Thursday, February 21, 2013

Quick and Easy Dollhouse Kitchen Island/Bakery Counter Tutorial

Today, I'm going to show you how I make a tall miniature dollhouse counter. This is really simple and fast!  It can be used in a kitchen or bakery.  I used pieces of scrap wood for mine. Whatever I have left over from kits.  You could use cardboard for this project if you prefer.
 My 2 sides are 2" x 3" tall.
 The front is 4 1/4" x 3" tall.
The top is 5 1/8" x 2 1/2".
Glue your 2 sides to the front piece.

If you want a shelf inside, this is the time to glue it in. I just used a little piece of wood 1" x4 1/4". I used wood glue to put it in. You can use any glue.  I placed mine in the middle of the counter, but you can put it anywhere.

Now the fun part! I'm going to use scarpbook supplies to make my counter look more shabby chic.  I use this tiny ridge cardboard. If you can't find it you can use regular cardboard from a box. Just rip off one of the paper sides and you'll expose the ridges. And glue onto counter sides and front.
Next, glue your top on.  Mine is flush with the back with a n overhang on the front of 1/2" and also about a 1/4" overhang on each side.  And that's it for construction!
Time to paint the counter top and the interior. I've used an almond (cream) color. Don't forget the underside of the counter.  I use regular latex paint.

 Now we'll paint the corrugated cardboard. Your Paper will warp and bubble a little. This is a good thing. Shabby chic should be perfectly imperfect to look right! My counter will be a light Robin Egg Blue (blue with a touch of green in it). Pick your favorite color though. Notice I haven't covered every bit of the white with the blue. It's a very uneven application.  Let dry.
 After it dries, I'm now going to highlight the corrugated part with some rust color paints. I'm using 2 shades:   Folk Art Teddy Bear Tan and Folk Art Yellow Ochre.  They are both golden browns. One is a little more brown and one is a little more yellow.
I'm loading my brush with the browner(teddy bear tan) first.  Just let your brush drag on certain areas. Let the brush miss some spots.  You want a light, uneven application.
Repeat with the yellower color on top of some of the browner color(not all) and some on the blue9in my case).  Don't do too much.  Now let that dry.
Time for some aging!  All my projects you see with aging are done with the same easy technique.  I use a brown ink pad.
Just rub all your edges with it until you are happy with it.  I did the bottom of the counter too. And I inked the top by following the grain of the wood. Mine went front to back.
Now you can finish your piece any way you like.  I decided I need an edge on my counter.  I used some special scissors with a cute design to cut out a border.  The cardboard I used was the pavkaging for dollhouse columns.  It's blue and perfect for my counter.
I glued the border on with hot glue.
And I also want 2 towel racks.  I'll just use some regular 22 gauge floral wire. 
 I bent about 1/4" from the end.
 And then bent it downwards 1/8".
Do both sides.
I hot glued one on both sides.
My towels are pieces of pink/medium pink striped cotton fabric that measure 1 3/8" x 3 1/4" .
Fray the ends of the fabric.
Fold each side meeting in the center and iron in place.
Fold and iron in half.
 I layered a little Swiss Dot lace and another left over bit on both towels.

I'm ready to use my counter!  Thanks for coming by!







45 comments:

  1. Marvelous! I'm a huge fan of making beautiful minis from leftover scraps! :D

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  2. Thankyou for that tutorial. You make it seem so easy! It will be fun to try.
    Regards Janine

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  3. Es precioso, muchas gracias por las explicaciones y las medidas, espero aprender de ti.
    Un abrazo

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  4. Thanks for this fantastic tutorial!!
    You make it seem so easy!!
    Greetings
    Melanie

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  5. Thanks for showing how to do. I have particular difficulties in painting and get the right look forward. Now I got some great ideas and new techniques, thanks for that.
    Thanks also for the idea of ​​removing the outer layer of corrugated board, I must try that one day. A very fine counter.

    Hugs
    Wyrna

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  6. It's so lovely!!! I'll have to try to do this, thank you for the tutorial <3 good idea to cut the paper with those pattern scissors!

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  7. Te ha quedado muy bien o original. Que buen trabajo!! Un abrazo
    http://miniaturasarantza.blogspot.com

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  8. hoi Caroline,
    wat leuk dat je ons alle fase"s laat zien.
    groetjes Marja

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  9. muchas gracias por ese tutorial , se ve un trabajo precioso y sencillo de hacer

    besitos

    Mari

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  10. Wow that's amazing Caroline!! You're so generous to share this, I'm always amazed by how creative you are!! Hugs ♥ Vicky ♥

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  11. Haces de pedazos de madera, carton, pintura verdaderas obras!! Me encanta ese toque que les das a tus trabajos, son preciosos!!
    Saludos!!

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  12. Fantastico, rápido, sencillo y queda muy bien!
    Besos de las Malu´s.

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  13. that is so cute! thanks a lot :)

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  14. Caroline, se ve tan facil viendo cmo tu lo haces....pero seguro que a mi me queda fatal jejej
    Muchisimas gracias por el fantastico tutorial, se entiende perfectamente.
    Siempre es un placer visitarte.
    besitos ascension

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  15. Thanks for this wonderful tutorial.
    Bye Faby

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  16. How beautiful and practical tutorial. I loved that touch shabby chic. excellent work!
    hugs, Marisa

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  17. Thank you for the tutorial.
    It really seems to be quick and easy made counter. Well, ofcourse if you know what you are doing... And you certainly do! :)
    Have a great weekend!

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  18. Thank you Caroline! I always love having tutorials from you :) It looks so cute! Regards, Ebru

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  19. Thank you for showing this tutorial! You make it so easy and beautiful!

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  20. Thank you, Caroline! I'm looking forward to trying all this. I am especially grateful for the teaching on the aging technique and I am happy that you gave the name of the paint colour. A million thanks!

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  21. Delightful step by step... thanks so much for sharing it!
    Alison x

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  22. Hi Caroline, thank you for this lovely tutorial.
    The counter looks beautiful :)
    Have a great weekend !!

    Hugs Mieke xxx

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  23. Very cute Caroline thanks for the tutorial!

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  24. Good morning Caroline. Your award is waiting for you.
    http://eimaipaidi.blogspot.gr/p/blog-page_5.html
    Have a nice weekend!!

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  25. fabulus............how you make this little miracle.........congratulations

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  26. Thanks for sharing the "how to do". ;)
    Hugs.

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  27. This is lovely! I need to branch out and use browns when I "distress" my minis... I always use just black to make it look filthy. :)

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  28. Gracias por el tutorial,el resultado es fantástico!!!!!
    Besos.

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  29. Wow, that is amazing! It amazes me how you come up with this stuff!!! And you have such pretty nails too!

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  30. Muchas gracias por tus explicaciones. A tí todo te queda genial.

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  31. Hi Caroline, marvellous tutorial, I also work with scraps, bits and pieces, it is so much fun! Thank you for sharing!
    Have a nice weekend.
    Hugs, Ilona

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  32. fantastico tutorial y trabajo !! como siempre...es un placer visitarte!!!

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  33. I too love using scrap pieces to make something . A very well put together tutorial Caroline. Thank you for sharing ! You make building a counter seem so easy when it can look daunting!

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  34. what a wonderful tutorial! I love this little counter- and I love when people share their tips for making things look aged and rusty :) Thanks so much!

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  35. A wonderful counter! Thank you for this easy to followe tutorial.
    Hugs, Drora

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  36. Olá Caroline, estamos seguindo seu blog, e estamos realmente encantados co sua criaividade.

    Um abraço.

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  37. Wonderful tutorial Caroline! That is so kind of you to share how you make your fab counter! I just adore the little towel bars and the tea towels! It is those sweet little details that you always add and do so well, that make everything you create so "real" and magical at the same time!
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  38. Great tute! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us Caroline, it is so kind of you. This is so shabby chic...

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  39. Hi Caroline,
    How are you dear?? that lil kitchen counter is adorable, so cute with the towel rack on the side and everything. Can't wait to see what you are gonna do with it, know it will be marvelous for sure.
    blessings, Nellie

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  40. An award for you!
    http://sognatriceabordo.blogspot.it/2013/03/due-nuovi-premi-e-un-regalo.html

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  41. Thank you for this lovely tutorial Caroline. I am looking forward to trying it some time.
    xo Amy

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