Making Mini Candles: The Dollhouse Saga

I really wanted tiny candles to put on the candleholders I made in a previous post. Someone had mentioned using straws as the mold. I actually had two sizes of straws in the house so I was excited to start!

Cutting the straws to length was easy. You just had to be careful as the cut bit would fly off and then who knows where it went! Lol

I laid some tape out on my counter and set the cut bits of straw on it securely. I used a spoon to scrape some candle wax out of an old jar candle I had. I then used a lighter under the spoon to melt the wax. It was a bit messy tipping the wax from the spoon into the straws, so melt a bit more wax than you think you will need.

My taller straws fell over, but were still good! I snipped bits of black wire to use as wicks. Best to put them in while the wax is still soft so you don’t crack the candle.

The candles removed from the straws so easily! I just pushed on the wick a bit and they slid right out. I used the lighter to soften the ends before sticking on the candle holders.

I really love how they look on the mantle!

Hope you enjoy making some candles for your own mini.

Peldyn

Brick House: The Dollhouse Saga

I can only cut out so much trim before I want to lose my mind. As a distraction I decided to start putting up the brick paper. At first I was only going to do the ground floor with brick. I like it so much that now I and going all the way up on the three sided extension and on all the gables. 

Saoirse was excited to help me.

She helped hold up the paper.

Fitting around windows was a pain in the butt. I managed to only be able to remove one. I don’t want to break them.

I like how the cords to the sconces are neatly hidden now.

The top position that isn’t brick will be green and I plan on doing board and batton style. I am super excited to have the front door installed. I had to make a frame and bash a pre-made door for this. Now I can finish the entryway. Still deciding on what to cap the doorway to the balcony with. I will have to make something from scratch probably.

Peldyn

Voila Violas! The Dollhouse Saga

I finally did it. I finally finished painting the furniture for the first bedroom. I used oops paint from Lowe’s and Home Depot. While they are great and super cheap, I am considering buying specialty watercolors from Campbella in the UK. Her paints look so lovely!

The tiny knobs on the chest of drawers are Pearl headed pins. I tried spray painting gold, but eventually used Testors enamel. I have the trim for both rooms painted and hope to start installing later tonight. I have to do angle cuts and I really do hate them.

Peldyn

Bits of Branches: The Dollhouse Saga

Today I am working on the bedroom curtains. I dyed the fabric a while back so it really is time I sewed them up. I picked some branches from the mulberry tree to make the curtain rods. I am also making little branch tie backs

The branches need to dry out before I paint them. I used a book and a jar of paint to weight them down so they will be flatter.

So far the tie backs are looking perfect! I am painting it all with gold enamel. I even painted a branch to put over the bed.

The curtains are looking so pretty too

It took a few days for the larger branches to dry.  Finally ready to paint.

Trying out the curtains on a branch to see how it looks

Added some paper flowers to the branch that will be wall art

One curtain up! I put purple beads on head pins to make the curtain rod holder. Just poked a couple holes with an awl where I wanted them to be, then stuck them in with a bit of glue.

So all I have to do now is put the branch over the bed, put up the other curtain, and add the crown moulding. I can’t believe it is almost done! This bedroom was a lot of hard work.

Peldyn

The Blues: The Dollhouse Saga

This weekend was all about working in the garden, but that doesn’t mean I neglected the dollhouse. In the evening I hand-sewed the bedding for the blue room. I call it the blue room even though the accent wall has purples and yellows. I am liking the antiqued brass twig I put over the bed. I think I am going to spray paint the clothes tree and the drawer pulls the same color.

Deciding on curtain rods has been a chore. I was going to use corbels and small Woden dowels painted white. I now think I am going to use twigs from my mulberry tree spray painted antique gold. That should pull all of it together. More window trim should be arriving next week so I can finally get this room completed. 

Peldyn

More Small Projects: The Dollhouse Saga

Worked on a small Tiffany style lamp. It is a bit clunky, a tad out of scale. It also was not electric. Maybe it was at some point? It was in a lot of dollhouse items I bought about 11 years ago. So I put in an led bulb I bought off of Amazon. 

Then I made a seat cushion for the bay window seat. I may make cushions to match.

This adorable inkwell and feather pen is simply a glass bead with a bead cap on top. The teeny, tiny feather is from my daughter’s yard. 

I have this other lamp from the same ebay lot as the Tiffany lamp. It needs a lot of TLC. I am going to make a new shade and fix the electrical. Hopefully the bulb works. If not I have a replacement.

I am waiting for glue to dry on the crown moulding. Should have pictures of that tomorrow. 

Peldyn

Garden Stuffs

My winter garden is still producing well. The chickens have gotten in a few times, but I am still getting a good harvest. The broccoli, fennel, kale, and cabbage have been amazing. I did learn a fun fact about fennel. You can grow it from the end of the cut bulb and if you leave the root in the ground it grows back too! So for every fennel I harvest, I get two new plants. I call that a win win.

My chickens are laying plenty of eggs so that means lots of quiche and custard. Mmmm lemon custard. I really need to plant a lemon tree.

Mmm cabbage 

The damage on the cabbage is from my chickens. They love it too, lol.

Peldyn

Firelight: The Dollhouse Saga

A few years back I bought a fireplace to use in the dollhouse. I was very new to it all and didn’t know that there were ones that lit up. Now I am getting close to finishing that room and I want... more. So using all my destructive energy I took apart the fireplace and drilled a hole in it. 

Yes, I tore apart another tea light for this. It has a flickering bulb. 

I taped it all together with electrical tape to a plug.

Now one important thing to note; a light meant for 3v just blows out when connected to 12v. So I can’t plug it into the main power supply. (Yes, I did blow out the first bulb doing just that.) After a bit of scrounging around I found this little cabinet. I had ordered a lot off of eBay full of parts and this was in it. I never thought I would use it.

Tom had these adaptors that fit over double or triple A batteries! Yay! 

Glowing fireplace success!

The little cabinet is now a sofa table. 

The next thing to do is to paint the electric cord brown so it is hidden better. So happy when things turn out so well!

Peldyn

Little Things: The Dollhouse Saga

When I got the dollhouse the front balcony was hanging by a thread. All the posts were broken. After I replaced them, I tossed the old posts in a drawer and forgot about them. While on Pinterest I saw some cool candleholders for sale. Wanting to be thrifty I figured I could make it myself. 

First to cut the old posts

Then a little paint

That awful blue paint took three coats to cover

They look too lumpy. Decided to dry brush a little brown paint. Perfect 

The basket has rocks, shells, and a little round seed pod that I collected. 

The tiny glass vase has tiny branches from my mulberry tree. I will probably try to make some real candles to put on the candle holders. Also, don’t be surprised if I make the fireplace glow somehow. I am already seeing if a small bulb will fit.

Peldyn