April 19, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge - Q is for Quick Miniature Jars and Canisters



**Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 
(click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)**

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is Q for Quick 
Mini Canning Jars and Canisters


Tough one! I wondered, what to do for Q? Then I thought of the quick, easy project I wanted to share. So here goes:

Mini Jars and Canisters - C. Verstraete 

Materials:

 * Round beads (the beads are in a package with several colors from the Dollar Tree.) What's neat  is that unlike pony beads, these beads are cut "straight" on the sides and across the top, almost like a straw, which makes them perfect for jars. (They are 1/4" high.)

* Standard 1/8" round hole office punch
* Thin clear plastic, like from a package covering
* Colored clay - I use air-dry, Crayola Model Magic clay, which I paint with acrylics.
* Bits of herbal and black tea from tea bags
* Small flat-backed black bead.
* Canning label printies, shrunk down with names written on
* Printed cotton, tacky glue
* Thin cardboard or box card (tea or cereal boxes work well)
* Smallest size gold brad
* Smallest pony beads
* Silver alphabet bead
* Printie tea label

 NOTE: These are all smaller beads so I made the jars for my half scale house. Use larger size beads for 1-inch scale.

Directions:

* Canister:


1 Punch out round piece of plastic and glue to bottom of bead. When dry, fill with tea from a tea bag.

2  Punch out second round plastic piece for top and glue to bead. Glue small flat-backed black bead to top for "handle."

3. Glue label to front of jar. (which was on but I have to re-glue them. ha!)


* Canning Jar:


(Photos: back row, from left: Pony bead, dollar store bead.)

1. Form pieces of clay into shapes like vegetables, and paint desired color with acrylic paints. Note: these are so small that you don't have to be exact; it's just to give an illusion of something being in the jars.

2. Punch out plastic circle and glue to bottom of the dollar store bead (as in first jar in front.) Fill with clay "food" shapes. Punch out three circles from card. Stack and glue together, then glue stack to underside of desired fabric.

3. Cut fabric around stack in a circle shape, leaving a slight edge. Glue stack to top of jar. Put dots of glue on fabric edge and fold around jar to make a fabric covered lid.

(You can try gluing a piece of string on fabric edge and glue on a separate small bow to give the illusion of a closing tie, but the jar is pretty small.) Add a canning label to front with desired name penned in.


* Small pony bead jar - Square tea tin:



(Photo: left regular, larger size pony bead, smaller pony beads for half scale topped with smallest brad; silver alphabet bead)

1. Pony bead jar - stack and glue together two of smallest size pony beads. Use different colors to match  contents if possible. Glue smallest size gold brad to top. Print out reduced canning or fruit label. Wrap around beads and glue.

2.  Square alphabet bead tea tin: I had a bunch of these beads and realized the size is perfect for a half scale tin. Print out reduced tea package art or scenery for a label. Glue label to all sides of bead. Glue smallest size gold brad to the top.  (I use a small square piece of wood for a 1" scale tin.) 
(--From Candid Canine)




April 18, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge - P is for Miniature Pumpkins


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is P for Miniature Pumpkins

I love these. Pumpkins are fun in real life and in miniature, of course!






April 17, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge - O for Other things in miniature but real


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is O for Other Things in Miniature - but real

Since I already scheduled S I thought I'd share  something else you might like to see.
We also raise dwarf seahorses.  You can friend me on facebook to see more pix and videos -  (christine.verstraete) Here are a couple pix:



  

April 16, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge - N for Miniature Notebook


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is N for Miniature Notebook

This was  fun project. Even in miniature you need to take notes, right?  I should make a totebag to go with it too...and matching shoes, and.... you know how that works in real life.... ha!



April 15, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge: M is for Miniatures, of course!


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is M for Miniatures, what else?

It's easy to post about what you love to do  -and I love creating new things or thinking up new projects It's just getting them done that's the problem. haa!

Today I'll share some miniature books I've made. The books in the bookends are free miniature book printies on my website, click miniatures. Coming: mini zombie book covers so check back!





 ** So, what's your favorite hobby? 

April 13, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge: L for Miniature Lingerie


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is L 

Here's a small corset in a box I made a while ago. Love this stuff!

More minis and stuff are my website.


April 12, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge: K is for Miniature House Kit


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge  2013(click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is K  for Miniature House Kit

Thought I'd share the before pictures of a miniature house before it's all pretty.

This is a half-scale house I bought partly built. I usually like to build it myself from the beginning - and now I know why as I made several changes! I blocked in some windows and had to remeasure the front windows as I wanted more wall space. I didn't want the house to be colonial but am giving it more of an old stone-stucco house look. I'm adding a base to build a shed with a pantry on the one outside wall and a small greenhouse for plants on the other side. 

The living room was stained dark so I lightened it up by painting the walls and part of the fireplace ivory. The ceiling will be stuccoed after I paint the staircase opening. I also am adding a staircase but had to make a small landing that has to be turned since the stairs enter from the back instead of the front. A lot of planning. You have to keep steps in mind when you're doing a house like this. But in the end it's worth it!  In case you're wondering, the strip on the outside of the wall is electric tape for lighting the house. 




April 11, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge: J is for Miniature Jar


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is J

I have a couple easy tutorials I want to add yet, and hope I'll find a day to fit them in.

For now, here's a fun tea display stand I made... 

The easy display includes a jar made by gluing two pony beads on top of one another. Top with a gold brad, fitting the prongs inside. Then glue an appropriate label to the front. You can use this method to make food and perfume jars. Use clear, colored or the frosted color beads for perfume jars.    

The square tea jar uses a small square wood block covered with aluminum tape. Add a jump ring on top to simulate the opening. Add a small food or other label to the front. The tea box was purchased.





April 10, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge - I is for In Miniature Style II


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is I 

The most fascinating part of creating in miniature is, done right,
 it can be enough to fool the eye into thinking it is real.

It's a unique experience to enjoy the trappings of real life shrunk down to Lilliputian size.
It's even more fun to do it yourself.

I love decorating in miniature, figuring out the interior design, picking the colors and the items that make a miniature house a home. The top view of my logo includes two room interiors - the left is part of a small scene set in a birthday card. The right is one of the rooms in a half scale shadow box house. Below is my favorite room from my miniature "Dogcatcher's House."





The room is one of the projects featured in my book, IN MINIATURE STYLE II. The book includes profiles of other miniaturists' work, photos and over 40 how-to projets. Available in print, eBook and PDF. 

April 09, 2013

A to Z Blog Challenge - H is for Miniature Handbags and Purses


Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is H for Miniature Handbags & Purses



Many prefer modern styles in miniature, but Victorian and past decades are always popular in miniature. There's something appealing about making super frilly and feminine items  that you see only in a museum or in old photos. (See more of my miniatures.)

While the thought of corsets doesn't sound too appealing, (though the steampunk crowd has made them look really good,) you have to wonder what it would be like to dress in the silkiest, prettiest, most feminine of Victorian gowns with all the accessories, even if just for a day, right?