Decoupage: I did a lot of decoupaging in the 70's and basically one has to "sink the print". This means you apply several coats of varnish, letting them dry between coats. Then you take fine grade wet/dry sand paper, wet it slightly and you carefully rub it across the print portion of the design but NOT the outlying area, taking care not to rub through to the actual design. Then you add more coats of varnish and repeat the process. Eventually, the design will seemingly "sink" because you are not sanding the surrounding area and thus the edges have disappeared.How many coats you will need will depend on the varnish. Water based is thinner and will take more than oil based varnishes.

Jeanette in Wisconsin

Brass knobs: Look at linoleum or carpet tacks (nails) They are brass and come in different sizes. They make great small door and cabinet knobs plus they have the pointed shaft to ease mounting.

DrBob...Delray Beach, FL.

Doorknob: One day while cleaning, I picked up about a dozen brads ( you know those brass paper fasteners you attach paper piece to paper and then turn it around) and took one and bent the ends over to the back. Hey it looks like and old farmhouse doorknob- the kind with the plate behind- not the modern just a knob. So my front door to my Duracraft house has one glued to each side. Free if you pick them up off the carpet, and you don't need to find a mini store! Yeah after I did it I found ones with locks at the store, but I still like it.

Teresa from Canada

Thin dowels?: I found that I do not have to look for wood dowels that are very thin. I use string/cord/twine what ever you want to call it. I use varying thickness' and I coat it (impregnate it) with glue (Elmer's white) and put it in the position I want and it dries just like a dowel. Can cut it with a razor or a scissors. Paint it. Inexpensive also. As an example; I had to make some ladders for a rustic scene. used the cotton twine/cord I had around. Made the ladder rails with thicker cord and the rungs with thinner nylon cord. Man; does it look rustic.

Dr Bob

Bunka: When Bunka is hard to unravel, poke into the end with a pin or needle and pull apart the knitting till you get a nice string showing, then pull on that string.

MAP in Puyallup

Gluing paper models: I'm been involved in paper models for years, and here is my tip for gluing one piece to another. Use tacky glue spread on each tab that you want to join together, let dry a little, and then reglue one tab and stick together. This minimizes the slick paper and should work for you.

The Anne of Green Gables press out house is a great model, by the way. I have put one together, and have another one that I might do again. Anne, of course, is a fictional character, but the author used a real farm house that she knew of in her stories, and the model makers used this same house. What was so intriguing to me were all of the doors! If I remember correctly, there were 10 or 11 doors in one small area of the house. And, also the sizes of the rooms. A different room for everything, but very small. (And, each with their own door, of course.)

It would be very fun to 'grow' this up to a 1" model, but I think if I ever did that, I would have to change the floor plan and eliminate the need for so many darned doors.

Kaye in L.A.

Fine Sand: By fine I mean the particle size. Here is what I did. It takes some chutzpah (gaul/brass) Use this as a basis for doing your thing. as I am sure can be improved upon. I visited a construction site. I have passed this site a number of times on my going to and fro on various errands for the DW. (One must eat; you know) I made a specific visit to the site on a Sunday (no workman) and brought a big jar and a means of putting some sand in the jar. yes, I am stealing again. Some of the sand was moist so it was "clumpy." To dry the sand I put a few spoonfuls on to aluminum foil and placed this in the toaster oven at 200deg. F. for about 30 minutes. I let the heated sand cool in the toaster oven. Meanwhile I took an old pair of my wife's' pant hose (donated for this good cause) and stretched it (not so tight as to open the mesh) across the top of a plastic bowl. I then spooned some of the dried sand onto the "sieve" and shook (agitated) the mass of sand. The very fine parcels passed thru the mesh of the panty hose and the larger grit stayed on top of the "sieve"; this was discarded.

That is how I got my very, very fine sand. It is a dunn/sand color when in its natural state. This line was placed here so I can be declared certifiable. The panty hose is reusable (for sifting sand). If the watchman comes upon your "lifting" the goods, tell him what you want it for (the truth) and he will get as far from you as possible because you must be bonkers (or you can return the too large particles and the unused sand to the construction site. I guarantee the watchman will not bother you.)

DrBob...Delray Beach, FL.

Mini-ing in RV: Mini-ing in an RV is making small things in a small space! The key for me is limiting the number of projects and kind of projects I make. Since we only travel 5 to 6 months of the year in our RV, no we don't full time, I'm able to plan the kind of miniatures that I want to make.

To give you an example, I know that in the month of September I will need to have nine swaps ready for an online swap group but we will be traveling to New Hampshire in September, so I've already started working on collecting the elements necessary for making those swaps while I'm on the road. I'm making nine little wooden cases with butterfly collections in them with little green butterfly nets to accompany them. I've assembled all the elements that I'll need for the project ahead of time so that I'll be able to work in the RV at my leisure. Wood for the frames plus the cutting tool, acrylic pieces for "glass" covers, a MinWax stain pen, and precut velvet ribbon, green tulle. I've printed my butterflies on both sides using my Print Shop program and will cut them out while in the RV. I use those plastic pill cases with the days of the week on them for storing my little butterflies and the other elements of my project while I'm working on them. Storing them this way keeps them together and less likely to be shifted around while traveling. All the assembly will be done while in the RV on a small plastic tray which I cover with plastic wrap when I'm through working and want to return later, the wrap prevents everything from moving around while traveling. Once these swaps are completed I'll then move on to the swaps that I have due in November for my Mini Club swaps. To accomplish what I want requires very little space and very few tools or supplies. I bring my tool box with me, my Ott light and my OptiVisor, and all the supplies along to make the items I will be working on. Of course, there is always the stop along the way at a flea market or craft or mini shop!

Marilyn Parke

Angie Scarr's new book: I just had to write and let all of you know about an outstanding new Fimo food book. I got mine in the mail on Monday. Over the years I have looked at just about every Fimo book to come along. This one is so well down with lots of photos showing you step by step how to make a large selection of fruits, veggies, meats and seafood. The written instructions are also well done. This book is for both the visional people and those that learn best by reading.

This book is great for the beginner and has things for more advanced mini makers. As you see how Angie has done something ....... you think of uses of your new found skills to make other things. This is her web page. There you will find complete information for ordering her book. http://www.compclub.demon.co.uk/asmini.htm

Ann Fisher

Angie Scarr's New Book: Hello everyone, just had to let you know that Angie Scarr's book is out, I received mine yesterday and . must say I am very impressed with it. It is very well done, and presented in full colour throughout. It runs the gamut from conditioning of clay, through The Bakery and Deli, meats, fruit and veggie, fish, including lobsters and crabs, and last but not least directions for a market stall complete with crates and baskets. Contact Angie at http://www.angiescarr.co.uk for more information on this book. By the way did you know that Angie is going to be at the Philadelphia Miniaturia this year.

Jean Brattan