For weeks now, I’ve been working on this Halloween scene. Let me walk you through it: The body of the bat is an empty plastic jug that contained protein powder. The head is two plastic cups, tin foil, card, and paper clay. The teeth are wire, covered with paper clay. The eyes are plastic, painted […]
dollhouse miniatures
An A -ma-ZINNing Afternoon with Alice Zinn
By Joanna Campbell Slan At first blush, Alice Zinn’s home looks like all the other houses in her neighborhood. The building is pleasant, on a pretty corner lot in a small city in Florida. However, when she opens the door and permits you entrance, you feel like you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole into an […]
Giving in to my Inner Scrounger
My Beta Babes and I went out to eat at Pasta House in St. Louis. I tried to behave, really I did. We had a great lunch and fun talking with each other. But I started lusting after the plastic butter tubs. And the margarine containers. I kept imagining ways I could use them. Then […]
How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder — Miniature Tutorial (1:12 scale)
I love using things that would normally hit the trash can. This project reminds me to look at familiar objects with fresh insight. For years I’ve tossed away the lids to the McDonald’s beverages. I was amazed when I looked carefully and noticed the raised icons. I can’t wait to see what I can do […]
How to Make a Miniature Rustic Bench
My sister has this wonderful rustic chair outside her house. It was made with twigs (okay…BIG twigs), and I love it. Right now, rustic/twig furniture is all the small rage. This pattern will work for a real miniature setting (1:12 scale) or for a fairy garden. This was also inspired by the wonderful tutorial by […]
Miniature Basket Tutorial
This is a fun project that keeps another bit of plastic out of the landfill. Here are two finished versions of this project. SUPPLIES: Empty and clean plastic coffee creamer container Quilling strip (or strip of paper cut 3/8 inch wide) Duct tape (optional) Masking tape (cut into half inch pieces) Scissors Punch (optional) Paper […]