Marie Antoinette Secret Folie Barn Dollhouse: Update

I've been very busy lately! And my blog background vanished! I love this new one but it took me forever to take off the weird stuff that was going on! Marie's barn is moving along!

I did the ceiling like the sky with clouds. And I added a light in the chandelier. The chandelier is pretty big. So I started a smaller one. Then I tried out both and guess what... I like the big one! It looks more opulent. I did the door trim and painted it gold.

I also started on the outside. First, I painted the barn black so that when I put the boards, I could leave gaps. I carved on some stones.

Here's the other side. I'll have to wait till the roof is on to complete the chimney. It's such a puzzle figuring out what should be done first! I'm always afraid of that " oops! I forgot..." moment.

In case you think you recognize this little structure- it's Greenleaf's Annie's Lobster Shack. I just cut out a window in the roof to make a dormer and covered up the side window. I also made the other window bigger and didn't put windows in the door.

I painted a carved out design in gold for the door.

 It's just resting against the wall right now.

I think I like this color! That's my camera setting. I'll might try painting the bulb again. This time in yellow. I'll give this some thought!

Macaroon Tutorial

I decided Marie Antoinette's barn needed a box of macaroons. As usual I looked for some online. Then I thought "that's not Cinderella Moments like!" I'm 100% handmade and I'm sticking to it!  So I had to make them myself. I looked at tutorials online and they all use molds. I only needed 3 macaroons. So I figured out my own way. It's easy!

I used paper clay. Use whatever you're comfortable with. And make whatever size you need.

First I made the box(that's one little macaroon next to it). There are many templates for boxes on the internet. I just winged mine. I just wanted it to fit on Marie Antoinette's mantle!  I did the sides 1/4" and the top and bottom 3/8". The little lip is1/8".

It came out to measure 3/8" wide  x

 1 1/8" long x 3/8" tall.

I took a little ball of paper clay(first ball here) and smooched it down flatter(second ball) like a patty. I took my toothpaste lid(you can use anything, even a knife) and pressed it along the bottom edge. Kind of like a  crust top for a pie.

See the little pressing along the edge?

The inside cream is another patty, but this one is thinner.

I painted the box like a Laduree box. Cream and gold

Paint the macaroons. I decided to have lighter cream. There are so many colors that you could match any decor. I chose pink, yellow and chocolate. I put a purple piece of tissue paper and put the macaroons in.

I love them!

Marie Antoinette Secret Folie Barn Dollhouse: Interior Walls

This is my panel wall for Marie Antoinette's barn. I made it the same way I did the "tin" tiles for the shabby chic house.  First, I measured and drew on the pattern. Real simple stuff... just leaves and dots. I used my tiny glue gun from Walmart(you know those small ones that cost a couple of dollars). I sometimes use my professional glue gun, but they both work the same! Follow your patterns with the gun and do lots of twirling to get those glue strings cut. I like to keep it neat. Then I painted with my cream and highlighted the  design with color.

I was going to print out a cake picture. But after wasting too much time looking for the perfect image, I painted my own. The gold frame is metal. I picked it up at a miniature store for $1. I should have taken more!

I decided to put up a mural. This is that famous Fragonard painting. I just love the colors and shading. I printed the image several times, including flipped images so I could match the colors.

I also put the wood floor in. Just little craft sticks cut up at different lengths.

Easiest Fastest Mini Paper Roses Tutorial For My New Custom Dollhouse

I found my next dollhouse project! It's called "Marie Antoinette's Secret Folie Dollhouse Barn."  Picture it: outside a run down barn(that's where secret comes in!) Inside a gorgeous, romantic retreat with beautiful fabrics, crystal chandelier, trims, rugs galore. 
The outside needs rambling roses. So I went looking for paper roses. They all come from Thailand! That will be at least 2 weeks in shipping time. Too long! So I looked for tutorials. Tried a couple and came up with something faster and easier.

Any paper will do. I have made some from this colored typing paper, some from tissue paper, some from paper bags and some from a thicker tissue paper. They all came out fantastic.

I cut a template (cardboard) with 5 petals measuring 3/4". (thanks Norma! :) ) You could use any size you need.  This template makes a 1/2" rose. Cut out these flower shapes.

I used the tip of the pen to shape the flowers into a bowl shape. Each rose only uses 3 flowers.

The center is the same flower folded in half and then just rolled.

Here's the flower in half and then rolled.

Another shot of the rolled center. If you give the bottom a pinch it gives a beautiful shape.

Now just glue one "bowl" into another and stick the rolled center in. That's it!