About.com Miniatures

Share Your Favorite Hand Crafted Ornament

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:57:49 +0000

Add your favorite hand crafted ornament to the show and tell list. Miniatures make ideal tree and wreath ornaments and are great for holiday table displays. This may be the one time of year when everyone can appreciate your passion for all things small.

Which of your miniatures get featured in seasonal displays? Do you make scenes, or ornaments for friends and family? Perhaps you use your skills for making gifts. Is November a busy crafting time for you?

Share Your Favorite Hand Crafted Ornament originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 13:57:49.

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Make It Merry!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:00:21 +0000

From now until Christmas, Thursday's blog will feature a roundup of seasonal projects. You should find lots of new things to try, not just miniatures!

Clothes Pin Holiday Card Holders
What to do with all those holiday cards? Hold them up with clothes pins as dazzling as twinkling lights with this how-to from Kate Pullen.

Make a Gingerbread House
Ever want to create the perfect gingerbread house? Okay, I have yet to master this skill..but you can! Our Barbara Rolek will show you how.

How to Draw a Christmas Tree
Here is one that will come in handy for all those handmade cards. Master sketch artist Helen South will show you how to draw the perfect tree from start to finish.

Paint a Glass Ornament
Turn a plain glass ball into a work of stained glass art. Our Guide to Painting will show you how to create this delicate trimming.

Silent Night Cross Stitch Pattern
Don't just get cozy, get your stitch on. Create a Silent Night design with this free pattern from Connie G. Barwick.

Stitch a Pear Trio
Hang up something special in your home for that Thanksgiving gathering. This free 'Pear Trio' needlepoint pattern from Cheryl Fall is just what your walls needed.

Easy Christmas Ornaments
Start a tradition for the kids to make new ornaments each year. Sherri Osborne has the shape patterns and project ideas for these ornaments that reflect Christmas traditions.

Print Thanksgiving Placecards
Add some warmth to your table with these Thanksgiving place cards that will have your guests saying 'awwwww'. Barbara Crews has the free printable for you to personalize.

Wine Bottle Wrap Pattern
Instead of giving a bottle of wine in one of those skinny bags, make a felt wrap that the bottle can be displayed in all season. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how.

Make a Miniature Christmas Tree
Why are tiny things always so darn cute? Learn how to make a little pine or fir tree with Lesley Shepherd.

Interchangeable Thanksgiving Pins
Sometimes you just can't commit to just one pin. With this interchangeable Thanksgiving pin by Tammy Powley, you can tell everyone when you're ready for pie...and when you're overstuffed.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Make It Merry! originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 03:00:21.

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Kemper Mini Finger Tools for Fine Cuts in Miniatures

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:35:37 +0000

Fine cuts between curved surfaces call for special tools. Kemper Mini Finger Tools were designed to separate fingers in porcelain dolls before firing, but are useful for many other forms of modelling.

They work best on softer materials, plastic, resin, polymer clay or unfired clay. Their needle shaped blades can work in very tight spaces where it may be hard to use regular saws or jewellers saws.

More useful tools for miniatures:

Modelling and Sculpting Tools for Miniatures

Gifts for Fans of Polymer Clay

Kemper Mini Finger Tools for Fine Cuts in Miniatures originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 16:35:37.

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Plant Miniature Terrariums In Christmas Ball Ornaments

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:36:28 +0000

Miniature terrariums in glass Christmas balls are one of my favorite hostess gifts. They are easy to make, although you should start soon, and easy to personalize with decorations inside and out. I make some with herbs for friends who cook, some with seedlings for friends who are gardeners, and some with tiny plants that can be kept forever in the ball, my personal favorites are tiny African violets in fairly large glass balls.

The technique is easy, and if you have access to dollhouse or railroad miniatures that can stand a bit of moisture, you can make your miniature planting come alive. This particular ball contains a dolls house mole along with some Doone Valley Thyme for a friend who gardens. All it needs now is some seasonal decorations!

Plant Miniature Terrariums In Christmas Ball Ornaments originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 21:36:28.

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How Do You Learn to Make Things?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:09:52 +0000

This is a very timely poll, given that I've been working on details for some classes at shows next spring. I suspect the medium will skew my results, after all, you came here for information, so I assume you're comfortable learning from the web. Early books with few illustrations seem increasingly less appealing than a photograph of every step, even though the older book may have lots more projects or instructions. How do you like to learn? Books, videos, a live instructor? If you need to make something, what's your learning method of choice?

I think I'm a fall back to the old apprenticeship days of learning by working alongside someone, but I also tend to learn an awful lot from experimentation! Videos are not something I particularly find enjoyable, but that may be due to the way many are produced. What will the future of craft or classroom instruction look like?

How Do You Learn to Make Things? originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 20:09:52.

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Plan Toy's Dollhouse Dolls for Children

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:48:22 +0000

Need dolls for a child's dollhouse? Plan Toys dolls are quality, flexible, dolls for children age three and up. Made of rubberwood, with soy ink features, they are similar to 1:12 scale.

If you'd rather make your own characters for a child you know, you could use Josephine Parnell's kit for Victoria, which makes a cute fabric child doll with poseable limbs, or for older children you could use the Instructions for making miniature dolls and figures, to model people from polymer clay or epoxy putty. If you want to make special dolls for a special child, take a look at Maureen Carlson's book Creating Family and Friends in Polymer Clay. You might be able to model the child's own friends or family.

If you have dolls but would like to try your hand at extending their wardrobes, Catriona Hall has good clothing patterns and instructions for a range of modern dolls in 1:12 scale in her book The Miniature Costumier

Plan Toy's Dollhouse Dolls for Children originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 17:48:22.

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Make Miniature Marigolds and Cockscombs

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:33:53 +0000

These traditional flowers for decorating Day of the Dead Shrines are easily made in miniature. Cockcombs and marigolds (cempazuchitl) are also useful for bright color in miniature flower arrangements or tucked into a tiny paper pots or printable pitchers.

Even if you don't need them for an ofrenda, a few minutes of work will add a bright spot to someone's day. If you work on practising making the paper fringe very fine, it is easy to turn these marigolds into dandelions as well!

Make Miniature Marigolds and Cockscombs originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 13:33:53.

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Printable Miniature Banners and Frames for the Day of the Dead

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:29:35 +0000

Printable miniature Papel Picado paper banner designs and photo frames will help you create miniature ofrendas for the upcoming Dias de los Muertos or Day of the Dead ceremonies. They go along with the Miniature sugar skulls instructions I posted last week

Ofrenda's or shrines for the Day of the Dead can easily be built into small dolls house cabinets, tin photo frames, or mint tins then tucked out of sight until the celebration begins again next year.

Printable Miniature Banners and Frames for the Day of the Dead originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 19:29:35.

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The Exquisite Scale Miniature Animals of Kerri Pajutee

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:18:51 +0000

The new artisan gallery featuring Kerri Pajutee's Miniature Animals shows what dedication it takes to reach the highest levels of miniature sculpture. 1:6 and 1:12 animals of all types are her subjects, every one them looks capable of drawing breath and walking out of the photo. She has very generously shared information about her processes for anyone who wants to get out polymer clay, sharp scissors, fibers and paints to try to make a miniature of their favorite pet.

As my last attempt at a donkey for the Christmas nativity was lost for a week, until the poor thing was discovered squashed beneath my laptop computer, I appreciate Kerri's generous explanations of her processes. I may have another go at creche animals, but I suspect I'll also start saving some money aside in order to purchase the highly collectible work of experts!

The Exquisite Scale Miniature Animals of Kerri Pajutee originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 15:18:51.

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Recycled Cereal Box Haunted House in 1:24 scale

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:08:37 +0000

Here's my 1:24 scale haunted house made from a recycled cereal box, a paper bag and the free printables. Playmobil people fit well in this scale, and the range has a number of costumed characters that work well as children in Halloween costumes (princesses, pirates, vikings, cowboys, ghosts, Romans). You can also use some readily available Halloween village pieces, like the ornate gate shown on the left of the house.

These are quick projects to make. You can cover the house with plain paper, or use drywall filler or flour paste for a stucco effect. Windows can be pasted on as solid printables, or you can cut window panes out and insert plastic then light up the house from inside if you wish.

Recycled Cereal Box Haunted House in 1:24 scale originally appeared on About.com Miniatures on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 20:08:37.

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