These have been staying up online so I'll post the link:
The latest Episode 5 (and the first 4 episodes) of the UK minis show, The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge, are (so far) still viewable online. See link. to catch up.
These have been staying up online so I'll post the link:
The latest Episode 5 (and the first 4 episodes) of the UK minis show, The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge, are (so far) still viewable online. See link. to catch up.
Here's your chance to weigh in!
Since I haven't decided yet and everyone loves to share their opinion (ha!), for fun I thought I'd ask for input. Who knows, you may agree with me or change my mind! Give me your two cents on which windows looks best with this octopus decoration.
I used one of these Cthulhu (I never can spell this right!) octopus decorations as a light on the sitting room wall, but I thought they'd look pretty interesting on top of two of the windows in the front of the house-- but which two?
If you can comment, please do and let me know which number you like. If you can't comment, you can contact me at my website and leave a message with your choice. Or let me know on Facebook or on the Half Scale group if you're in that as I'll be posting there too.
** RESULTS: A few answers. One liked the bottom; a few liked the top. A different answer I didn't consider was putting it on the bottom of the top window. (Considering it.) And an unexpected answer was not liking any. So, there it is! I'll try a couple temporarily, I think. Thanks for the input.
Here's the choices: (click photos for full size)
1 - Front bottom windows
What do you think? Which one do you like?
(Yeah, I've gotten further on the roof. Close now but what a *&^ job.)
Top photo: I found these cool figures a couple weeks ago. They're actually thimbles, I guess, but are perfect for figures in a lady's shop, on a counter or something. I also found a working double window for only $2.99!
This week, I actually found a bunch of furniture. A couple good pieces and cheaper stuff, but that's ok. I'm not doing as much 1" scale, but I have several boxes to fill yet. Painted or not, it's good as filler furniture. I haven't come across these painted dollar store furnishings in a while (and at least they had them priced at the right price, 99 cents each.) I may use them in a flower shop for now. I have a Halloween storage box I bought a while ago, so maybe I'll make a potion shop or something. Haven't decided, but I'll probably get in a flower-making mood again once things start blooming in real life.
The brown desk is interesting; older piece as it was made in Taiwan.
Well, maybe some US companies will get on the ball here... eventually.
Michael Robbins (who makes cool spooky items under the name Michael R Miniatures on Etsy) announced he's one of 10 contestants on a new UK miniatures show, The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge, which airs March 28 in the UK. Here's the YouTube intro.
We can only hope this and the other minis show will get picked up to stream somewhere that we in the US can watch both!
* FYI: All the episodes (so far) up to #5 at this writing on 4/26 are online here.)
Just a few photos this time. As I mentioned in the last post, I'm working on the roof, which to someone who is math challenged and has to cut angles on each side in the center - no fun! (Click photos for full size.)
So, working on that. A few changes - put some weeds on the front , in the windowboxes, and next to the chimney on the side roof. Finished that side and started seeing how some black paint looks. Will have to add more, but getting there... * NOTE: Further along on the roof. Oh, what a project! ha!
Yes, I've been quiet, but steadily (slowly) working on the Half Scale Haunted House. I've been working on the tedious parts, putting brick paper on the outside and started the roof. There is progress! (Wow, has it been since January when I last posted on this house? * See latest post here.) Update: The roof is almost done. Working on the center part now.
Added the balcony and also put two windowboxes on the second floor. They look crooked in the photo since the insides are painted the same as the window but they're not.) I also decided to leave the bottom fancy trim showing under the brick on the top sections. Thought it added something.
I'm using the textured brick paper from Starboc2 on Etsy. Gives just the right effect! To be truthful, I still have the section on the right side to paper yet and have to glue the window trim on.
I used the silver-coated paper as it's a little heavier. (I found another sheet but it's glittery (only one they had) so I'll have to really paint that more. ha!) I'll still do some touching up and adding some black paint on the roof to age it so that should help cover any spots showing through yet. Love how this looks as the building has that aged look I wanted without my making it too dilapidated!
I'll be putting some lichen and weed-like plants in the planter boxes. I'll also be adding some vines and lichen along sections of the brick and the roof. I'm debating on making some wisteria vines, too, as I like the flowers and think they might add something. The hard part will be cutting the roof paper for the slopes and making sure it's even.
The light on the wall helped in the attic. I just found the last three sheets of that heavier floor paper at Michael's in a grayish color, which I can also lightly paint if I want. Makes good flooring once you draw the lines on.
I bought this Carlson store kit a while back from someone online and had finally gotten around to decorating and painting it some time ago thinking it would be a haunted bookshop.
Well, like always, I changed my mind. (Yeah I hear you laughing. 😏) I have plenty of other book projects and ideas like the fancy furniture I have set aside for the Someday Upscale Library roombox.
Then when I found those Mini Toys I shared on a previous post, I knew the project had to change. But how to change it without really changing it? I wasn't about to repaint the whole thing, so I changed the title and a couple of the outside pictures for one. (Click photos for full size.) I put plexiglass on the top with a carved wood medallion on the ceiling inside. (not shown.) (More toys, update 2)
And while the majority of the toys aren't creepy, I figured why not? That little ghoul girl in there (Mezco Mini Living Dead Dolls) fits perfectly so she's shopping. Besides, even creepy kids love all kinds of toys, right?
As an aside, I'd found a whole bunch of those dolls awhile ago at Goodwill of all places, cheap. So eventually I want to do a Halloween party table scene. Here's a pic I found online. I think I have the first one plus the red-haired punk and the last one, plus a bunch of others. I also have some full-size dolls we found at a yard sale. I love the little ones.
The back wall shelves were already installed, so I added some striped paper on the bottom for more contrast and added a wall shelf on the side, plus some creepy toy pictures. Some of the Mini Toys may be slightly larger, but I think they look fine for display. And now I'm hooked. Of course, I'll have to get more. To fill the shelves, you know. (wink, wink). Games will go in the bins on the small table. I'll make more from printies. (TIP: Google dollhouse game printies.) The other table is a sewing machine base topped with spooky scrapbook paper.
The Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots are from the larger-sized Worlds Smallest Toys. Cute, though much bigger, but I figured they can go in here, too. Remember those giant walking dolls from the '50s? It's all trial and error with the sizes on these mini toys and they keep coming out with new stuff, too. I'm ignoring the Mini Wacky Packages though I could get hooked on those even if they are larger. (I remember the goofy cards. ha!) Funny! The new batch of toys I just got includes a tiny Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robot.
The canister on the top shelf is Lincoln Logs (non-opening.). The other is an Avatar figure, which is also in the window since I have two. I added the Kewpie doll as well. There's a very large package of Tempura paints on the second shelf (the economy size I guess. ha!) The skates and animals are erasers. I found the cute Oscar the Grouch figure at the fish department at Petco! You do find stuff everywhere. ha! I repainted the can silver and want to find some green Bunka to make him fuzzier. (Of course, I have every other color but!)
The back wall before the additions:
So, to me, as I show here, I think you can make almost any size of miniature work, depending on the project. Here's the other batch I got. It includes a second My Little Pony in a different color. The Ouija box will go in my haunted house, of course.
Thanks again for visiting! I appreciate your interest!
Well, I know my visitors here will understand...
I just got the new Spring Miniatures catalog in the mail. Yeah, the whole back page. What happened to the rest of it????
*NOTE: Yes, they nicely sent me a replacement - in an envelope this time. ha! They said it had been happening quite a bit lately. Hmmm....