Dollhouse Miniatures: A World of Minis

Intriguing Paper Miniatures

The Tiny Details...

We find dollhouse paper miniatures intriguing with their oh so tiny details.

What do you have around you at this very moment? Do any of those things inspire you to shrink them?

Not literally, like the movie "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" or something. But just to attempt to shrink them by scanning, photo, or making a model.

Now to us an actual three-dimensional model-type such as: computer, toaster or whatever, does entail an extreme bit of calculating. So this, because of time restraints, is somewhat out.

We can however see shrinking our checkbook, passport or some other document though. Without too much trouble where that kind of project is concerned.

We have long admired the site where "Jim's Doll's House Pages full of Dollhouse Paper Miniatures" reside. We found them early on in our own quest to online life. Jim has the most amazing printable minis.

What fun to sit and create those tiny items for our doll's house.

The Turn Around...

These Pluses are on Your Side

....But, on second thought, considering the creation of paper material minis, and the thought of Jim's site.... and our earlier mentioned items of computers, etc., we realize that Jim has done all the work for us!

He already possesses those items in calculated measure for a wide array of doll house sizes. Awesome.

And because of that, we realize it would take us no time in creating whatever we wanted. Awesome again.

Just the thought of creating items in this size, just gets our creative juices flowing. We would love to start right now.

The beauty of owning a Doll's House site ourselves is: that we can do any project in miniature we set our minds to on any given day.

So hence the lead into our Dollhouse Paper Miniatures Project of the day....

Project: The Doll's House Magazine, December 09 Edition

Making a replica of none other than The Doll's House Magazine, December 09 Edition, in our most favorite scale. Barbie Scale. Play Scale.

Your Supplies

Supplies You will need for this Dollhouse Paper Miniatures Project:

• Ruler
• Pencil
• White glue
• Scissors
• Stationery clips
• Stationery Trimmer
• Computer scanner
• 1 Sheet of semi-gloss (semi-gloss is flexible)
• 1 Piece of regular letter size 8.5" x 11" (inches)
• Web page program or editor of your choice (we used FrontPage 2003)
• Photo editor program (we used PhotoStudio 2000)

Your Project Steps

1. The first step is to scan each side of your magazine. Front and Back.
    
2. Next use Jim's calculator found here to estimate the size of your finished dollhouse paper miniatures project. Special Note about scale: 100 pixels= 1 inch. We found this useful. As well check this page from Jim's site about scale.
    
3. Next shrink both of your scans to approximately 200 pixels in height. We left the check-mark beside "keep aspect ratio" and let our program figure out the width. Make sure you crop and fine tune your minis in a photo editor. PLUS make sure each picture is exactly the same in size. Even if you have to uncheck "keep aspect ratio" for one, it will not make any difference. But for the very first photo do use "keep aspect ratio". Let that one set the pace.
    
4. Save each picture in mini on your zip drive. (Because of computers going down we no longer save anything to our computer.)
    
5. Now enter your pictures into your FrontPage program, or the like, side by side. No spaces.
    
6. View it as if on a web page and print. Print 2 out. One on semi-gloss. One on plain letter size. The one on plain letter size is a pattern for cutting out a couple (2) pages for your magazine. The one on semi-gloss will become the cover of your mag.
    
7. Cut out your tiny magazine.
    
8. Using your plain letter copy, cut out more pages. We made 4. 2 pages, each folded, making your total of 4.
    
9. Next we folded our cover and glued the blank pages in place.

The Finished Product

Now that you see how a magazine is made, you have the information needed to do additional projects of similar nature. Hope to see what you've all made in the future.

Polymer Clay Miniatures 

Teach Yourself Doll Creation and Save

We enjoy Books on Dolls, Dollhouses, Minis..

Yes we do enjoy books on Dolls, Dollhouses, Minis, Clothing and everything in between.

They provide so much information that otherwise without these books we would not have near the added knowledge that we want to have about each individual topic.

We also simply love books in general anyway. So it should not be a surprise that we are an Amazon affiliate.

From time to time on this site we will include a review of a special text of interest to everyone who views our pages.

And today that is exactly what we intend to do.

Today's review is of a book by Sue Heaser a qualified Art Polymer Clay Miniatures Senior Instructor, entitled, "Making Miniature Dolls with Clay: How to Create and Dress Period Dolls in 1/12 Scale"

Follow us as we Review:

1. the contents of her creatively intriguing text from "Sculpting Materials to "Sculpting the Dolls" to "Making Wigs" to everything in between. Making your own Polymer Clay Miniatures can be easier than you think,
    
2. then study a specific project from her fascinating book, titled - "Sculpting a Woman Doll",
    
3. and conclude with us as we all participate in the creation of our own doll's house people of our choice. Taking the lessons from her text and trying our hand at a tiny person we'll name at the end. (lol, depending on what this doll looks like, since it's our first time for miniature creation like this.)

Our Review Starts Here. Part 1 of 3.

This is a Great Book on Polymer Clay Miniatures.

"Making Miniature Figures with Clay"

Introducing a most Charming Masterpiece

Just What does Sculpting a Dollhouse Miniatures Tiny Person Involve?

It would seem that sculpting a doll involves, first off, getting your creative juices fired up to start with. And Sue Heaser does that even in her introduction.

Sue Heaser's book, "Making Miniature Figures with Clay" is a clean, easy to read instructional manual with a down-to-earth appeal.

Which is what we as crafters prefer. And we "dollhouse" artists and collectors are crafters.

We don't know about you but when we look for a new dollhouse text, we look for a certain type. That said, even the font style plays a role in the book we often choose. Yes it definitely has to be appealing to the eye, as this volume is.

Really when you think of it. How often have you handled a book with an odd looking display and put it back on the shelf?

But too, this is where individual preference comes into play. Each person as they say, is different.

And the Contents are..

Sue's introduction makes us want to start the work. NOW! She makes it sound as if we CAN do this. Let's hope she's right. Part of our review will include us actually trying what she talks about.

The copyright year is 1999. An older volume now but definitely worth a look if you wish to purchase it and begin your education in tiny people creation.

"Making Miniature Figures with Clay" contains information on: Sculpting and Sewing Materials and Equipment; Sculpting Techniques; Sculpting the Dolls; Assembling; Painting; Dressing them in: Tudor, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian Costume; Making Wigs, plus references for suppliers and further reading.

Another good thing it has is an index. Yes so you can find that dollhouse miniatures subject you are remembering is in this text, again. We love a good index.

The Materials and Equipment:

This subject is covered very well. From the smoothing ability, translucency, strength, and quantities of the modeling compound.

Then the particular Brands are discussed. Brands listed Include:

• Fimo,
• Formello,
• Polyform Products,
• Creall-therm,
• Du-kit,
• Cernit,
• and Modelene.

They are examined briefly under each brand of modeling compound listed.

She also recommends that we not mix different brands because it may effect long-term durability of our polymer clay miniatures. And we can not have that!

We mean, if you have painstakingly worked on your tiny person you will want it to last. It may make a valuable heirloom to pass on to that adorable grandchild of yours some day.

So don't mix the clays even if you are tempted. By all means, though, mix within the brand names to make dollhouse miniatures just do not cross mix. For example, DO MIX Fimo products with Fimo products. But DO NOT MIX Fimo products with Sculpey products.

In the Sewing Sections:

....which encompass the various costumes such as Tudor, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian she is again detailed in her layout. Explaining the fabric choices, trimmings, and everything else needed for each of her Polymer Clay Miniature designs.

What we found interesting in these sections was the creation of ones own buttons with this modeling compound. So that basicly does away with any excuse we may have had of not being able to find a tiny enough button to put on a tiny outfit.

As well where a person tells you how to create such things as buttons, can you see the possibilities of taking the knowledge we gain here and expanding it to, say, a Barbie costume. Want a very unique look? Try that. Design your own buttons!

For sure no one else has them on their miniature figures.

Also worth noting is that any costume featured has a very well done pattern to use.

We recommend that you copy any patterns you wish to use onto another source so you don't ruin your volume, using tracing paper or just simply photocopying it onto regular paper. We value all our craft books, as we are sure you do, so that will preserve your copy of this excellent manual.

**And whatever you do, do not sell the material from this volume. All of it belongs to the writer, as it should. ALWAYS and ONLY use your copies for your own personal polymer clay miniatures use.**

The Sculpting of the Figures:

....is another area of excellence. From the techniques to the actual sculpting to assembling to painting to wig making, she once again encourages us just by reading to get started, NOW.

We credit this creative desire though, not only to this volume but to the season we are currently in. In the spring we always feel like creating dollhouse miniatures. Imagine that lol!

But we will cover more details about Sue's book in Part 2 of our review. Sculpting an Amazing Doll !!

Pewter Miniatures

Hammered Art for Your Doll House

 The Definition of Pewter

Pewter Miniatures. What is it, and, Where did it come from?

"Pewter metal is a malleable metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder consisting of copper, antimony, bismuth and lead. Copper and antimony act as hardeners while lead is common in the lower grades of this metal, which have a bluish tint.

It has a low melting point, around 170–230 °C, depending on the exact mixture of metals.

The word pewter is probably a variation of the word spelter, a common name for zinc.

This metal was first used around the beginning of the Bronze Age in the Near East. The earliest piece of this metal found is from an Egyptian tomb from 1450 BC." Partial quote taken from Pewter Dollhouse Miniatures - Wikipedia.org

Today's Fascinating Pewter Minis

Where these type of objects are concerned an old technique called hammering may be used in the construction.

Also a process such as casting can also be used which consists of molten metal being poured into a mold and allowed to cool.

After these processes various decorative techniques are implemented to finish the works of art.

Gold and silver have been worked since ancient times. So our modern day pewter miniatures are not new on the scene. They have in fact been around for a number of years.

War Games you Say

Today this particular type of miniature seems to have a lot to do with war games online. It is a metal used in the creation of miniature figures of soldiers and are collectible. However, as well, pewter does seems to be enjoying a rebirth in popularity.

It has a way of reflecting our heritage ever so well. Yet it is diversified enough to be at home with today's style of living.

Pewter is both practical and decorative and is found in some of the world's finest homes and museums.

Molded Metal Objects

Toy soldiers can be anything from green plastic army men to old-school G.I. Joes to hand-painted metal minis.

Some would be ideal for a castle dollhouse type miniature scene.

If designing or painting your own pewter miniatures always use the best materials on the market. You will get the best results and have the fewest causes to complain.

If you start with the best instead of the lesser then you will generally come out a winner. Time to Work some into your Mini World.