Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts

Friday, March 23, 2012

A Retreat into Quarter Scale

I was fortunate to be invited to an annual retreat for miniaturists. Last weekend, thirteen talented ladies gathered in a lovely house in the countryside for four days. We laughed, ate well, and shared our passion for miniatures while working on individual projects.

I took the opportunity to try a 1:48 scale Corner Shop from Petite Properties. Even though I have been hesitant to work in this small scale, I've really enjoyed it so far. I'm using the basic shell pieces that were provided, and creating the rest from bits and pieces of paper and wire. I think it will become a French flower shop. I hope to post more pics of it as it progresses.






The flooring is made from individual pieces of painted paper.


Ceiling of the first floor.

Friday, February 10, 2012

50 Miniature Valentine Tutorials



















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It's the weekend for romance and L-O-V-E. Between sips of wine, bites of chocolate and moments of amour, perhaps you can fit in a few of these titillating tutorials?

If you would like to add a link to the list, please leave a comment. Your suggestions are always welcome!
  1. Candies and caning Christine Green via CDHM
  2. Bear, sculpted Nathalie Gireaud via CDHM
  3. French desserts and macaroons Peiwen Petitgrand/Oiseau deNim via CDHM
  4. Valentine cookie casket Linda Cummings via CDHM
  5. Roses, cold porcelain Cynthia Howe
  6. Roses for cakes Cindy Teh/Snowfern via CDHM
  7. Roses, silk ribbon Cynthia Howe
  8. Rose bushes Polly Morris via A Small World's Big Buzz
  9. Roses, long stem True2Scale
  10. Column Mimicracra53
  11. Red hat Fabimini
  12. Waffle, heart-shaped Mamiblue
  13. Bag showcase Erie
  14. Small chest of drawers Jimena
  15. Carnations 1inchminisbykris
  16. Shabby chic bed 1inchminisbykris
  17. Corset Anna Hardman via creativedoll.blogspot.com
  18. Bra and panties Loes Snoodijk
  19. Jungle pattern undies mishellyzoo
  20. Stockings Regalia via Picturetrail
  21. Wallpapers about.com
  22. Valentine candy boxes 1 about.com
  23. Valentine candy boxes 2 about.com
  24. Valentine printables Dolls House Nederland
  25. Chocolate candy 1 Madison
  26. Chocolate candy 2 about.com
  27. Heart topiary about.com
  28. Memory board about.com
  29. Valentine table for kids Miniature Collector magazine
  30. Valentine swirl truffles Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  31. Valentine's cupcakes Hummingbird Miniatures via YouTube
  32. Valentine chocolate truffles Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  33. Valentine hearts in polymer clay Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  34. Valentine cookies Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  35. Chocolate covered cherry Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  36. Heart-shaped cake Gentleman Bunny via YouTube
  37. Heart sugar cookies Gentleman Bunny via YouTube
  38. Layered cake with heart-shape icing ConfectioneryShop via YouTube
  39. Triple layer strawberry cake TheSweetSpotShop via YouTube
  40. Strawberry cane ToniEllison via YouTube
  41. Valentine bunny Gentleman Bunny via YouTube
  42. Chocolate cake ValentinaCharms via YouTube
  43. Valentine cards printable Jean Day
  44. Perfume bottles Lisa's Little Things
  45. Wine bottle 1 MiniMaker via Squiddo.com
  46. Wine bottle 2 Pierre Piveteau
  47. Bottle molds about.com
  48. Bottles from molded resin jicolin.free.fr
  49. Oysters SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  50. Breakfast tray Juli

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Marigold Flower in a Milk Carton

As a child, I loved to go to the annual parade in the small town where we lived. The floats would be creative; the music festive; and if you weren't a participant in the spectacle, you always knew most of the people who were. When I got a little older and bagan marching in the high school band, the heat trapped in our navy blue polyester uniforms and vinyl hats kept me from enjoying the parade experience. To aggravate the situation further, oftentimes the band had to march directly behind the Clydesdale horses!

One of the best memories I have from the parades is the merry clowns. Never mind that the kids always knew who the clowns were; it was still fun to hold out your hands to them in hopes of receiving a marigold flower planted in a butter or milk carton. The sunshine-like cartons usually found their way to the windowsill above Mom's kitchen sink.

I've had so much fun recreating the childhood memory in miniature for others to enjoy as a kit.

Marigold flower in a milk carton kit.


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Miniature Roses Tutorial



Tools and Materials:
  • coffee filter or japanese silk paper
  • punches: 1/4" heart, 3/16" teardrop, 1/4" star 
  • watercolor pencils or acrylic paints for petals
  • colored pencils
  • avocado green acrylic paint
  • ball stylus tool
  • needle or needle tool
  • mousepad
  • paper towel
  • paper covered wire
  • sewing thread
  • tacky glue
  • satin acrylic varnish
  • tissue paper for box lining
  • silk ribbon for bow
  • tweezers
  • leaf veining tool (optional)
  • florist boxes kit

Step One: Petals
To make one rose, punch 5 hearts from the coffee filter or japanese silk paper. Paint hearts. For the dozen red roses, I used a combination of True Red and Moroccan Red acrylic paints. If you would like subtle colors, try using watercolor pencils (I used red and yellow watercolor pencils on the pink single rose). Keep a paintbrush and water close by so that you can blend the colors as you work on the petals. 

Subtle colors may be achieved with watercolor pencils.

Step Two: The Basic Shape
Glue 2 hearts together as shown in picture. Glue a painted, 2" wire stem to the heart. Allow to dry.

2 hearts are overlapped and glued. A stem is glued on.
Step Three: Shaping the Center
Place hearts and the assembled hearts with a stem on a damp paper towel. Let them absorb a good amount of moisture. Place the hearts with a stem on a mousepad. Using your ball stylus tool, press down along the edge of the left heart. Turn the hearts over, press down along the edge of the other heart. You want a ruffled edge.

Step Four: Making the Center of the Rose
Pick up the stem, add glue along the bottom edge of the hearts, and roll the hearts around the stem. This will create the tight center of the rose. Pay attention that the ruffles look the way you want them to. You may wish to look at some photos for reference. 

Shaping the petals with the stylus.
Step Five: Shaping the Petals
Pick up the damp loose petals and place them on your mousepad. Using the ball stylus, press down along the top edges of the hearts and the pointed bottom of the hearts. Turn the hearts over and press down in the centers of the hearts. The shape of the petals should look similar to the photo.

Step Six: Adding the Petals
Add a tiny amount of glue to the pointed bottom of the petal and glue to the stem. Wrap the petal around the center of the rose. Do this with more petals, overlapping the spaces between the petals as you glue them on. You may wish to cut the hearts in half down the middle to create smaller petals or use a variation of hearts and half-hearts.



Step Seven: Calyx
Punch a star from the paper. Paint with avocado green acrylic paint. Using your ball stylus, push down on each of the five points of the star. Turn the star over and push down in the center. See the photo for reference. With a pin or needle tool, poke a hole in the center large enough to go over the stem. Put a tiny amount of glue along the bottom of the rose petals. Push the star up the stem into place.

Step Eight: Leaves
Punch 3 leaves from the paper. Paint with avocado green acrylic paint. Using colored pencils, add some color variation to the leaves. I used orange-red, dark blue, dark green and black in very small amounts. These may be blended with your fingers. The back side of the roses may be painted a lighter color or colored pencils may be used to lighten the effect. To achieve a wonderful, realistic look to the leaves, you may wish to use the veining tool from Templewood Miniatures. Paint leaves with satin acrylic varnish to add a realistic shine.

Step Nine: Branches
Dab a bit of avocado green paint on a paper towel. Pull the sewing thread through the paint on the paper towel. Allow the thread to dry straight, hanging from a drawer pull or door knob. When thoroughly dry, cut a 5/8" length of thread off. Glue 3 leaves to the thread (you may wish to use the photo below as reference for leaf placement). When dry, glue the branch to the stem.


Step Ten: Adding Finishing Touches to the Rose
Paint over the joint where the stem and branch are glued together. You may wish to add tiny "dew" droplets to the rose or leaves using Diamond Glaze.

Step Eleven: Assembling and Decorating the Box
The precut boxes shown in the photos may be purchased through my shop. Assemble the boxes and glue the supplied acetate into the windows. Cut tissue paper of your desired color and place into box. (I used bright green tissue inside of the box of dozen roses, and sheer ribbon inside of the single rose box). Do not glue. Decide how you want the roses to be placed in your boxes. Some of the stems may need to be cut shorter. Glue the roses to each other - not the tissue paper (glue will generally make a mess of tissue paper). 

Flower boxes are available from my shop.


Step Twelve: Making the Bow
To make a bow, cut or punch a 1/4" circle from cardstock paper. Cut the following lengths of ribbon:
  • four pieces, 1.5 inches
  • four pieces, 1.25 inches
  • four pieces, 1 inch
  • 1 piece, .5 inch

Except for the .5 inch piece, glue all of the lengths of ribbon into loops. Glue the .5 inch piece into a circle. Dab a small amount of glue in the center of the cardstock circle. Position the four largest loops on the glue to form an "X". Glue the  next smaller loops in between the larger loops. Glue the smallest loops  on top of the largest loops. Glue the small circle of ribbon in the center. Cut a length of ribbon to go around the top of the box and inside the lid. Glue to the ends of the ribbon inside of the lid. Do not put glue on the outside of the box because it may stain the ribbon. Glue the bow to the box's lid on top of the ribbon. 

Enjoy your box of roses!

Here are some public domain photos to help inspire you! Click on them to make them larger.





Sunday, August 8, 2010

Swap with Ira (Merry Jingle)

I eagerly agreed to do a garden-theme swap with Ira at Merry Jingle. I was utterly surprised when she sent me these fabulous things for my captain's study. Just look at the wonderful items that Ira has assembled! There are so many maps; the captain will be one man who will never need to ask for directions! I can see that a lot of effort and thought went into this swap. Thank you, Ira!


And here are the hostas and geraniums that Ira has requested.  I am a fan of succulents, so I included a misfit mug of hens and chicks (just like I have in my own garden). I hope that all of these items will fit nicely into her Toscana garden.