Miniatures 2024 Year-End Round-Up

Happy Miniatures New Year!

(Image: pixabay.com Free license)

 Can't believe it! Where did 2024 go???

At the end of the year, I like to share and link the projects I've finished. It's a good way to see what I've actually done for the year! haa!

January:

I was finishing up the trim and other things on the half-scale Park Avenue Mansion. * Here's the tour part 1, with link to part 2. (Yes, that's a gargoyle on the roof!)

February:

Diner counter

The real fun of working on the mansion was doing something different - making a diner in the bottom floor of the house. I'd always wanted to do a diner so this was fun making one in half-scale. * Here's the finished diner tour.

March - April - May:

Besides working on flowers for the mansion in March, I shared a bunch of my miniatures projects for the A to Z Blog Challenge in April. (See archives list in left column for posts.)

May - June:

I began working on a Tiki Bar in a former photo box. See the finished project in June. I loved doing this one. The drinks and food were a lot of fun to make!

July:

It was back to making Halloween items for the Van Buren dollhouse I finally got back to finishing. * Tour the finished Halloween Van Buren Dollhouse. Part 1 - Part 2.

August:

Between finishing the Halloween house, I got it in my mind to do an abandoned room in another former photo box I had on hand. This was fun to do as I'd seen similar rooms and thought it would be fun to "wreck" a room. I might, just might, do a small house kit I have this way eventually. It can be a lot of fun being intentionally messy!

September:

Did some early Halloween posts this month using the tag "Spooky Season." See other posts in the left column archives.

October:

Different accessories I've done - even a "haunted" garbage can. (Look for the eye!) 

November:

For variety, I finished this half-scale Clematis trellis. I'd been putting it off, but the results were worth doing it! I'll be making more purple colored flowers for the latest project listed below.

I also started painting parts for the next much-smaller half-scale project, which I'm calling the Lavender Cottage.  * Update: the base and first floor are assembled and glued. All windows painted. The door has to be painted next. Then there's lots of tiny trim to paint on the arches, plus the exterior walls.

Set up for Halloween.

Also worked on the camper kit, that I turned into the Coffee Camper for a Christmas Campground display at my friend's house.

December:

I did the Halloween-themed house on the right. (Of course!)

Did several Christmas projects. First, making a tiny Gingerbread House turned into a cute Gingerbread House Decorating Contest as part of the Christmas Campground.

Outside flowers (before finishing)

I started repainting a toy plastic house as a Christmas house. * Finished house post to come and will be linked here.

It was fun this year opening our own Advent Calendars for a Miniature Christmas. Fun gifts like the new addition to my Halloween house lawn. (See right side.) Made different assorted items for that and for some gifts.

It was a really fun miniatures year! Here's to more creativity in 2025!

* Thanks for visiting and sharing minis all year! The best to you and more fun next year! *

Happy Halloween! Miniature Haunted House 2

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! Welcome to part 2 of my half-scale Halloween House tour! If you missed the beginning, scroll down or see Part 1 here.

Side view, bedroom. I covered a plain chest with different black/white prints.

 

Back view: Greenleaf half-scale Van Buren Dollhouse turned into a Halloween House

* Like to Read? See my Halloween Reading List on the other blog. * 

* Click photos for full size; links to all posts are in the left column archives; other projects are linked on the top left dollhouse tab.* 

**** Continuing the tour, we'll go upstairs

Second Floor: Parlor/living room on right side: 

I added the rug and coffee table since this photo:

Hard to take pix with the glaring light, but I added the funky clock here and a poison plant. A Skellie visitor is taking a break. And a ghostly visitor....

This was fun to decorate using a spooky cat print scrapbook paper I had left. The large armchair on the wall turned out better than I expected. (Also part of the Gothic set, SDK Miniatures.) The side table (TCM Miniatures) is topped with a poison sumac plant kit (also SDK). The furnishings are those cheapie wood punch-out kits I redid. The coffee table was a swap gift that I repainted and added some art inside.

Second floor:

Bedroom - Added more pillows to the cool tree bed from Michelle's Miniatures.

Third floor attic:

I made several furnishings for a small bedroom and sitting room on the left side. There's also a trunk kit (SDK Miniatures.)  I really like the music area on the right side. I found this small plastic organ and Victorian furnishings in my stash and decided it fit perfect here. 

One thing I forgot: Have to make room for the Fortune Teller box I made earlier. (Michelle's Miniatures) It could go downstairs against the wall if I decide to move that couch later.

Hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I did in making the house and furnishings.

Next: There's another non-Halloween project that I just finished, too. An older kit that also sat around - a camper. My friend and I are setting up a small campground for our Christmas mini get-togethers. Something fun to do. Will share more on that so come back soon!

Thanks again for visiting! 

Happy Halloween! Miniature Haunted House

 

Pictured: Outside back of half-scale Van Buren dollhouse. (Click photos for full size.)

I've done several haunted houses or Halloween-themed houses since it's a favorite way to decorate in miniature.

I've been working on the half-scale Greenleaf Van Buren dollhouse a while, having let it sit and then going back to it some months ago to finish it. So I finally kicked myself to (mostly) finish decorating so I could post it here.

I'm sure I'll add or change more things over time, but I'm done for now. I'd like to add some more decorations on the front walls and some kind of wreaths on the doors, but I can't decide what would look good.

Since this will be kind of long, I decided to split the house tour in two, so be sure to check for the second post  later today as well.

Let's start outside on the Patio:

Well, it looks like Mr. Pumpkinhead isn't such a bad guy after all. He decided to clean up the patio and rake some leaves. How nice of him! (Rake: SDK Miniatures; Table and chair, TMC Miniatures; Bench: Jane Harrop Miniatures, UK).

The window boxes looked plain, so I added some tiny skulls. (I like that decorative pumpkin string on the balcony* but I think I'll add some orange paper in back to show through and then it'll be more visible.) I really liked doing the whole house in brick. I used the textured brick paper from Starboc2/Etsy. *The balcony was part of a fence section from AlphaStamps since I didn't like the bulky piece that came with the house. I also cut out the top row of the fence for the top of the roof. (See top photo.)

C'mon inside!

Front hall: (right side of the dining room)

I like these using little statues like this one of Pan (by the front door.) I have another one like this but in stone color. I also have an archer that I got from WCD Miniatures. Fun decorating additions. I usually pick up one or two new ones at the Fall Miniature Show, Schaumburg, Ill. (Nov. 8-9) Recovering the Victorian couch really made a difference, I think. Really liked this fabric!

Kitchen on right:

I can't help getting a bit gorey here. Decided to use an old Tootsietoy icebox - and I didn't even have to touch-up the chips. ha! I love Tootsie toy pieces (1920s-'30s) and try to use them when I find them cheap. Here's some history on them.) I also hesitated, but gave in and dirtied up a plastic sink/stove section I had as it fit here. Since this photo below, I added two painted seed beads for knobs and a piece of cut solder for the faucet. I think a picture is needed above the icebox.

Oh.... I wouldn't bother Grandma if I were you. As you can see, it's best to not complain about the menu or her cooking! That must be what happened to the family portrait, too. Quite a temper!

The table has some yummy bone soup for lunch. There are pies in preparation on the side table. (Side: Narrow Vesper table, All About Miniatures/Etsy ). The bookcase has some potions, whatever other ingredients, and some cookbooks. I liked using a different style this time instead of just walnut stain. This time I painted it gold and used red metallic designs for inserts. (Gothic set, SDK Miniatures.)

Here's a view of the closet and staircase next to the kitchen. Watch out for the monster under the stairs! 

To the dining room, left:

Some items on the table:

The doll was one of those cheapie figures that I painted gray and re-dressed for a Miss Havisham-style room. The bench seat and table are my favorite Gothic half scale furnishings (SDK Miniatures.) My friend Gigi gave me that little heater and I thought it fit perfect here. I still have to add some silverware to the table.

Next Post: Come back later for part 2 of the tour upstairs! (If you sign up for email headline updates in the left column, you'll know when it posts!)

Thanks again for visiting!

(pixabay.com, cc license)

Miniature Halloween Countdown 5: Witches!

 

Continuing the Halloween Miniature Countdown:

(Click photos for full size; see last post: Witch Cottage.)

Many people don't like dolls in their dollhouses, but in some, I do. I like dolls, always have. 

Of course, I've dressed quite a few witches for Halloween, both 1" and half-scale.

The above is a favorite, which was in my haunted house, but now is in a greenhouse scene. Here are several others in this post.

* The Halloween posts will continue on Monday.

Halloween: Haunted House

 

Every haunted house needs a garden gnome, especially a zombie gnome!

** Today is Day 16 of #septemberspookyseason24 on Instagram. Daily posts and some giveaways via @wyrdworldminiatures. (Click photos for full size.)

* Follow me also - @cwrite12. I'll try to post my daily (hopefully) Halloween inspiration here also with a reminder. Join in! 

TODAY'S PROMPT: Haunted House....

Which is still underway. Making progress on the Van Buren half-scale dollhouse. I'm close but I'm not-quite-done yet.

So sharing the previous photo of the front. I am working on a brick patio in the front of the house, so here's that progress.

I had this brick sheet forever and decided it would fit perfect for the house and would look even better painted black so it matches. I think it looks much better, doesn't it?

The small garden bed has a zombie gnome (top photo). I was lucky to find a couple sets from Lemax one year. The corner giraffe is a "topiary" animal like The Shining. I have a lion for the other side but I'd like to find a bear. These are smaller zoo animals so closer to half-scale size. The chair set (it comes with two planters) is from TMC Miniatures. I'll add some impatiens around the fountain and am making a bench/seat for the left side.

That's it for the moment! Will show more as I get more done. Thanks for stopping by again.

Halloween: Spooky Miniature Witches

 

 (Click photo for full size.)

** Today is Day 14 of #septemberspookyseason24 on Instagram. Daily posts and some giveaways via @wyrdworldminiatures. (Click photos for full size.)

* Follow me also - @cwrite12. I'll try to post my daily (hopefully) Halloween inspiration here also with a reminder. Join in! 

TODAY'S PROMPT: Witches/Wizards

I skipped yesterday since I didn't have anything to fit, but this one today is easy!

For some reason, I have made or have quite a few witches! Synonymous of Halloween, I guess. I do have a wizard, too, but not sure where the photo is.

The above witch was in my 1" scale haunted house, which is now packed away. (No room).

 Here's another flashier witch I dressed a while back. 

I still like this cute little girl witch, too. (Ignore the frame.)

And more recently, there's the 1/24th half-scale witch I dressed last year for the Witch's Cottage. (More photos and video at name link.)

* Thanks again for visiting. Be sure to stop by for more posts and photos!

Halloween: Van Buren Dollhouse Furnishings

 Another month and a new post! Where does time go?

I've been working on making some furnishings and decorating the half-scale Greenleaf Van Buren Halloween dollhouse I finally got back to last month. It had been sitting awhile so I decided to finish the trim and top roof trim, and I have to admit, it looks pretty nice. I realize I still have to add some cobwebs to the inside ceilings, too. (See last post - abandoned room. Click photos for full size.) ** See end for the Instagram #septemberspookyseason24 game photo!

I kept looking at it (or was it peering at me?) and finally decided to start adding some art/pictures, which really makes a difference. We'll see how well I can get photos as some may be hard to see. I make a lot of pictures like the eerie landscapes below as they're fun to do and just to have them on hand, even if I don't use them all right away.

The rooms are in progress. I hate showing photos of things not finished, but I also love sharing how it looks so far. So, no win. ha! But taking the photos gives me an idea of what I need to fix or change. You stare at things but it seems only a photo shows the goofs or changes needed. You know how that goes...

Parlor/Living room: This has a cool cat pattern background from scrapbook paper I had. Sadly, it's gone except for maybe a tiny piece. I added the creepy picture to the fireplace top. (Warning: I bought the fireplace last year (or the year before) at Michael's and have bought lit items before with no problem. ** Be sure to check things now: I bought a larger lit pumpkin lantern this year (not shown) - which I learned after I was home that it came WITHOUT batteries. Things are getting cheapened. I would've been really mad if I'd paid full price.)

The coffee table was received in a past Half Scale group swap. I painted it and added some creepy manuscripts inside.  

A pot of poison sumac (SDK Miniatures.) and a Dracula book (of course!) is on a side table from TMC Miniatures. This goes in the parlor above and in second photo below, next to the maroon Gothic chair near the door.

That ghost gets around!

The Kitchen: so far: I am thinking of putting that spice cabinet there on the right side wall. Have to add more dishes. More poison plants in the skull on the cabinet.

Looks like someone got mad... haaa!

Still in progress. I hung onto this old plastic kitchen stove/sink piece for a long time but I think it fits well here with the Tootsietoy fridge/cabinet. I think I'll have to age this even more. I wasn't going to make it really dirty, but it still looks too clean. Have to add bead knobs and a larger faucet yet.

Here's what's cooking so far, eyeball soup and bloody steak (have to add the liquid in.) I'm being pretty tame here... (for me). ha!

Bedroom:

The tree bed kit (Michelle's Miniatures) fits pretty well in here, along with the chaise kit. I need to add in more furnishings yet and a rug.

Just a short tour for now. I'll be adding more things and more photos soon, so stay tuned!

For fun:  (Click to see full size.)  #SEPTEMBERSPOOKYSEASON24

** September also is #septemberspookyseason24 on Instagram. Daily posts and some giveaways via @wyrdworldminiatures. * Follow me also - @cwrite12. I'll try to post my daily (hopefully) Halloween inspiration here also with a reminder. Join in! Sept 1 prompt is Tumbling. Today Sept. 2 is...Feathered Friends. (Some of these may be hard to match. See photo above.)

 
   *** Ahhh, I remember, I do have a Feathered friend... the vulture in my large haunted house on my website! My pet vulture is from Barb's Mini-Gems.