A Little Maker Magic

 I couldn't share these before Christmas because I didn't want the girls to see them, but I probably would have been safe because I don't think they visit me here. I decided to make Christmas Tree ornaments for the girls, reflecting their horses and pets, all important members of our families.  I found the images in Design Space and sized them to 4 inches wide--rather large-- then cut them from 2mm chipboard, which took a very long time--24 passes for the chipboard.

Chipboard didn't hold up well cutting the fine, sharp pointed edges of the mane, tail and ears. I cleaned them up using sanding them with an emory board.

I always practice my new cuts on yardstick first. I wanted to deboss the pet's name on the image. With the Cricut Maker, I was able to use the same image for the chipboard with the design cover. I used the #21 deposing point--which I love.

For the horses, I chose a metallic card stock, using the deep cut blade (the black housing). The machine takes you though the steps, with the prompt to load deposing tool then the cutting tool.

Once the image was cut, I ran it through my sticker-maker 3" size Xryron

It works so efficiently.

I can see using the application for miniatures in deposing kitchen cabinets and others projects, though I've not tried to depose wood yet. I just received Spellbound Miniatures new book and I'm so excited to make her toy box herbs planter box.

The horses look great and the card stock covered up the rough edges. Next time I'll cut them smaller out of the basswood.

The dogs were next. I cut them from 1/16 inch basswood, really my preferred material. 10 pass and I was done.  With all the ornaments, I used the Dremel to drill the hole for the ring then I used jewelry pliers to attached the jump rings that would hold the ribbon hangers.

Old MO doesn't seem too impressed. I'm sure he's wondering why he didn't get an ornament. 

The girls loved their ornaments which they found Christmas Eve on our tree, impressed with how creative their grandmother is. I knew the secret: they would be getting their own Maker the very next morning. Already the oldest has the machine figured out and paired with her iPad and spent the day "making." 

Meanwhile Christmas was being celebrated in grand style in the Pink Farmhouse (you know the one--it used to be blue)

I used water slide decals to try to create my grandmother's Christmas dinner table. The water slide decals were fair. The film was thicker and didn't conform to the curve of the plate very well, so I may try to redo the plates. I found images of her dishes on Replacements.com, an 1950s dinnerware probably sold at Montgomery Wards. The pattern is a Currier and Ives theme by Homer Laughlin. I have the dishes, but they are packed up. I made the turkey using oven bake polymer clay and the candle sticks shown in the last post.

Grandmother's dining table was vintage 1940s with the large water fall wood buffet that I set out to recreate before I had the Maker. It is pretty rough, but now I have the Cricut and will be able to a better job of cutting cleaner pieces. Still it is a representation of my fond holiday memories. Again, I made all of the food. 

My plan for all of this includes making a boombox of Abbie's dining room with the table all set ready for the family to sit down and celebrate. Most of them are gone now, including 1 of the six cousins now in our 70s. 

A New Project Takes Shape

I really don't need gifts, so I am very hard to buy for, but I did suggest to my husband that I would like an addition for my next house. Yes, there is another house that I've not shared it with you yet that I will begin soon, but here is the teaser: A Real Good Toys addition.

I couldn't wait any longer, so I unboxed it last night and began the dry fit.

It's much larger than I imagined and it has pre-made flooring, which looks very nice, but will it match the rest of the house? Well, no. But often that is the way it is with additions.

And it comes with the nicest assembled window.

So let the adventure begin. I'm still working on the Fairfield, but I do need a distraction from it, don't I? Who works on just one project at a time, anyway?

After all, we are technically in a state of semi-lock down and certainly practicing social distancing. I need to keep my sanity.

I'll leave you with the birthday card that I made for my youngest daughter. 

 Thank you so much for keeping me company all of these months as we all have found ways to stay busy during a really challenging and grim time in our lives. It is a blessing to have wonderful friends far and near to cheer us on, to help keep our spirits high, and to share our have hope and faith that all will be well. Our miniature hobby has kept us going and it is wonderful to be able to support each other and to learn from each other. 

I say this from my heart, I love you guys. 

Happy New Year, Friends.

Oh Tannenbaum

One of my miniature goals has been to make a Christmas tree, a pretty, traditional Christmas tree. I began making ornaments last year just before Christmas as I decorated the Bellingham farmhouse, but there were too many other things to do, so I vowed to work on my tree over the summer. Sure. 

I began by ordering my tree on Etsy from a local vendor, Dave Nelson who used to manage his mother's dollhouse store in Denver. He continues to build houses and refurbish dollhouses and attend miniature shows, but we know how that business has been this year. He announced on Instagram and Facebook that he was opening up an Etsy store, so I purchased his tree and the sweet little ginger bread girl ornaments. 

Before I did miniatures, I tried my hand at making jewelry, but that was a passing phase. I have the tools, wires, beads, and findings, so I got busy.

The ornaments are easy to assemble: string beads and bead caps on a head bead, add a dab of jewelry glue in between each element (E6000 or similar jewelry labeled glue--not super glue because it will cloud glass beads). Cut the head pin about 3/4 of an inch long, then using jewelry needle nosed pliers bend the head pin into a hook to hand the bead on the branch. If you have to shop for beads, look through  the jewelry findings for bead caps that simulate the caps on ornaments. Use your imagination.

I use head pins with a small gold bead top at the bottom of the ornaments to hold them in place. I have also used head pins with a looped top and flathead top, but I think I like the one with the bead. There are a variety of ways to design you ornaments. Pinterest is full of great ideas.

I took the remainder of the head pin that I cut off to make the hangers for the ginger bread girls.

The ornaments below have gold seed beads at the bottom to cover the end of the head pin.

I had the gold beaded garland in my stash along with the little candy canes. I found a card of beaded angles so added them to the tree, too.

But I really wanted candles on my tree. Candles this size are rather hard find online and I wanted candles NOW not next year, so I made some using oven bake polymer clay.  

Candles are very easy to make: roll a thin rope of clay. I used white, but wanted to add some translucent

but mine just crumbled, so my candles are just plain white, but I think a translucent candle would be nice.  I wanted a dozen candles that were less than inch tall. I rolled extras and made some longer ones of candle stick and sconces. 

 

I purchased a toaster oven to bake my polymer clay downstairs so that I didn't have start the kitchen oven for just a few little candles and let's face it, to save trips up and down the stairs. 

I'm not crazy over this oven because it is very hard to set the temperature and time, so I used an oven thermometer to gage the temperature, and set the timer on my watch. I had to monitor the gage so that the clay didn't burn. I also had to adjust the temperature. I had to guess where 270 on the temperature  was on the temperature dial then I had to lower the temperature because the gage went to 350.--Anyway. The candles came out perfect after about 20 minutes of baking.

I made 12 candle holders using bead caps and I glued the candles in place. It was a challenge to get them to stand and dry straight. You have to make sure to get the candles to stand straight because after the glue sets, the candles can't be straightened.

I think they turned out okay and they look great on the tree. I used the jewelry glue to attach them to tree branches.

Using different bead caps, I created table top candle sticks. 

I had plans to place the tree in the Bellingham, but it's is a bit too large, so I moved out some of the toys in the toy store and placed the tree there. Santa (an ornament) seems to be having quite a conversation with American Girls. They are a handful and I'm sure that he has lengthy notes on their year.

I had such fun with this little tree. I've seen such beautiful miniature tress and hoped that I could one day make one for myself. 

Source List for supplies and tools

Hobby Lobby

Michael's

JoAnn

David's Dollhouse on Etsy

Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Bindels Ornaments

 (located in The Netherlands, but they have lovely product, kits, tutorials, and will gladly answer email questions. While deliver takes a while, it's worth the weight. I'm got a chandelier kit and some sconces that I'll be making after the holidays)

So from our home to your home, Merry Christmas. May your holiday be merry and bright.

Thank you for stopping by.  I'll see you after the New Year.