2016 HBS Creatin' Contest Progress - A Pictorial Update...

I have been completely engrossed in working on the Creatin' Contest build for the last couple weeks, but nothing was "done" enough to share.  Now, I have so much to share that if I talked about every step this post would be super long! I'll just put some captions on the photos and write whenever anything needs explaining...

*** Note: I am taking photos with an iPhone 5s - not the greatest way to capture clear, sharp photos of miniatures. Add to that my lighting. I have a 5 arm chandelier which has 5 bright white LED bulbs installed. This is great for seeing what you are working on - a vast improvement over the 60 watt clear bulbs I was stuck with for nearly four years. BUT, they confuse the poor iPhone camera. Some things I focus on become way too washed out while the background is often dark and hard to make out details. I try to do the best I can editing the photos, but there again my tools are only marginal. I apologize for the photo quality, and would welcome any advice on a great, affordable digital camera for minis, and an affordable and user friendly editing software.

Now on to the not so great photos...

Prepping the exterior trim for spray painting. I am fortunate to have an insulated and heated garage so can pretty much spray paint all year round. 

Prepping the diamond speed shingles to be spray painted. What a huge time saver this is!

I used the Rustoleum stone spray with the texture. It takes a few coats and smells like petroleum but really leaves a nice asphalt looking result. Don't be freaked by the curling - overnight they all laid flat again.

They were really quick and easy to install with Quick Grip. With the human eye, there is not so much variance in the coloring as it looks in the photo. It actually looks really natural.

The inside has turned into a catch-all while I work on the exterior. Who's the piggy now?

My brilliant husband saw me struggling to find a ridge cap solution. He walked right over to my wood supply display and came right back with a piece of cove molding. I never would have though of it. I likely would have made a shingle cap but this was so much simpler. I think it goes well with the cartoony theme, too!

With the roofing done, I could finally install the chimney! I am still working on my caulking skills, but will save the amendments for when I do the final touch ups.

Using some of the shelf kit parts, I combined it with a larger piece of wood to make the piggies bath shelf. I spray painted them in the same trim color, then added three hooks - one for each pig.

I painted the pigs initials - one for Bob, Joe and Sam. These will indicate on the bath shelf whose towel and bath pouf is whose.

Using a low quality baby washcloth, I cut the towels - one for each of them. I painted on some watered down Elmer's glue, arranged them into shape, held the tops with a little clamp, then let them dry overnight.

Instead of just painting the inside of the acrylic jars, I wanted them to look like real bubbled bath mix. I discovered how to do that by accident. I use 2 part epoxy for all sorts of mini things, and often add a bit of acrylic paint in to make things like milk. I discovered that Amazing casting resin actually starts to react with the paint as soon as it begins to harden, causing it to literally bubble up like soda when shaken. There is a small working time to get the stuff into the jar, and add only a little because IT GROWS like magic rocks! It is still pliable, like taffy for a few minutes. Let your imagination fly! It hardens overnight, but marvelous sponges, cheese and simulated bubble baths can be achieved with practice!

I wish I had remembered to take photos of the reaction and end substance. I promise I will in a future post.

It's hard to really see the bubbles in this photo, and I had to squish the milk bath foam down to fit in the jar a bit. I swirled extra brown paint into the mud bath jar. Pigs just love their mud baths! I drilled holes in the lids and added tiny door knobs as handles.

Here's the shelf mounted on the wall of the front porch. The piggies have all they need: Milk Bath, Mud Bath, a rubber ducky, and their own personal towels and bath poufs. You have to use your imagination when wondering how they actually fit into that small galvanized tub!

During all of the drying time in between projects, I had a flower factory going. It seems like when you plant a mini flower garden that you always wish you had more flowers. I made lots! I had nine kits all together, and my favorite by far were the ones by Bonnie Lavish. So simple to do, and such great results. Just the fact that her leaves are done with a hole in the center makes them appear so much more realistic. Next time I do some mini shopping, I'll be restocking these kits!

So pretty! I want more!!!

Nothing says 'this is a happy home' like a welcoming bunch of colorful flowers!

I really had just enough in the end. Next time I order kits, I'll add 20% more than I think I might need!

The little house mailbox even looks better with it's added landscaping!

I had a third lantern to match the interior lanterns, but when it arrived broken I wrothe it off. I am glad I pulled it back out again, because I was able to carefully deconstruct it and insert a new bulb. It went back together beautifully, and I was able to tie it into the wires running down the roof. I painted all three with a coat of bronze metallic glaze, and the all look so much better!

When I made the base and installed the trim, I left space that I could use to add a littel greenery on the front opening side of the structure and all along the back. For the back, I wanted something simple so I just made a couple quick hedges out of foam and clump foliage. Even after you spray them with Scenic Cement, they tend to shed a little. I will just keep spraying on layers over the next few days until they give up!

I debated on whether I should put the garden on the front porch or back here. Back here won after I saw all of those luscious flowers. I made a small brick patio with real bricks for the tomatoes and gardening supplies and used the rest of the space to "plant" the vegetables. One of the zucchini plants had to be eliminated for space reasons, but I hope to use it elsewhere. 

These are a set of bargain garden tools that come unfinished. It was easy to age them with some brown and black washes. I made the hanging shelf from scrap wood and small picture hanging nails I had in a kit around the house. The whole unit got a coat of age and grunge. I have plans for the top shelf in a later post...

Small brick patio with tomato pots, fertilizer and a galvanized watering can.

Just enough vegetables to be put up for winter!

Instead of planting it in the ground, I planted the Swiss Chard in the bucket that came with the dry sink kit. It serves a great purpose - it sits on the removable cover over the junction splice. The white you see beneth is only liquid electrical tape. I wanted to add another layer before I paint it brown to blend in.

Here is where the 12v pronged cord will plug in. Once the brown paint has been added, it will blend right in.

A major portion of the build has been accomplished and I feel really good about where I am at with the contest deadline. I have a few outdoor accessories I'd like to add to the mix, so look for some fun tutorial projects in my next post. I'll give you a hint - it's about birds and bees!

Have an awesome and relaxing weekend, my friends! I plan to start mine thinking about all of the wonderful things that I am grateful for!

Jodi

Make A 1/12th Scale Cottage Mail Box

I was working away on the foundation trim, roofing and front porch accessories (for the HBS Creatin' Contest 2016) when I found myself waiting for glue to dry. I know - story of our lives, right?!? Anyway, one of the projects I wanted to make was a cottage mail box to match the house. I started on it and thought "Oh! This might be fun to share!". So, I made a pattern and instruction sheet. Here is the tutorial and a link to the printable .pdf - enjoy!

Make A 1/12th Scale Cottage Mailbox .pdf

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-TDO8Yunzncand3d2JwV3JTZUU/view?usp=sharing

YOU’LL NEED:

· 4” X 4” X 1/16” BALSA OR BASSWOOD

· XACTO KNIFE

· TAPE

· GLUE

· PAINT

· 1” PIECE RIBBON

DIRECTIONS

1. PRINT PATTERN AND MEASURE 1” CHECK SQUARE (ON PRINT SHEET) TO MAKE SURE YOUR PRINTER OR PAGE SETTINGS DID NOT RESIZE THE PATTERN.

2. PLACE THE PATTERN OVER BALSA OR BASSWOOD. ADHERE ON 4 SIDES WITH TAPE AND CUT ON OUTLINES USING A RULER AS A CUTTING GUIDE.

3. LIGHTLY SAND PIECES MAKING SURE NOT TO RESHAPE THE EDGES.

4. GLUE THE FRONT TO THE SIDES AND BACK. THE FRONT AND BACK PANELS OVERLAP THE SIDE PANELS. LET DRY, THEN GLUE YOUR STRUCTURE CENTERED ON THE BASE.

5. LAY THE ROOF FRONT AND BACK DOWN, TOP EDGES TOGETHER. GLUE A 1” STRIP RIBBON, EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED, CONNECTING BOTH ROOFS. THIS WILL BE YOUR HINGE.

6. PAINT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF YOUR PIECES. GET AS DETAILED AS YOU WANT WITH THE ROOF, DOOR AND WINDOWS AND CHIMNEY (FLAG). CLAPBOARD LINES AND ROOF TILES CAN BE LIGHTLY GROVED INTO THE WOOD WITH A RULER AND SMALL FLAT BLADE SCREWDRIVER. FOR A MORE POLISHED LOOK, SAND PIECES AFTER THE FIRST COAT, THEN APPLY A FINAL COAT.

7. GLUE THE BACK ROOF ONLY TO THE STRUCTURE, LEAVING THE FRONT ROOF TO FREELY OPEN FOR THE MAIL. THE TOP OF THE FRONT WALL WILL HOLD IT IN PLACE WHEN YOU WANT IT CLOSED.

8. ATTACH THE FLAG TO EITHER SIDE. YOU CAN GLUE IT IN THE UP POSITION, OR ATTACH TO THE MAILBOX WITH A SMALL BRAD TO MAKE IT LOWERABLE.

9. APPLY A COAT OF VARNISH/SEALER.

P.S. #1 To make this a birdhouse instead, just cut a hole in one side and attach both roof halves with glue. A rope hanger can be glued between the roof halves, and a perch can be added below the hole.

PS #2 - I also wanted to share about a new place/product I found. It's called eyeletoutlet.com. I was looking for 1/8" eyelets to use as grommets for an upcoming shower curtain project. These have in scale shafts (used to make baby shoes for the laces to go through) so they won't look bulky. The pack of 60 was $1.79 and the tool was $3.99. To make the shipping charges of $4.00 seem more reasonable, I also ordered several washi tape rolls which are on sale now, too. I had my order in 2 days! They also have 1/16" eyelets which would work well for 1/2 or smaller scales.

PS #3 - Did anyone else notice the web site re-do at miniatures.com? Totally new, and the Blogs section is now GONE! Luckily, I have most all of them (the ones that still post regularly) on my blog roll.

I had a PS #4, but I've forgotten what it was now. Oh well - next time!

Back again soon,

Jodi

How To Grow A Miniature Garden In Two Days...

I am happy to say that my 19 day work marathon finally wrapped up last Friday night! It's amazing how quickly things fall apart when you don't clean for three weeks! I spent the weekend getting the house back in order and was ready for minis on Monday!

At this point in the HBS Creatin' Contest build I could have gone in several directions. The open side roof piece and the roofing needs to be done, then there's the fascia, and I have a long list of little projects that all need doing. It was a toss up, but I decided that some mini vegetable gardening sounded the most rewarding.

Have you ever watched the Food Network show called Semi Homemade? I haven't seen it in years, but I love Sandra Lee's philosophy: Why do it all from scratch when you can save time with a few ready made ingredients? For this post I am going to share how I used ready made minis, kits and good old mini ingenuity to create the vegetable garden for the little piggies...

I started with some carrots, beets and tomatoes from NattyCollection and some vegetable kits from TheMiniatureGarden on Etsy.

 I highly recommend all of the products from both artisans, but I wanted to expand and combine things to make them more realistic and more my own.

Tomato Vines
The tomatoes on the left are from the kit. they are plasticy one hole beads. The ones on the right are like FIMO, but softer and a little pliable, which was really handy for making alterations. I thought it would ne mice to combine the kit and the clay tomatoes.

I needed to make the vine wires attach to the "clay" tomatoes, so I drilled little insertion holes in the top and glued in the wires. For the kit tomatoes, I did the same but they already had the hole.

Then I bent the little wires to form a loop and cut away the excess wire.

Once everyone had their loop, I strung several of the tomatoes onto long wires.

I made the structure of the tomato vine using wire for the main stem and then smaller vines branching off of it.

I added the strings of tomatoes at random spots, wrapping the extra wire around the main stem.

Next it was time to add the leaves and flowers. I added veins to the leaves then glued them on as a tomato vines leaves naturally grow. Looking at photos really helped! I also attached a wooden stake to each plant.

They were starting to actually look good, but I thought adding some green and unripe tomatoes would really add some nice detail. I looked around for what I could use, and painted styrofoam balls worked out perfectly!

Here they are before potting so that I could determine how tall to leave them.

And here they are sculpted and planted in their barrels. A fun and rewarding little project!

Zucchini Plants
The zucchini plants started out as a kit. The kit does not include actual zucchini - only the leaves and flowers. I decided to make my own to add a bit more visual interest. I just cut off the ends of some take-out chopsticks, sanded them to shape, then painted them. I used my little star-flower paper punch for the little flowery thing on the ends, I am not even going to pretend to know vegetable plant anatomy, and tonight I am just too lazy to Google it!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had all of the paper punches I need for future zucchini plants! In fact, I cut out more pieces to beef up the kits!

Here's a photo of a zucchini plant's leaf. See the spotting? It was easy to replicate using a little dry brushing with a pale gray paint.

Now it was time to vein the leaves, crinkle the flowers, add the wire stems and assemble everything. Once again, Google photos really helped, as the kit instructions have only outlined renderings.

I just love the vibrant colors! These will add so much visual interest to the little garden, and they were so simple to make!

Lettuce
The lettuce kit came with some strips of thick green crepe paper and some wire. Next time I'm at Joanne's or Michaels, I'm going to buy some! I see lots of lettuce in my future projects! It was probably the most fun of all the vegetables!

After cutting and shaping the paper, I ended up with enough leaves to make 8 heads. Three of them had one extra leaf. The first leaf gets glued about 1/8" onto the wire, then gets rolled up tightly. Each consecutive leaf gets glued a little offset from the previous leaf. Once all of the leaves are glued, you use tweezers to fan out the leaves. For the red leaf, I just watered down some purplish/red paint and dabbed it on. LOVE, love love the lettuce!

Green Onions, Swiss Chard & Leeks (oh my!)
Who knew that so many awesome mini veggies could be made from these simple and everyday supplies:

For these little veggies, a pictorial will do nicely!

Reworked Clay Carrots & Beets
NattyCollection makes fabulous mini food and other items, but there is a certain style I was after with the garden for this project. I guess more organic looking is what I was after. Like I mentioned earlier in the post, these veggies are soft and pretty pliable which allowed me to make alterations.

For the carrots, I was able to twist out and drill the carrots to add my own tops made from painted Lycopodium. I dabbed some glue on the end of the stock and pushed it into the drilled hole with the aid of a piece of wire. It's not a perfect carrot top, but it has a much more natural look.

For the beets, I cut about 2/3 off the bottom and affixed them to a "dirt mound" to give the illusion of a planted vegetable.

I attached all of the veggies to dirt mounds, coated the mounds in a light layer of glue, then added Woodlamd Scenics dirt on top. I also dirtied up the carrots and bottoms of other veggies.

I will wait until the last steps to attach the vegetables to the base and create the actual garden. When the roofers come they always make such a mess and kill all of the plants anyway. Better to wait...

I'm not sure what to tackle next, but I hope it will be as fun as the vegetable garden was! It's so nice to be back into the mini swing of things!

Have a safe & happy Labor Day weekend!

Jodi