The glue gun is not my friend. When it comes to miniatures, the glue is too thick and too lumpy. It can make a real mess. A glue stick is perfect for gluing down fabric. I would have never guessed this! You can use superglue on wood. Who knew? I always thought it was for gluing plastic and metal. Okay, it can soak in quickly, so you might have to put on more than you'd expect, but it works pretty well. By adding a little water to superglue, it … [Read more...] about Ten Things I've Learned about Glue and Making Miniatures
thrifty
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 I said to myself, "What will they think of me if I start collecting trash?" I decided, "I don't care. That's who I am. That's what I do. Either they like me for … [Read more...] about Giving in to my Inner Scrounger
Love, Crafts, and the Fine Art of Dumpster Diving
Two days ago, I noticed a big red Dumpster behind our apartment complex. It looked to be empty. That's interesting, I thought. Yesterday evening, my husband and I were walking Jax when I noticed the Dumpster had been filled to the brim. Looks to me like the apartment management evicted someone, sending their furniture packing as well. A red sofa extended above pieces of wood, paper, and articles you'd have to examine closely to identify. That … [Read more...] about Love, Crafts, and the Fine Art of Dumpster Diving
Kit Bashing — A Dollhouse Furniture Bargain
"Kit bashing" is a term miniaturists use, and one that every crafter should get to know. You "bash a kit" when you take creative liberties with a project, putting your own spin on it. I love kit bashing. Curiously, I've noticed a big difference between miniaturists and scrapbookers. When I took scrapbook classes, a lot of the participants wanted their finished products to look EXACTLY like the teacher's sample. But miniaturists want to do their … [Read more...] about Kit Bashing — A Dollhouse Furniture Bargain
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 next with the other emblems! SUPPLIES: Red nail polish or acrylic paint Yellow nail polish or acrylic paint Red paper Length of green floral wire … [Read more...] about How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder — Miniature Tutorial (1:12 scale)
What You Can Do With a Ruined Tee Shirt
I have no idea how my red top wound up in the wash with all my white and cream clothes. None. Worse luck, I added a cup of bleach to the mix and let the whole mess sit for a couple of hours. Not surprisingly, this cream top picked up a hint of red (much diluted) here and there. Rit Dye Remover is expensive, and the top was not. However, I'd been wanting to try Zentangle on fabric, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity. Supplies: One piece … [Read more...] about What You Can Do With a Ruined Tee Shirt
