Tuesday, January 31, 2017

More Tiny Christmas House....




Inside and Out.....

No Matter how much work you put into it, Dear Readers, the progress on this Secret Christmas House kit is always Tiny! Even though the final room needing its interior walls decorated is the Largest and fanciest room in the House, it needed only the same treatments as the others. I started by making the gold picture frame to add to the printed wallpaper version. This time I made it from two layers of card, one cut slightly narrower than the other, and glued them together.

Here you can see it once it was painted with the gold paint....
which I applied in a textured manner to suggest the carving on the frame.
It is by far the largest and most elaborate frame in the house.

Here you can see I have glued the frame to the printed wallpaper.

And here the paper has been attached to the back wall of the Parlor.

Here you can see the ornate window in the Parlor 
before the wallpaper has been fitted.

The kit comes with interior window frames 
which are supposed to be glued to the wallpaper 
before it is attached to the wall...
but I found that was going to mean 
I could not adjust the placement of the frame 
over the opening of the window 
because the paper needs to fit the wall precisely.
So I fitted the paper to the wall first 
and then tested the window frame.....

And then I noticed that the interior frame 
was not exactly the right shape 
to match the exterior window frame!
The center cross bar was going to be too low 
and would interfere with the view in the window from outside!
So I removed the center portion of the frame....

Which you can see here.

And here it is glued in place.

And the door needed a frame around it like the ones in the other rooms.
At this point I had to postpone making the baseboard trims 
because there will need to be a fireplace mantelpiece 
to surround that beautiful glowing fire 
and until it is built I will not know where to end the baseboards.
The fireplace surround comes in a separate batch of kits....
 
 
Yes, there is an entire houseful of teeny tiny kits 
for all the furniture and decorations shown in these pictures!
But meanwhile, Dear Readers,
 I was also trying to make some tiny curtains....
 
From coffee filter paper painted with acrylic paint
 and "wrinkled" to shape as it was drying.
The idea is to let the acrylic paint 
act like the "glue" used in other methods.

They needed a brass curtain rod..... 
and maybe a draped top.....

Or at least some gold rope tie-backs....

But I am beginning to think I have to be
 more precise with the drapery folds.....

Because when I test them in the room... 
they just look messy!
Yes, I will need to refine the drapery a bit!

And that is not all I accomplished Dear Readers, 
I also made Tiny progress on the exterior of the house!
I really want to "finish" the exterior 
before starting on all those dozens of interior furniture kits.... 
if for no other reason than that I would hate to lose 
any of the final outer pieces before I got them attached!

The House is designed to sit attached to its own perfectly lovely table....
which I am painting a glossy silver gray.
But then I started thinking that maybe I shouldn't attach it to the table.... 
because what if somebody wanted to Play with it? 
What if there needed to be a garden...? 
or a beautiful Landscape....? 
Perhaps it should be able to sit on a larger table 
where the sides could sometimes be open ....?


So I painted a piece of cardboard to be a separate base.....

Making it look a little like the rocks on the foundation....

And then I glued it and the (painted) steps to the House!

I think this allows for much more versatility! 
And it can still sit perfectly on its own graceful table!
 
You can also see here that I have
 painted and attached the tiny window boxes.

The kit suggests that they be painted red, 
but I wanted to downplay the red on the exterior 
so I painted them green.... a much more traditional color!
There is a supply of green and red "bunka" included 
in this kit to make the greenery three dimensional. 
I have yet to try bunka.... 
so I am looking forward to learning how to work with it!
The exterior of the house still needs the "icicles" added 
along with the fake snow and "bunka" greenery....
and suddenly I am getting "Cold feet" 
about making this permanently a winter scene!
Really! 
I am just going to have to accept it....
It is the Secret Christmas House Kit after all!

And even if I decide to add a Garden.... 
it could be a beautiful Snowy garden scene!
So you can see Dear Readers, 
That a lot of Teeny tiny steps were accomplished,
Inside and Out.... 
And there is only a little more to do 
to finish this Tiny Christmas House Kit!
(If we don't mention all those furniture kits, that is!)

30 comments:

  1. I prefer the interior frame without the crossbar. It didn't really add to it so I think you made the right decision to take it off. I love the little drapes. I bet it will be hard to get delicate folds in the filter material but I bet you can do it. I used Bunka long ago for a rug. It unravels and has a lovely curl to it. This house is looking fabulous :0)

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    1. Hi Pepper! I am glad you have faith in my curtain plans.... I am wavering! It will take some time to get it right! but I think it will be worth it in the end! Stay tuned!

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  2. what beautiful project this tiny house, it's fabulous
    hugs

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  3. Very beautiful this tiny house. I love the details.

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    1. Thank you Fabiola! It is very tiny! I am having fun!

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  4. I love the parlor with the framed picture & the blazing fire. My ancient program wasn't able to open the teeny tiny furniture kids; maybe I'll take a deep breath & try to update.
    Lots of love,
    Mom

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    1. I am trying to make myself have the courage to open the teeny tiny furniture kits! LOL! I will have to get organized!

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  5. Just beautiful! Love how your painting and windows look!

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    1. Thank you Sheila! This is a wonderful kit with fantastic tiny detail! I am glad you like it!

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  6. Your Secret Christmas House is coming along beautifully. That huge window is wonderful; I agree with your decision to remove the crossbar. I love the graceful shape of the window. I can't wait to see the finished fireplace; it's bound to be a dramatic statement in that room. Green window boxes - perfect! I also like your idea of adding the separate base to the house. The stone base serves well as an anchor for the foundation and the steps. This little house just gets better and better as you add layer upon layer of detail!
    Marjorie

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    1. Thank you Marjorie! I have to resist the temptation to go way off on a tangent and create an entirely different "landscape" for it! LOL! I am trying to stick with the kit! But details are important to me... so the more the merrier! But it will take a while to get the interiors done!

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  7. Betsy, your tiny Christmas House is getting more and more beautiful and your inspiration is still growing..... ;O! You did the right thing regarding the crossbar, it looks much better how you've done it now.
    I love the ideas you are suggesting for the base of the house and when I think of your idea of building all those tiny furniture kits.....!! I hardly can't wait to see it and I bet you'll make everything in and around this tiny house even more special.
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Hi Ilona! All those teeny tiny kits are making me a bit nervous! They are really really tiny! It will surely take some time to get all put together.... and I am also wanting to work on some of my bigger projects! Thank you for your encouraging support, it means a lot to me! :)

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  8. Really amazing like allyour tiny houses!
    Geneviève

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    1. Thank you Genevieve! This is a wonderful little kit! I am really enjoying making all the parts!

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  9. Su casa está quedando preciosa y los cambios perfectos. Deseosa de verla ya con los muebles:-)

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    1. Thank you Contrastes-Rosa M! I am really glad you like it!

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  10. Un kit de resultados maravillosos.
    el ventanal sin el travesaño está mejor.
    Ahora a animarse a hacer el jardin para cuando llegue el buen tiempo.
    Me encanta, está preciosa.
    Un abrazo
    Maite

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    1. Thank you Maite! Yes, it does allow easier access to the garden! I am having fun with this kit! I am glad you like it!

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  11. I love the window it looks so much better with the bar gone. The tiny frame is beautiful. I cant wait to see the fireplace I know it will have your special magic. Wow so many tiny items to make I am looking forward to how they turn out.
    Hugs Maria

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    1. Thank you Maria! Yes, there seem to be dozens and dozens of tiny pieces to construct! It will probably take me all year! LOL! (I am feeling nervous!)

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  12. Tiny draped curtains from painted coffee filter- a typical BESTY SOLUTION if ever I heard one and oh what a Fantastic solution it is!
    In fact, every decision and extra bit of delicious detail you add to the recipe of this Secret Christmas House, make it even more Precious and Unique!
    The tiny gold picture frame looks like it was hand carved and once the fireplace mantle is added, it will help to take the living room to yet another level!
    I LOVE the new base which you've made and the green window boxes go with the green roof so well!
    The bunka flowers will add a lovely touch of Christmas color to the window boxes as you fill them and knowing you, they will begin one way and yet will have a BETSY SOLUTION added to the mix somewhere along the construction way. :D

    elizabeth

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    1. Dear Elizabeth, I was thinking of your fabulous draped bed at Green Dolphin Street when I decided to try the coffee filters! (Don't ask me how I got to coffee filters from your gorgeous drapes! LOL!) This technique is going to take some persistence before it is perfected! Sigh.... and then there are all those tiny furniture kits....! This could take a while! LOL!

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  13. Es una verdadera maravilla. No me imagino lo minúsculos que pueden ser los kits de los muebles. Me encantará ver como los haces. Un beso

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    1. Thank you Maria Blanca! This kit is a lot of fun! And I am a bit nervous about all the Teeny Tiny furniture! It is sure to be an adventure!

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  14. Oh my! I love it!! I love your solution for the frame. The central part didn't add anything to it. The coffee filter drapes! Brilliant! I know you will get them right. You always do.
    I love this tiny project. Tiny in size but big in brilliance and inspiration! Hugs!
    Veronique

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    1. Hi Veronique! Yes the coffee filter drapes will eventually be perfect! LOL! So far, not quite there! And I am having a lot of fun with this kit! There is still so much to do... so much to learn! Thank you for your encouraging comments! :)

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  15. Oh my! I love it!! I love your solution for the frame. The central part didn't add anything to it. The coffee filter drapes! Brilliant! I know you will get them right. You always do.
    I love this tiny project. Tiny in size but big in brilliance and inspiration! Hugs!
    Veronique

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  16. wow !!! beautiful and so lovely work :) i really like your good idea so much.Thank for sharing.

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