Turn on the Lights, Please

I still find myself inside working on projects instead of outside in the garden. We have had snow and rain and freezes all week and there is so much to do outside. With the inclement weather, I have returned to the Blue Farmhouse.

I put the dollhouse projects on hold while I worked on a Creative Memories scrapbook photo album for my grandson's 7th birthday. He loves the book; he even took it to school. He loves the page with the photos of his great grandmother who passed away in 2013. He was so little that we were surprised that he remembers her. He says he dreams about her. So this weekend I'll be at an out-of-town weekend crop where I will begin a book for youngest grandchild, Lily.

I have finished the Peter Rabbit watering can lamp. I thought you'd like to see the finished product. Check out the link to see how I began to assemble the lamp: The Nursery

I chose an LED chip for the light because of its size. These little lights put out an amazing amount of light. I am wondering if I would like white light better? I ordered them from this web site: Model Trains Software.com. 

The only problem I see with using these battery operated lights is concealing the battery pack and switch. I am going to mount the battery and switch on the bottom of the little dresser where the lamp will sit.  (Interestingly, the company is located in La Porte, CO, not far from where I live. There isn't much in La Porte, so I am wondering exactly where this place is and I can shop there?)

At the end of the Nursery post, I was struggling to craft a decent lampshade and get it attached. After a few failures, I finally managed to make a shade. Instead of using a clear plastic disc as the foundation for the lamp, I cut one out of a heavy cardboard. It seemed to stay in place better. 

I have applied white glue around the edge of the disc where the lampshade will attach.

I also switched out the light, using instead an LED chip. It gives a yellow glow and fits in place better than the 12 volt bulb.

I found the lampshade pattern on Pinterest, copy and pasted it into a Microsoft Word where I was able to adjust the size. It took a few printings to get the size that I wanted. I used a jewelry finding to top off the lampshade, giving it a finished look.

Here is the kit, which is very easy to assemble. The web site even provides a very good video if you are like me, a hands-on/show me how learner.

12 Volt, Another Lighting Option

I have made several of these lamps using turned wood dowels that I purchase by the package at Hobby Lobby.  (I have the lamp sitting on a double sticky scrapbook disk to hole it firmly in place to photograph it). The pattern for the lampshade came from Dollhouse Miniature Furniture Tutorials: in inch minis . You can scroll through the list of projects to find her lamp tutorials. This one is cloth so to give it body, I applied Modge Podge to stiffen the material. The material matches bedding on one of the beds that I will be using on the second floor nook. I like the results.

This 12 volt lamp will plug into a power strip that plugs into an electrical outlet or the plug end can be removed and the lamp hard wired directly into the tape wiring that I installed in the house. The disadvantage to this plug in is trying to hide it. I am thinking about that.

I made this lamp shade out of the wallpaper  to match the two hall rooms.

This chandelier (displayed upside down) is another battery operated LED light. I haven't found a place in the dollhouse for it yet. I am having to get used to the yellow LED light.

I need a light for the 3rd floor hall. This room will double as a sewing room. Inspired by Cinderella Moments, I borrowed her idea to create a Mason Jar-like hanging light. I used the LED chip light to light it.

It will hang in the center of the back part of the hall nook where the sewing machine will be.

Tim Holtz has a nice collection of mini jars. The jar I used for my light came from Michael's miniature collection, not from Idea-ology. You can find them at Hobby Lobby, too, with the dollhouse miniatures. They come 3 to a package.

This 12 volt light will barely fit in the jar, so I used the LED light. I think the next time I order the LEDs, I will order white lights. I use jewelry findings for the top and glue them on. I kept the cork topper in the light I made, but I may leave it out the next time.

You just have to experiment and play around to get things the way you like them or so that they work the way you want.

Be brave and adventurous. I like making lights and lamps to save money so that I can splurge on other things that I cannot make or don't want to, like the cute little life-like figurines.

Miniature Cloches

I love cloches. I have several in the real house where I keep sacred keepsakes, a little doll, a Christmas Tree, so when I see miniaturists make cloches from all sorts of lids and tops, such as 1inch minis, I am tempted to make some, but I changed my mind when I found these at Michale's the other day. They are made by Tim Holtz, his Idea-ology line. They are perfect. Not quite 1" scale and the toppers are not quite on square. They come 2 to a package for about $8.

After finding the cloches at the store, I visited his web site and found these cloches. I was tempted to order them on line, but I found the at Hobby Lobby. They come 4 to a package, 2 sizes.

They aren't quite 1' scale either, but they will work. I have been collecting mini figurines that are very delicate and will need extra protection. I may paint the cork bottoms to look more like wood or even gold.

So I have fun this week. I hope you will try your own hand at making something for your dollhouse.

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