Dollhouse Shabby Chic Dining Room Set

I'm always looking for brand new things to do and challenge myself. So I finally did the dining set!

The challenge here was the slipcovered chairs. I wasn't sure if I could do it.

I looked at how to cover real life size dining chairs. I found this tutorial which was pretty simple: http://ruthiebemaude.blogspot.com/2014/04/easy-parson-chair-slip-covers.html
I just added a ruffle at the bottom and bows.

It worked! I love the look and had been wanting to do this for years.

Roses come out the best if you use tissue paper. You can find my rose how to on my tutorial page.

I love the look of a long planter on a table. So I miniaturized it!

Trumeau mirrors are pretty easy to make. You just build on a base piece of wood with framing pieces.

Alright! Now onto more projects!  I hope you are all creating out there. Just give it a try - you might surprise yourself!

In Tatters Custom Dollhouse

I called this newest dollhouse "In Tatters".  It's another shabby chic style.

 This one has a little terrace to sip your morning coffee.

 I love the French style number above the door. They are Tim Holtz in the scrapbook area. http://www.michaels.com/tim-holtz-idea-ology-mini-plaquettes/10514419.html

 I added roses and leaves on the door. Paint over them with a few coats of paint and it looks like wood carvings. I used roses by Tim Holz. I usually make my own but wanted to try these out. It worked! Here's the link to them: http://www.hobbylobby.com/Scrapbook-Paper-Crafts/Embellishments/Flowers/Tim-Holtz-Cream-Heirloom-Roses/p/154805

The wires, battery and push switches are inside the chimney

 The fireplace has a working fire.

 The artist studio has plenty of light with the two huge windows. I did my "tin" ceiling using the hot glue technique.

 These are tiny seashells I collected in Florida. This is my favorite style of house to make for sure! This house is available in my Etsy shop.
Okay back to work on more projects now. I'll see you very soon with a dining room set I've been working on.

New Project: 'In Tatters" Custom Dollhouse

Here's my new dollhouse...
LOL! Not quite yet.  I did get 2 items premade/bought: the door and the stairs. Both come from Hobby Lobby. The material I'm using for the house is Tempered Hardboard from Home Depot. See my 'resources' page for the link.

I like to do a mock up of the house before I start cutting all the walls. I always mess up the stair placement when I do the plans on paper. I just have to make sure there is enough space for a landing at the top. The door will be a bump out section. And there is a second bump out section on the side. You could cut the floor as one or do like me and have the bump outs separate. It doesn't matter.

 This house is 16 3/4" wide x 16 1/4" deep x 18 1/4" tall for now.

After I cut out all the pieces(some twice...oops!) I put the house together with hot glue. You can then put wood glue on all the seams to make it stronger. But using hot glue to hold it all together means no clamps and no waiting around for hours. This is when I try to see if I've made design mistakes. Like the stairs not fitting! Placing the stairs the wrong way happens to me on at least 2 houses a year.

I also put my plastic film on the window openings and framed them with popsicle sticks. The wiring for the lights and fireplace is in place. All the wires get drawn upwards towards the roof where they will be connected to the battery inside the chimney. I used concrete to cover the chimney. I carved brick shapes into it.

 Upstairs will be a bedroom.

 Downstairs is a little eating area in front of the mantel, a chair towards the back.

 The bump out section will be an art studio.

The interior is super shabby of course.  More to come!

Brummies Hollow Custom Dollhouse

Brummies Hollow is a farmhouse cottage like you would find in the European countryside. As always I did the exterior with many different finishes for that vintage look. 

There's plaster, plaster and timber, vertical siding, and bricks.

The house is 20 1/2" tall x 12 1/2" deep x 14" across.

 I made the wreath and the tiny roses on it.  There's a lattice under all the vines by the door. The path is done with candle sand. Just lay down a nice thick layer of glue, and press down the sand into it. The grass is a sheet of moss you can buy at Hobby Lobby. It has a sticky back side.

I did a cute little bump out. I think it's my favorite part of the house.

The bricks are done in concrete. All the links to these products is on my 'resources' page. I like hand sculpted bricks that are not perfect. I don't want a sterile look.  So I draw/sculpt the shapes in with an old X-Acto knife when the concrete has set for about 10 minutes.

There are 3 different roofing materials - pine shingles, corrugated and coconut fibers.

I use a battery operated LED light system. I hide the switch and battery in the chimney.

 I kept the interior very neutral. This house would be so easy to decorate! I may do it later on if it does not sell empty.

 There are 2 rooms. One on each level. I left them wide open so you could have many furniture arrangement possibilities.

 The bump out would be perfect for a little table or desk or cozy reading nook.

 Upstairs reminds me of Restoration Hardware for some reason. Maybe it's that gray wall.

I hope you enjoyed your visit!  This house is available in my Etsy shop. Until next time, keep creating mini wonders!
hugs♥,