June 24, 2016

New Half Scale Dollhouse Shed Kit!

Shellie from MiniEtchers (my fave new shop btw!)  has a new kit coming out!

I asked about a half scale lean-to shed kit and she made one up! I tested it out and wanted to report it goes together great, and turns out really well!  I added some touches like the strips inside over the plastic windows (bought a package of Shrinky Dink plastic sheets) that I put in. I also added posts in the back since I built it with the sides butted to the outer front edges instead of to the inner back. (Yes, making more work for myself, as is always the case, of course! ha!)  The kit is about 5 3/4" wide, 5 1/4" deep and about 5  1/4" high at the back tallest point.

Fun little kit. I'm going to make a bench and add flower pots yet. Will share more pix as I progress...  (I may change the doorknob... couldn't find the half scale size knobs...) Don't you love the yellow door? 

 (And... just got the 1/24th artist set pieces, too... Maybe the owner will do some painting and planting out here....) 

(I also have a bunch of her other kits like the Cottage Kitchen and beach pieces I'm saving for the Half Scale Beach cottage... see link about that. Be sure to check out her cool kitchen pieces and the Eastlake furniture set. Very different!) 





June 20, 2016

Wow! #1 in Dollhouse Books!!




Dollhouse Decor & More is #1!!! 

Wow!!! 

Get it on Kindle - Print/Softcover 

How cool is that???? 

June 15, 2016

Half Scale Miniature Dollhouse Bed

Something in the works...

I'd made a set like this a while ago in 1" scale so I wanted to try making one in half - 1/24 scale for my Half Scale haunted house. (In the planning; I've been making/saving stuff a while for it.) The bed itself is cut from picture framing mat board.

So far... not much yet, but stay tuned... 


June 13, 2016

New Dollhouse Miniatures Book Out!

Get your copy now! It will be up soon on Amazon and in ebook.

62 projects and tutorials! See details here.


May 22, 2016

Latest Flea Market Miniature Finds

The flea market is once again open and in two weeks I've had some great finds.

Last week found this dollhouse kit - $5.





This week - found a nearly done roombox with the furniture. $7. Am going to take that rope off and put wood up for the chair rails. But nice floor and outside finish. The front plexiglass slips into the slot from the top.  Happy happy!







New Mystery Story with Miniatures! Happy Homicides 3 is Out!

Yes, all kinds of new stuff. Isn't that fun?????


NOW OUT!


Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crime includes stories from 12 authors - includes my story, "Surf's Up," in which my part-zombie girl, Becca (from my book, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie) helps solve a murder mystery coinciding with a miniatures competition. Yes, it has miniatures, too! 

 You may recognize the miniature entry in the contest!  (Right now, it's on sale -only 99 cents!! - see link.  - And see the contest below. Hurry before it ends!)



zombie girl short mystery

Be sure to come to the launch party, Sunday, May 22, 1-4 p.m. EST in the Facebook group, http://www.Facebook.com/HappyHomicides. You might win a bag of beach goodies!

Be sure to check out the fantastic giveaway! Enter to win $150 worth of great beach gear!!

Win  a Beach Bag Full of Swag from your friends at Happy Homicides!


Everything you need to have a great day at the beach (even if it's just pretend). A thick, plush towel. Yummy cookies and hibiscus tea. A stunning water bottle. Margarita foot cream. Sunblock. Relaxation oils. And of course, the fabulous beach bag. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway







May 13, 2016

New #Dollhouse #Miniatures Book Coming Soon!

I finally can reveal what's coming soon!!

I've been working on this project with writing and minis pal Joanna Campbell Slan (remember I shared news about her Big Wave Dave's Surf Shop?)

Well we joined ranks and hope to have this out soon once we review the proof. An assortment of 62 projects... 

Isn't the cover just simply fabulous????? Stay tuned for more details!


http://cverstraete.com

April 28, 2016

#AtoZ 2016 - EXceptional Yellow Miniatures!

Today is the Letter Y - for the 7th annual A to Z Blog Challenge in April! 

Check out the 1000+ blogs on the list!  If you like books, etc., I'm also doing the same on my GirlZombieAuthors blog.



Today is X and Y for EXceptional Yellow Miniatures



Lemon Meringue Pie - Linda Cummings


This is my favorite color and once I saw the latest gorgeous work by fantastic miniaturist Linda Cummings of Lins's Minis, I knew what I had to feature today!

Linda's minature work (1" scale, 1" equals 1 foot)  is so precise and realistic, I'll bet your mouth will be watering! Also check out her Facebook page. See more of her work and a previous post I wrote about her here.  

Check her Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/linsminis/) or see her website,www.linsminis.com.  You can see more of her work on her Pinterest page.


Banana Bread  - Linda Cummings

Pansies and Primroses - Linda Cummings

April 27, 2016

#AtoZ 2016 - W is for #Miniature White House

Welcome to the 7th annual A to Z Blog Challenge in April!  
Come back daily for more exciting posts and even some giveaways!
Check out the 1000+ blogs on the list! 


Today is W for Miniature White House

If you're never seen The White House in Miniature, you've missed something. I've heard it may not be touring again, but it is housed at the Presidents Hall of Fame, Clermont, FL.

I'm so glad I got to see it when it was in Chicago some years back. It even had a miniature Bo the First Dog (made by Alice Zinn.)

There are a series of great photos here at the Ford Presidential Library site.

Check out one of the mini video tours:


April 24, 2016

#AtoZ 2016 - Upper Floor View of Tudor #Dollhouse

Welcome to the 7th annual A to Z Blog Challenge in April!  
Come back daily for more exciting posts and even some giveaways!
Check out the 1000+ blogs on the list! 

Today, I combined the letters U and V for the Upstairs View of the Tudor Dollhouse.

* See first floor - the bakery

The tour continues. The bakery shop owner lives above the bakery in a simple space, perfect for a bachelor. He doesn't even mind the pink walls so much anymore (thanks to a former girlfriend's decorating touches.) (Click for larger images.)




The living quarters:  The walls are covered with textured paper. The ceiling is textured with paint mixed with sand before the wood beam strips were added.


The bed is also made from the Creatology punch-out furniture kit (1/24 scale) from Michael's.  The small table by the couch is also a magnet from China (eBay purchase) from my friend, Gigi.

TIP: Make the pieces look more finished by cutting off any protruding tabs. Fill holes and spaces with wood filler and sand. I painted it with a watered-down Brown Umber acrylic paint.  

The bed is covered in three layers like a real bed. Glue a thin piece of foam onto cardboard cut to fit the bed. Cover that with one fabric pattern, folding fabric over and gluing to underside of cardboard for a mattress. Cut and fit a second fabric to top of bed and overhanging sides for a bedspread. Glue under small hems for a neat finish. Cut a fake sheet by gluing a piece of fabric to underside of top bedspread, then turn over and glue to top of bedspread. 

I made the couch using the pattern in D. Anne Ruff 's older 1/24 scale furniture pattern kit.  The small club chair is one of those packaged erasers found at Michael's. Measure your fabric and glue to cover the back and seat of chair. Add smaller size pony beads on bottom for feet.


Right side:  Simple bookcase, kit from SDK Miniatures. The vintage TV is a magnet from China (from eBay.) The guitar was one of the swap gifts from the annual Half Scale Yahoo group swap. (You can get a similar kit at my other favorite kit shop, Mini-Etchers.)



 I added a beam across the top and used a metal mesh bead as a lamp shade for the ceiling light.  I had to be a little creative since I hadn't planned the lighting. The sides are covered in a plain pink paper so I could peel it up to reattach the side light and then cover it again. 

The window valance is made by pleating a piece of fabric, folding and gluing it so one end is pleated over the next. It's glued to a wood strip with small pony beads at the ends.

The picture frames are painted chipboard pieces. The wall clock is a small charm.

I wanted the room to have a simple, but homey feel. Nothing too fancy, just something clean and neat that the bakery owner would feel comfortable in.  It's a simple house, but still fun to decorate.

The table was made by gluing a small round piece of wood to a  dowel rod and painted. That was glued to a small flat clay piece for a base. The chairs are vintage plastic dollhouse pieces.  
I hope you enjoyed the tour!