Today: I’m cutting popsicle-type sticks with my Easy Cutter. Why? I’m going to stain them and construct a floor for the living room. Cut, cut, cut….then stain. Cut, cut, cut some more….and stain some more. Here’s what it’s starting to look like:
I haven’t glued anything down yet. I’m going for a wide plank look to the floor with a dark stain. I tested it out by putting my little chest of drawers on the wood. I like it. Visualize some faded oriental rugs on that dark wood.
I’ve had such fun the last two days, pouring over my catalogues and looking at all the amazing dollhouse miniatures on Etsy. Since I have a budget of just about nothing, I’ve just bookmarked my favorites. I did order some wallpaper and beadboard, as well as some molding and trim for the windows. I’m going to tackle this house one room at a time.
With all the stress and worry concerning my mom and dad, I find that working on the dollhouse provides me with an escape of sorts. For a few hours, I am immersed in the creative process and it brings me great pleasure.
My friend Norma wanted to see a close-up of the chest of drawers:
A little grainy, but it will do. Let me tell you about this piece (which is one of my favorites.) When I was a little girl there was a line of mini furniture for girls called Petite Princess – Fantasy Furniture. This was during the sixties. I remember bugging my mom to buy them for me but she didn’t go for it. A few years ago, I found some pieces which were mint in the box at a nearby antique store. This is by far the neatest piece and it’s made of plastic. You’d never know it, would you? And I love the fact that it was Shabby Chic long before our current craze. It’s been distressed (not by me, it came that way) and has a faux marble top. The drawers open, as well. The scale is a little off on some of the other pieces, but this one fits in perfectly.
Don’t forget Reality Shot Thursday. I will most likely have the post up just after midnight on Thursday. I’d love to have you join me! If you’re so inclined, please spread the word about my little meme.
I just so happen to be looking at this week’s bit of reality as I sit here writing this post. I wonder what it will be?
oh, that is the smartest ever!!! looks so real!
Staining that tiny little floor and making it is a labor of love. I could not do it but I understand how you can immerse yourself into it.
I remember lots of doll house furniture I wanted in the sixties as well and for some reason my parents just never went for it either….. Now I STILL look at the stuff and feel as though I was totally deprived as a child… LOL Well, you know what I mean.
Can’t wait to see the finished floor and loving that you are on this doll house adventure!
What a great idea for the floor, I love a little way to escape, I need one too after visiting Mom and she didn’t evn wake up. Now with my kitchen in shambles maybe I will escape to my bedroom!
Love you,
Mere
I’d love to have a doll house, just for me! It would be so much fun!Can’t wait to see more. Great blog!
Following you,
Patti
I am totally blown away with that floor made from popsicle sticks. I would have not thought of that. But why not, I used tongue depressors and cut them, your way is so much easier. Duh….
Now, have you ever thought of making your own wallpaper? I scan some of my favorite fabric and print it on card stock. Don’t get the artist grade card stock you want just a cheep grade like the package what comes 200 pages to a package. Its a bit thinner. This way you can choose whatever you want to print on. If you have some old antique fabric you can lay it on the scanner and print it out. then seal your printed copies with a bit of Krylon clear acrylic highgloss or matte texture. Try laying rows of antique lace on the scanner glass and printing it out. The possibilities are endless. I made my own framed artwork from old greeting cards. You can even emboss your popsicles sticks with designs or just put straight groves in them then cut them up and use make your picture frames. Can you tell I use to dabble in this stuff? I did not have alot of money to spend so I made most of my items. I did buy the lights and such and the wiring but the rest I made.
I know this does help ease some of your worries to dabble in miniature.
GOD bless you and your family and may he lift your spirits and prayers for your parents.
Oh, and that is an awesome cutter, where did you get that? I have never seen anyting like it. I had to use a carpet razor and a small hand held saw. I like that cutter.
I see you’ve got six over six windows so the wide plank flooring is perfect for the period but the dark stain updates them a little bit. The serpentine front chest is also a very nice choice for your new room.
Hola Claudia, es claramente mucho trabajo, pero está quedando perfecto el piso! Y el mueble es encantador, me alegro que lo hayas encontrado.
Una pregunta, qué es exactamente el “easy cutter”? That kind of blue tweezers?
Un abrazo
I’m just in awe at what you’re doing to this little house Claudia. That’s the floor I want in my cottage – wide plank. The shabby chic chest is perfect, even Rachel Ashwell would approve, ha!ha!
Glad you find solace whilst creating something so beautiful………thinking of you.
See you on Reality Shot Thursday.
Mary
The secret is out. You and Mer grew up in the most beautiful state. Great fall colors this week. We are having so much fun exploring town to town looking for that perfect grove of trees….
Trying to catch up. So, my two cents on how to store you crochet. Goodness, knows I have a ton of yarn, ton of blankets in the works and tried a ton of container. Mine, well, nothing fancy but a PLASTIC Wally World bin. Of course, they are easy to take along just about anywhere. I forgot you were working on this one. Glad to see it back out. Great fun colors.
Time to hit the hay, we have new towns to explore tomorrow.
Oh my gosh! I love it! You are inspiring me so much with your beautiful dollhouse, I’m going to pull mine out and work on it.
Can I borrow your amazing idea for wood flooring? That is just the coolest idea!
I am getting all sorts of ideas to finish my dollhouse from you. My dollhouse kit did come with strips of a thinner wood that I used for my floor. Without it sitting here in front of me, I can’t remember if I did the other rooms other than the first floor? I love the popsicle stick idea though. It’s almost like meditating when you get really involved in doing something like that, isn’t it? Have fun!~Hugs, Patti
Absolutely LOVE that PLASTIC?? piece.. and the flooring… all of it is beautiful!
Claudia- I am trying to get back in the blogging world and have been reading some back posts. I think your dollhouse is looking soo cute!! You are doing fantastic-I’m so excited to see you working on it! Also- I love the idea of reality thursdays and the screen you added fabric strips to looks incredible- what a wonderful idea! I know there was more that I was going to comment on- but now I’ve lost it all. I’ve missed you and your blog ♥
I remembered! I didn’t read the comments on the post with your crocheted blanket- but what about one of those fabric laundry hampers to store it in? I am still struggling with learning to crochet- I can single and double pretty well now :)
Sin duda quedará un piso fantástico, de madera y precioso. La cómoda también es muy bonita…besos
Oh I love your doll house! I always wanted one as a child. I never thought to buy one now!
-Lynn
Claudia, I am so loving this project of yours. I know you will create the perfect “home”.
Good luck with the flooring, it’s such a chore but it’s going to look really great.
And thanks for the closeup of the little chest of drawers, they are SOOO charming.
I noticed Tammy’s suggestion of printing your own wallpaper, I printed all of mine for the 1:16 house. I printed mine onto photo paper rather than card because it’s acid free but it’s fairly strong. Also I never apply it directly to the wall but onto cardstock then the card goes onto the wall and you can attach it with just a few patches of adhesive or use doublesided scrapbooking/photo adhesive tape (atho I always glue down the ‘exposed’ edges with a thin link of acid free white glue) so it’s easy to remove and redo if you want to redecorate some time in the future. It also gives a much better finish than sticking the paper directly to the wall – especially if it’s commercial paper which is often quite thin. I’ve got a link now on the bottom of my side bar to a website which has a wonderful array of papers and fabrics but I haven’t bought any yet so can’t vouch for quality but have a look if you haven’t bought yours yet.
I’m almost finished with uni for the semester, summer vacation just a couple of weeks away, can’t wait to get back onto my mini French project!
Looking forward to watching further progress on this lovely little house :)
Your floors will look great, Claudia. It’s such fun to see you working on your dollhouse. I am such a procrastinator, Claudia, but seeing you making so much progress is encouraging me to try to get on with it. I must finish my house, I must, I must, I must! Thank you for setting a good example!
I love your flooring Claudia ~ brilliant!! Is it okay if I borrow this idea for my own dollhouse floor? I love the idea of your new meme. Reality shot, hmmm now what can I use?
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
How creative! I’m loving the color too! can’t wait to see it all finished.
Blessings, Joanne
Claudia, I just LOVE your dollhouse with it’s beautiful aqua shutters. The new stained hardwood floors are going to look wonderful!!! So fun that you found some of your favorite dolly furniture to put in the house.
What great work you’ve done. My dollhouse has been on the back burner for a while but this post is very inspiring. Your house is going to be so lovely!
I’ve always wanted to do this to my old dollhouse. It looks GREAT!
I’m going to have to add an Easy Cutter to my list, so thanks for the tip!
Kristin