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Monday, October 28, 2019

HBS/Miniatures.com Halloween Challenge!


Congratulations to all the winners in the HBS/Miniatures.com

Halloween Challenge!

You can see all the entries here.


It's so amazing that the wonderful folks at HBS/Miniatures.com do so much to support and encourage the mini community!

Thanks guys!































Thanks for stopping by and Have A Wonderfilled Fall!

xo xo,
Jodi

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Big Plans, Little Progress...

Greetings fellow mini addicted! I am afraid what I have to share is pretty sparse this week. I have done a little in a lot of directions, but completed nothing!


I painted the lamps and shades for each of the roomboxes, and painted pots and worked out the plants that will be planted in the pots for the atrium windows. I have yet to actually plant them.


I also began working out the chair designs for the rooms, first finding a chair style I liked and then trying to work out how to make it.


I have drawn up the pieces for the chairs, then imported them into Cricut Design Space.


I cut them from kraft board, and as I am making each of the three prototypes, I am taking notes on what needs to be changed on the pattern pieces. So far, it's not half bad. Just time consuming.


Russ was visiting his mom for a long weekend to celebrate her 71st birthday and to help her knock a few things off of her Honey Do list. He came home Monday with a clear schedule and some wicked home improvement mania. We'll be doing a little home improvement to our family room over the next three weeks, so my mini creating time will be very limited. Here's what the room has (mostly) looked like for the past 11 years...


I'll share some after photos as soon as we're done. It's going to look very different!

I asked Rusty if he'd mind helping a little. This is what he said...


I think we're on our own, lol! See you next week!

xo xo,
Jodi

Friday, October 18, 2019

More Scraps, More Leftovers and More Possibilities

After finishing most of the the construction for the Mid Century Modern bookshelf roombox, I was ready to tackle the Modern Modern version. The differences in these styles, from what I could learn, are subtle. I did my best with more of my scrap materials and on hand crafting supplies.


This box began the same as the Mid Mod with scrap 1/4" plywood cut down to 8-3/8" x 6-3/8" for the base. Luckily, I had one more scrap of leftover random plank flooring that would work. I just needed to lay it in the opposite direction.


The walls were constructed the same way, as well, using 3/16" foam core scraps. I had to glue a couple pieces together to gain the wall height I needed as I did not have a piece that was 12" high. I have a lot of Magic Brik tape and mortar in my supplies, so I decided on that finish for the main section of the interior walls.


Once the mortar was dry, I painted the wall with warm white acrylic paint.


For the stain in this roombox, I wanted to go lighter. Luckily, I had a leftover Cherry Minwax Stain Marker to use on all the trim and floor. I also had some really pretty veneer, and the cherry stain gave it just a touch more depth.


I added the veneer to the tops of the interior walls and clad the window wall entirely.


I stuccoed the exterior walls using more of the Magic Brik mortar mix pounced on with a paintbrush. It's painted in warm white, too.



Main structure installed onto the base.




For a modern looking exterior feature, I laminated more of the veneer to scrap strips of wood. They came as packaging to protect speed shingles and are awesome because they are perfectly square and exactly the same size. I glued them onto the veneer, using a board and heavy weights to keep them from curling, and then cut them away from the veneer sheet. I used 1/2" square and 1/16" high Woodsies, one mounted on each end of the strip, to raise them up from the surface of the wall.





The window atrium fence was constructed the same way as the Mid Mod version. This time, I had to use 3 new pieces of 1/2" x 1/16" basswood stripwood because I had used up all my scraps. I also had to use one new piece of 1/4" corner molding.


The roof was constructed in the same manner, as well. Foam core base, leftover Lexan for a skylight, leftover grip tape for the roofing, but because I didn't have enough of the veneer left, I used a scrap piece of textured ceiling paper for the ceiling.



I filled in the atrium ground area with railroad gravel, because the plants and flowers will be in pots. There is also a basket for the battery pack.




Here are the Modern Modern and Mid-Century Modern roomboxes side by side. The differences are subtle, so hopefully the decor will help tell the story.




And because having a little person in the structure always helps to visualize the scale, the ladies have agreed to assist me in a demonstration.




Just large enough for a detailed little scene, but small enough to enjoy when space is at a premium in the real life house.

During the next batch of mini time, I hope to begin looking through my plant making supplies and raiding my kit and accessory drawers to see what I can come up with to create some fun little modern scenes. I hope you are all finding batches of fun mini time, too!

xo xo,
Jodi