Hi! What a very busy day today! But I am ready to dish as much as I can on here for you guys! today on my Instagram page I asked if there were any particular topics I should discuss and boy I got tons of responses! So Im going to break them up into segments because some require a lot of discussion while others don't. Hopefully I can get to it all promptly - I have to apologize now because I have been away from computers for so long that I forgot how to use one! So I have to get used to this blogging thing. Thanks for sticking with me through this.
Today's blog is going to go over more in detail about how to make a miniature bird feeder and then I will have a Q/A at the end where I will answer some questions that were asked! So prepare to look around your house because everything I make I use things I have already or something super cheap to get. And now you will be able to do it too! Nothing better than saving money and having minis right? And those two usually don't go together !ha ha!
Right, so here is a list of things you will need for this project:
Supplies Needed:
~four buttons: two must be smaller than the other two. But you must have two of the same sizes, and two of the same smaller size.
~clear sipping straw
~gorilla super glue
~some thin wire - can be an old earring wire, or need be you can get wire at any craft or hardware store.
~hard thin stick or rod like a screwdriver rod
~sand (from beach or like me from my kids sandbox)
~and small pieces of wood- can be from Popsicle sticks or balsa wood if you have it
~Blade
~sandpaper
~scissors
~Paint of your choice and paintbrush
Instructions: Hopefully you can follow along, but if anything always feel free to ask questions!
Firstly the size of the buttons will decide how big and what scale you want your bird feeder. and then the tube will have to match- So when looking through your spare buttons make sure you get the proper size for you! A sipping straw is the perfect size for 1:12.
Then I chose green as my paint color and I painted the buttons thoroughly and let them dry completely before gluing one of the smaller ones on top of the other. I did this twice .
I then cut the sipping straw to the length I decided I wanted to fill for the bird feeder part ( 1 1/2 cm). Next I took the gorilla glue and glued what would be the bottom end of the straw onto the top of the smaller button (which is now already glued on top of the bigger button). Let it dry for a few minutes to make sure its completely joined. Next I filled the clear straw up with some sand from my daughters sand box. I made sure I included a good variety and some black and dark brown bits too so it looks more realistic.
Then I glued the other two buttons on top with the smaller button facing up.
I didn't forget that button have holes! Underneath the feeder the holes wont be visible but the top is another story. What I did was pretty simple and looks great! I took the gorilla glue and simply filled up the holes. Once dry I painted the top again and it looks great!
Almost done! Next I took my piece of wire and used a tool I have for my polymer clay which is basically a long metal stick ; and wrapped the wire around until i got a little hook. I cut it and then used the gorilla glue to stick it to the top. Remember: let it dry completely!
Now those little sticks on the side of the bird feeder for a bird to perch on: I used my blade and cut thin strips of wood from a Popsicle stick , sanded it so it had a rounded end, and then I used the blade to cut it in half for two different perches. Painted them green and glued to the sides of the straw!
and....... you are done! whew!
and optional step would be to add a chain or add a bird.
For the bird I used polymer clay and just did my very very best to get a little bird; (which is a lot harder than all these miniaturist make it seem!) . i painted it and after I dropped it a zillion times, broke its tail, glued it back , and finally glued it onto the little perch; there my little cardinal happily stays!
Its a messy business working on such a small scale but if your patient between the drying of the paint and glue it really does come out great! And since you can use things you probably already have or things you can easily get its such a great little money saver!
I so hope I did a decent job of explaining how to do this and of course reach out to me if you have any other questions; and also if you have any tips on how to navigate this space! I am having the darnedest time getting a picture to look right on here! But hopefully this process becomes easier for me soon!
Questions And My (attempt) at Answers!
Question 1: Where do you look for Miniatures to buy?
Answer: I look everywhere! literally. In every store at every opportunity! But for my precious miniatures I treasure hunt ! I have apps like LetGo and OfferUp, I use craigslist, I go to goodwills, charity shops, antique shops, estate sales, yard sales, all those local spots that are hidden away. these are the places I am able to find the miniatures I love most ; which are vintage pieces. I have found countless scores of vintage furniture for very little because a person inherited it from their relative and just wanted to get rid of it. I've acquired free dollhouses and kits as well! However my search radius is pretty large. I cover a 600 mile radius and sometimes more when treasure hunting. I travel frequently so I line it up with that; but still its hard and diligent work! hope that answers your question and I will be doing a whole blog going in depth on that as well coming up! so stay tuned!
Question 2: Tips on laying shingles?
Of the entire dollhouse process ; shingles to me are the easiest part. And thank goodness for that because everything else with building and constructing the exterior is just as tedious but so much harder! At least for me that is :)I've never been good with perfect measurements but shingles? I'm your woman! ha ha! As for tips I'm not sure what to say; I always start bottom to top and make sure I overlap an have variety with the shingles layout as well. you my need to cut some in half or even bend them depending on the roof. Plus with wood shingles especially I also use my favorite glue of all the glues: Wood Glue! However, wood glue can leave residue you can see so be careful; but otherwise it has worked for me so far with my wood shingles. for me as long as one surface I'm adhering to is wood I use the wood glue. (Seriously! Even when I've used fabric as wallpaper; I've used wood glue! and it works great!)
Ending
Thank you all who have tuned in to this new blog and hopefully you have been able to make awesome bird feeders for your scenes using these instructions! I would love to see yours! If you have instagram just post it and tag me! And of course any questions or comments just reach out!
With a big family with 4 young children, Miniatures are a special retreat for me. And to be able to connect with people and even help in some way is so amazing and wonderful! I am so happy to not be alone in this crazy hobby! Thank you all again for being a part of My Dollhouse Passion.
Today's blog is going to go over more in detail about how to make a miniature bird feeder and then I will have a Q/A at the end where I will answer some questions that were asked! So prepare to look around your house because everything I make I use things I have already or something super cheap to get. And now you will be able to do it too! Nothing better than saving money and having minis right? And those two usually don't go together !ha ha!
Right, so here is a list of things you will need for this project:
Supplies Needed:
~four buttons: two must be smaller than the other two. But you must have two of the same sizes, and two of the same smaller size.
~clear sipping straw
~gorilla super glue
~some thin wire - can be an old earring wire, or need be you can get wire at any craft or hardware store.
~hard thin stick or rod like a screwdriver rod
~sand (from beach or like me from my kids sandbox)
~and small pieces of wood- can be from Popsicle sticks or balsa wood if you have it
~Blade
~sandpaper
~scissors
~Paint of your choice and paintbrush
Instructions: Hopefully you can follow along, but if anything always feel free to ask questions!
Firstly the size of the buttons will decide how big and what scale you want your bird feeder. and then the tube will have to match- So when looking through your spare buttons make sure you get the proper size for you! A sipping straw is the perfect size for 1:12.
Then I chose green as my paint color and I painted the buttons thoroughly and let them dry completely before gluing one of the smaller ones on top of the other. I did this twice .
I then cut the sipping straw to the length I decided I wanted to fill for the bird feeder part ( 1 1/2 cm). Next I took the gorilla glue and glued what would be the bottom end of the straw onto the top of the smaller button (which is now already glued on top of the bigger button). Let it dry for a few minutes to make sure its completely joined. Next I filled the clear straw up with some sand from my daughters sand box. I made sure I included a good variety and some black and dark brown bits too so it looks more realistic.
Then I glued the other two buttons on top with the smaller button facing up.
I didn't forget that button have holes! Underneath the feeder the holes wont be visible but the top is another story. What I did was pretty simple and looks great! I took the gorilla glue and simply filled up the holes. Once dry I painted the top again and it looks great!
Almost done! Next I took my piece of wire and used a tool I have for my polymer clay which is basically a long metal stick ; and wrapped the wire around until i got a little hook. I cut it and then used the gorilla glue to stick it to the top. Remember: let it dry completely!
Now those little sticks on the side of the bird feeder for a bird to perch on: I used my blade and cut thin strips of wood from a Popsicle stick , sanded it so it had a rounded end, and then I used the blade to cut it in half for two different perches. Painted them green and glued to the sides of the straw!
and optional step would be to add a chain or add a bird.
For the bird I used polymer clay and just did my very very best to get a little bird; (which is a lot harder than all these miniaturist make it seem!) . i painted it and after I dropped it a zillion times, broke its tail, glued it back , and finally glued it onto the little perch; there my little cardinal happily stays!
Its a messy business working on such a small scale but if your patient between the drying of the paint and glue it really does come out great! And since you can use things you probably already have or things you can easily get its such a great little money saver!
I so hope I did a decent job of explaining how to do this and of course reach out to me if you have any other questions; and also if you have any tips on how to navigate this space! I am having the darnedest time getting a picture to look right on here! But hopefully this process becomes easier for me soon!
Questions And My (attempt) at Answers!
Question 1: Where do you look for Miniatures to buy?
Answer: I look everywhere! literally. In every store at every opportunity! But for my precious miniatures I treasure hunt ! I have apps like LetGo and OfferUp, I use craigslist, I go to goodwills, charity shops, antique shops, estate sales, yard sales, all those local spots that are hidden away. these are the places I am able to find the miniatures I love most ; which are vintage pieces. I have found countless scores of vintage furniture for very little because a person inherited it from their relative and just wanted to get rid of it. I've acquired free dollhouses and kits as well! However my search radius is pretty large. I cover a 600 mile radius and sometimes more when treasure hunting. I travel frequently so I line it up with that; but still its hard and diligent work! hope that answers your question and I will be doing a whole blog going in depth on that as well coming up! so stay tuned!
Question 2: Tips on laying shingles?
Of the entire dollhouse process ; shingles to me are the easiest part. And thank goodness for that because everything else with building and constructing the exterior is just as tedious but so much harder! At least for me that is :)I've never been good with perfect measurements but shingles? I'm your woman! ha ha! As for tips I'm not sure what to say; I always start bottom to top and make sure I overlap an have variety with the shingles layout as well. you my need to cut some in half or even bend them depending on the roof. Plus with wood shingles especially I also use my favorite glue of all the glues: Wood Glue! However, wood glue can leave residue you can see so be careful; but otherwise it has worked for me so far with my wood shingles. for me as long as one surface I'm adhering to is wood I use the wood glue. (Seriously! Even when I've used fabric as wallpaper; I've used wood glue! and it works great!)
Ending
Thank you all who have tuned in to this new blog and hopefully you have been able to make awesome bird feeders for your scenes using these instructions! I would love to see yours! If you have instagram just post it and tag me! And of course any questions or comments just reach out!
With a big family with 4 young children, Miniatures are a special retreat for me. And to be able to connect with people and even help in some way is so amazing and wonderful! I am so happy to not be alone in this crazy hobby! Thank you all again for being a part of My Dollhouse Passion.
Im happy you are blogging and have added you to my blog roll, so keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Amy! 💐💐
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