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♥,

Brummies Hollow Custom Dollhouse

Things have been a wee bit hectic around here! But Brummies Hollow now has more interior finishes.

 This house is suppose to look like an old English farm cottage- like a Peter Cottontail story book house. So the walls are nicely tattered and aged.

 The floor is also very rustic. There's just a wash of silver/brown paint diluted with water and no gloss.

 Upstairs, 2 walls and the ceiling are plastered and one wall has wallpaper.  I also made a couple of chandelier.

 One wall is plastered on the outside. I bought 2 pre-made square windows. The rest are all going to be custom windows. Mixing elements is a great way to get character for your house.

 I also bought the door and painted it and glossed it. Then I made a little wreath.

 I already put the plastic film for the windows. Notice I first painted around the exterior of the window. Let that dry and then apply your window. This is so that if any thing shows under the window trim, it won't be unfinished looking.