Valentine's Day Party Vignette. February is here and only one thing comes to mind...VALENTINE'S DAY! To celebrate this time of love I am having a party and, of course, you are invited ....invited to share in the fun of creating this charming little vignette. It all takes place on a simple 5" x 7" picture frame, which means it takes up little space but, like so many little things, it says a lot. The centerpiece of the table was a gift to me from Charlotte Atcher of Hound Dog Studio.
And laser skills to create it, never thinking she would take me seriously because I said I wouldn't be satisfied if it didn't include the weather vane on the roof. Days later a little box arrived in the mail. Most perfect little Valentine house, complete with the tiniest weather vane one could imagine...I knew immediately that this house would be the inspiration for this project. In a few days kits will be ready for the You're Invited to a Valentine Partyproject which also can be seen at Hound Dog Studio. Joann and of course there are four of them.
Valentine Girl's Desk Vignette. A 1" = 1' Miniature Do-It-Yourself ProjectParts 1, 2, & 3 The Valentine Box is first in a series of “Little Stories”. Those around my generation will remember the Valentine Box. Before Valentine’s Day our school teacher would either have everyone bring a shoe box to school to decorate or ask us to decorate it at home.
The decorations were of ruffles of crepe paper, heart & other cutouts, hand printed designs and whatever else made one happy & proud. So, here we find our Valentine Box all decorated and our cards ready to sort through and sign. The base is constructed from two inexpensive, wooden, 4” x 6” picture frames. Determine the amount of space you want/need to “tell your story” & measure and mark one of the frames per this measurement. If needed, paint the frames as desired. Cut a piece of bookboard to fit the opening of the cut frame. Choose what you would like to have viewed in the 2nd frame from what will be the back side of the project. Click on picture. Joann Instructions: Joann. Valentine Gifts & Heart Shaped Rug Beater. From THE WOMAN’S MAGAZINE February, 1904 FANCY WORK by Maie Cabot “The custom of sending valentines seems to grow in favor each year, but the style has changed and they are taking on a more practical form.
Books, sachets, confectionery, flowers, and dozens of pretty heart shaped articles for use have taken the place of the wonderful combination of lace paper Cupids and rhymes. We are told each year that the custom will not prevail long, but when the 2nd week in February rolls around the windows are full with beautiful creations. Dainty cards and sentimental ones, vie with the more costly and practical heart-shaped articles.” Except for the fact that today there is not even the slightest hint that “the custom will not prevail”, the paragraph quoted above is as true today as it was 109 years ago. Joann A practical, yet decorative, addition to a room setting. Instructions: Cut two, 6” lengths of wire.
Shape twisted wires as show in diagram. Cut a round toothpick to a 1 ½” length for the handle. Leprechaun's Home Diorama. There are many myths concerning the mischievous Leprechaun of Irish folklore but they all lead us to believe that this industrious, but rather grouchy little fellow, is a cobbler/shoemaker for the elves and fairies. Interestingly, it is said he only makes one shoe, never a pair….why I am not sure, but I read somewhere that this is because the ever dancing faeries only wear out one shoe at a time. These sprites are said to enjoy solitude & a nip or two of a home –brew called poteen.. And of course we all know the legend of their well-earned pots of gold said to be found at the end of a rainbow. Leprechauns have become the one of the most well-known symbols of St.
Patrick’s Day….thus making him the perfect subject of a March miniature DIY vignette Enjoy, & top o’ the mornin’ to you, Joann Leprechauns live solitary lives in hollowed-out logs in densely wooded areas of Ireland. For the tree trunk structure I used pieces of actual tree bark. With places that sell beauty bark or firewood. You. Easter Peddler's Cart & Wares. So, here we have it, the completed Easter Cart with all of the projects on display. I hope you are enjoying the project/s as much as I did presenting them to you. I would love to see photos of your finished cart. Wishing a joy filled Easter to all of you...can't believe it is just about here.....where did April go? Mother's Day is just around the corner and I have something special in mind for you, if everything goes as planned. Scroll to the bottom for a couple more photos of the completed Easter Cart.
A Happy Spring to all of you...of course the weather here in the Pacific Northwest of the USA has yet toreceived the "It's Spring" message. This project makes a darling table display for the month of April and is one that can be added to, and changed about for years. Do check back every day or so and scroll down to see the cart slowly but surely fill up with fun and varied projects & kits to help you get into a Spring-frame of mind. Instructions: 1. Click on image to enlarge. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Easter In A Shadow Box. This photo is of the original 2003 version of this project. It will give you an approximate idea of what the finished, filled shadow box will look like. ================= Miniaturists are always on the look-out for new and different ways to display their collections. One of the most practical ideas is the classic shadow box, but appropriate ones are not always easy to come by.
Note: If for some reason or other you are unable to cut your own wood here are a couple of suggestions that have worked for others: Ask the place where you purchase your lumber to cut the pieces for you, you may be surprised; Explore your neighborhood for “that guy” who has a workshop full of tools and loves to use them….sometimes a dozen cookies does the trick; Ask your local high school workshop teacher if there is a student who would like to make a few dollars for a simple job.
This is a progressive project so it will be done in parts over a period of time. Joann The background: Copy and paste to your computer. DIY Americana Peddler's Cart & Wares. Full-size picnic tins are a passion of mine. This is a scaled down version of one from my collection. Display it closed or open and filled. You will need: a piece of wood 1 ¼” L x 7/8” D x ¾” H (to be used as a form or a base…see instructions.
If you don’t have this size stripwood be creative & stack thinner pieces together to get the needed thickness or make the piece from Fimo or Sculpey clays) + dull, silver metallic cardstock + silver inked pen or water color pencil + Crafter’s Pick Ultimate Glue + quality glue stick + printies on bright white paper Instructions: A bit fiddly to make but the realism is worth the effort. Here the piece of wood called for above will be used as a form to be removed after the tin is completed. Round off corners and edges of the wood form with sandpaper and sand smooth. Print out at exact/actual size or 5.23" w x 2.26" h Print out at actual/exact size or 5.47"w x 3.21"h.
Autumn Harvest Vignette. Part 1 “Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” William Cullen Bryant, 1784-1878 The time periods after summer and before the winter holidays often leave seasonal decorating voids in our homes. So I offer here a colorful, miniature vignette for you to create to help fill those voids…A Bit of Autumn. I am fond of small-sized, miniature vignettes that speak of a holiday, a special event or a season of the year, which can be displayed with ease on a table top or such. Joann PSOn a personal note, as the holidays rapidly approach, I would like to ask you to donate non-perishable foods to your local food bank or other such organizaton. Note: Throughout this project items in bold are what is needed or suggested to create it.
This little autumn scene sits on a simple base made from a purchased 5” x 7” picture frame; chose a style that seems appropriate to you. Use a fine sifter to sift some full-sized, sterilized potting soil. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8. 9. 10. 1. 2. Thoroughly. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1. 2. 3. Thanksgiving Morning In The Kitchen. Early Thanksgiving morning creates a scene familiar to many of us. Although not as strenuous as it was for our mothers and grandmothers (“back then” turkeys took forever to prepare…imagine plucking pin feather out with pliers and lighting a paper torch to burn off stubborn feathers….and they seemingly took forever to cook, hours more than today) for many early preparation is still vital to the big day.
The ritual begins with a fortifying cup of coffee or tea and an apron tied around our waist. A huge turkey waits to be stuffed with a dressing that needs to be prepared. Families all seem to have their own favorite stuffing/dressing recipes and for many family members, these recipes dare not be changed, year after year. A huge bowl is filled with cubes of dried bread, chopped bits of this and that…onions, celery, garlic, apples, chestnuts. I have a Woman’s Home Companion magazine from the 1940’s and in it is an ad from the H.J. Joann Set to print at exact/actual size or 8.22"w x 8.78"h Knife. DIY Halloween Peddler's Cart & Wares. ...And here it is, the filled Halloween Peddler's Cart. I hope you have enjoyed this progressive project as much as I have enjoyed creating it for you.
Have a frightlfully fun and safe Halloween! And keep in mind, as Hallmark says, "Itty-bitty candy bars don't make for itty-bitty butts"....lol, sorry, I couldn't resist it...... This past spring (April 2011 post) we made an Easter Peddler’s Cart and considering that the project was popular with so many, fun to create, and, personally speaking, a delight to display I decided to do a version of it to celebrate Halloween. Make the cart to display the DIY Halloween projects that will be offered here over a period of days or with items from your collection. Do check back every day or so and scroll down to see what new Halloween items have been added to fill in and around the cart. You will need: 2mm (approx. 3/32” thick) book board + 1/4” x 1/16” stripwood + Instructions: 1. Click on image to enlarge. 2. 3. Click on pattern to enlarge. 4. 5. The Witch's Kitchen. I think this witch cast a spell on me as I have be sooooooo slow getting this project done, but spell or no, here it is, THE WITCH’S KITCHEN….hopefully in time to add to your Halloween fun.
Yes, I know, the witch is a bit scary but I decided I wanted to use a skeleton & it is a bit hard to make them “cute”. One reason I chose a skeleton was because they are so easy to come by that everyone that wanted to could create their own & secondly as a challenge. But you certainly may choose a sweeter version for your little kitchen. If Halloween, witches, and all are not your thing, I have added a couple of pictures at the end of this posting that may inspire you to make some sweeter magic. At the very least, you should find some bits and pieces herein to add to your miniature DIY collection. Happy Halloween, Joann This vignette sits on a base of a 5” x 7” picture frame. You may choose to use 1/16” thick matboard, bookboard or basswood or a combination of the three to construct your cabinet. Halloween Library Vignette. “Too many good books and not enough time to read them all” is what inspired this wicked little Halloween vignette.
Note: Items in bold yellow are what are needed for this project. The base is a simple 5”x7” wood picture frame. If the frame you choose has an easel on the back piece try to pull if off and if that doesn’t work replace the back piece with a piece of chipboard or matboard. I aged the dark wood of my frame with a black wash (¼ water to ¾ black acrylic paint). You may also choose to lightly sand back some of the stain on the frame for a vintage look. Glue four wooden beads or blocks, which match or compliment the frame, to the fours corners of the bottom. Cover over the glass in the frame with a faux, darkish Oriental carpet, using glue stick for adhesion. The base for the table is a plastic lid from a spray can of glass cleaner that measures 2-1/8”H with a 2 ½” diam.
CHAIR and OTTOMAN Click on the pattern sheet to enlarge it and then save to your computer. Options: Joann. Holiday Baking Vignette. “Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” William Cullen Bryant, 1784-1878 Welcome back to the "farm"! Hope you enjoyed part one of this project (well actually I know you did by the wonderful response it recieved, thank you) and are ready for part two. Here we go! Cut basket bottom from matboard. Starting on a long side, glue side strip around bottom piece, bottom edges flush. Overlap serrated end of side piece and glue in place. And roll over it with a round pencil until it curves to prevent creasing.
In place on inside of basket. With a light mixture of brown acrylic and Delta’s Gel Stain Medium. Glue over the nail marks on the serrated section of the side. These nail heads with black pen or acrylic. Copy pattern to your computer; print at 3.56" W x 1.33" H for 1" scale. Make a mixture of black (½), blue (1/4) and transparent (1/4) Fimo.
Diam coil. These in a group to palm of left hand (assuming you are right handed). Ring finger of right hand to gently roll each piece into a round. 1. Winter Chores Vignette With Rural Mailbox. Wind and bird and brook are still, Frosty hush on every hill! Quiet as I can I go Up this quiet steep of snow, Lest I break, with step or sigh, What other creatures, less than I, Keep in awed and gentled mood; Silence of a winter wood. by Eleanor Elizabeth Stevens I hope everyone had wonderful, love filled, creative holidays and that you are ready for another do-it-yourself, miniature project. Winter Chores in between baking, wrapping, & entertaining and brought it to fruititon after the 1st. This little vignette is perfect for January display, so let’s get to work. Winter Chores sits on a simple, white 5” X 7” purchased wooden picture frame. Remove everything from the frame.
(approx.. 3/32” thick)acid-free Davey Board) rectangle to fit in the frame. Glue it in place. Room. Is even with the top edge of the frame; glue in place. Use lightweight spackling compound (hardware store purchase, DAP Fast ’N Final used here…make sure to read the label instructions before Smooth as much as possible. Personal! A Swedish Christmas. While “tidying” up my workroom I came across a DIY Christmas article of mine in a “vintage” Nutshell News. I remembered the fun I had creating the items therein and decided to put aside my “cleaning and tossing” for a few days and use the time to recreate some of the pieces for your DIY fun. Of course the original miniatures are long gone so I made them again, updating the instructions, photos and material’s lists as needed. Enjoy, Joann (Edited from original 1982 article) Although I am not of Swedish heritage I was born and raised in a Scandinavian/American community (fondly referred to by all as “Snoose Junction”).
I have fond memories of a month of Christmas that officially started on December 13th with the crowning of the Lucia Bride and ended with the final lighting of the Christmas tree on January 13th. I eventually married into a Swedish family and many of the traditions I fondly remember from my childhood have been incorporated into my family’s Christmas celebrations. Instructions: Tiny Christmas Tree In A Dome.