftover 3D printed knobs and burners!

The kitchenette installed in the "slide out".

With the kitchenette, dining table/seating and storage assigned to the "main cabin", all the trailer needed to be livable on the road was a bedroom and bathroom on either end. I cut a floor template out of graph paper in order to have a better visual and get the measurements just right. With those rooms figured out I could add the rest of the wallpapers.

I used scrapbook paper with a wood pattern to cover the trailer's floor piece. I was so careful to install the center of the design in the middle of the drawers in the kitchen. Then when I glued it to the wall I somehow managed to glue the trailer floor in the wrong direction! now it's off center. Out of practice, I guess. I am going to work hard to ignore my mistake so that it won't bother me, much.

Time to make the interior walls. To be able to have a decent sized bathroom I made the wall jog enough to fit a sink and shower on one side and a trailer sized toilet on the other.

Walls are 1/8" basswood.

Bird's eye view.

Bedroom

Bathroom

All the pretty wallpapers added...

The advantage to making all the furniture is that I can make it to fit exactly to my space. Everything below was designed and cut with the Cricut Maker using chipboard. 

Even the toilet is made from chipboard. It is 19 layers of 2 mm chipboard in graduating sizes, glued one on top of the other. I sanded the seams then filled in the really noticeable areas with joint compound. Then a final sanding and a couple coats of craft paint brushed on. It needs a final sanding and a good spray coat of Krylon Triple Thick. Then, being in the back of the viewing area, it will pass for a trailer toilet.

Peek-a-boo toilet, shower and a peek into the bathroom cabinet.

Built in cabinets and drawers make trailer living a little easier.

Banquet cushions and table coming soon...

Bird's eye view.

Progress!

Thanks for coming by in spite of my unexplained absence. I have missed you and being so inspired by your projects. I hope to catch up on blog posts and to keep making progress on the trailer as I have time.

xo xo,

Jodi