The Park Ave. Mansion front
* Continuing the A to Z Blog Challenge, I'm putting several days' letters together and probably mixed some days up. (Click photos for full size; See previous L post on the mansion with other photos. Back: Day 1)
Finally - finally! I can show some final pictures of the Park Ave. Mansion (from Laserdollhousedesigns which I bought on eBay.) Hope you're not sick of this project yet. I'm not! haa!
I love flowers, mini and real! - Front of the mansion (this was at Easter.) The left planter is kind of cool - for something different, I used an old wood spool. I made all the flowers from punches.
Sad... the real-life tulips aren't even open yet and now it's gonna get near freezing again. Even some frost expected. Grrr! Hope they survive as they'll be so pretty!
As I mentioned in the last post about my favorite Half Scale Mansion, I had a lighting problem 💩 which I'd put off fixing for quite a few days since I was really aggravated about it. Well, last Monday I I finally decided to tackle it and---TA-DAH! It worked - the "it" being fixing the diner wall light and rewiring the standing lamp on the third floor. What a huge relief!! 😅
Well.... Never be too quick to celebrate. 💩💩The diner wall lamp bulb burned out. Again, a second time. *&^%!!! And several days later, I finally got brave enough to fix it. Yay!!!!! It wasn't as bad as the first time. What a freaking nightmare! I'm leaving the house alone for now! I moved nd covered it until I decide to add more things.
Lesson learned: I ended up having to re-solder a separate bulb and light cord on.I kept the light wire super long and all I have to do is pull the lamp frame (which is glued separate) to fix the light. Whew! I know, more than you want to know, but I have to rant a bit. ha!
On to the tour!
Here's the finished back, which I didn't show before. (I admit, I get tired of retaking photos and sometimes I'm just too lazy to re-do them! ha!) For example, there is a fern plant and screen added since this photo at the end of the second floor bedroom so the chaise is in a different spot now. haaa!
Despite some initial building problems I had, probably since I had changed some of the original design to delete some walls and fake walls, this came out better than I thought. To be different, I made false walls, doors, and lit exit signs on the left side walls that would go out to "the halls" instead of using stairs. Yes, that's where the bathrooms would be, too. Gotta use your imagination. 😀
Floor 1: Diner
I've shared this before (See
previous post with diner photos) as I just love how it came out.
A tip: the hanging globe lights here and on the third floor ceiling are actually cut from LED Christmas light replacements. They're a cut-glass pattern and work really well!
Here's the left side. I changed the curtains on the door as I think they match better now.
I'd thought of making a diner awhile ago, but it was fun adapting it to the smaller half-scale size. (1/2" = 1 foot, so a person is roughly near 3" tall.) I still have another cafe table kit (SDK Miniatures) to make and put in.
I moved some things around and added appliances on the end counter. I might add a glass yet for the shakes. I did add a mug under the coffeemaker after this photo and touched up the blender. (All from
ShopMiniDecor and More on etsy.) The counter is my own design, using some cabinets from
MiniEtchers.
I love how real the cooking food looks. Made them from Model Magic Clay, painted, (red/pink, and burnt umber) then added some Glaze and some paint to make it look like cooked grease.
Added some buns with toppings in the works for the burgers. The tomatoes are cut from a polymer clay cane I bought awhile ago. Some of this stuff is close to 1" scale size (like the tomato cane) but I sized everything to the smallest plates. I don't like things so tiny you can't see them or handle them. I drop enough stuff and have to hunt for it. ha!
Floor 2: The rich widow's apartment
I loved the colors in here. The bedroom furniture is part of a Victorian set from
HartsDesireMinis on etsy. I think the screen is from a second Victorian set with a vanity and dressing table I haven't made yet. I made the chaise from a d. anne ruff furniture pattern.
Floor 2: sitting room, right side
I made the chairs, chaise, and octagon corner table from the d. anne ruff patterns. I remodeled the fireplace and made the mantel for it using marble wallpaper. I added a gold filigree flower with glued on "jewels" in front of the fireplace opening. I bought the right side lamp (a Brooke Tucker Golden Christmas idea) from someone a long time ago.
I do have a pair of resin half-scale doll kits from Marcia Backstrom saved that I was lucky to find a long time ago. They're assembled but I have to dress, paint, and wig them. They're an older couple and I'd thought they'd fit the theme here. But that'll take me a while to get to making them. I haven't worked on dolls in a while so this will be a challenge.
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Part 2 tomorrow: I'll share the third floor and roof garden, and the videos next, so be sure to come back tomorrow!
Thanks again for visiting!
