Slate Roofs: Microcosm Miniatures
http://www.microcosm-miniatures.com.au/cart/ sells moulded plastic slates on a roll. I had the idea of real slates for my church but the weight would have been too much for the MDF roof so I looked around and Microcosm carry this roll stuff. It is on a strip, moulded to resemble slate and comes in grey slate and a red/brown slate for decorative accents. It glues on along the top which is then hidden by the next row sort of like shingles. My MDF church roof has roof trusses to support it but it would still have sagged (apparently) under the weight. We have some huge bits of slate about an inch or so thick that were used originally for crazy paving in the garden, so I asked stonemason about cutting slices to size for me. He laughed and then tried (unsuccessfully) to cover his smirk when he realized I was serious. Men! It was a darn good idea at the time!

Trace, Melbourne, Australia

Candles - I made some mini candles recently! It's a bit fiddly but you can light them, even! I used a drinking straw, and passed a fine thread through it to act as a wick. this has to be taut. Then pour the melted wax into the straw (it can be done, honest! Be patient and do it over the pan you melted the wax in) When it's set, you can cut it into the lengths you want and peel off the drinking straw. I used a sharp knife to slice down the side and peeled it off, rather than trying to push the candle through. Viola! Candles that work! Fiddly, messy and great fun!

Lynne Connolly

Gifting Minis: The number of times I've put my heart and soul into a gift (hand stitched quilt, crocheted work, or miniature vignette etc), only to have the recipient say something like "umm, gee. That's really umm nice". Ick. "NICE"??? After spending potentially hundreds of hours on items (and sometimes chunks of money too!) to have your efforts not recognised can be soul destroying.

I've come to the conclusion now at the ripe old age of 36 that my time (and heart) belong to people who deserve it and not just anyone. I really only give handcrafted gifts to people I know will appreciate the effort involved (i.e. loved ones and fellow crafts people). The rest get bought gifts which is really what they wanted anyway.

That may sound harsh, but sometimes forcing your own love of a hobby onto someone else just makes them feel inadequate, which is not the point of giving. Of course, you can through your love of a hobby teach people to appreciate the effort involved but that takes time and an open heart which not everyone has - sadly.

Linda, Cardiff, Wales

Disco Ball: I was thinking about the lady who wanted a disco ball. Some one suggested looking in car parts section for those disco ball car decorations but I thought it might be easy to make one using the following:

A styrofoam ball
small square silver confetti( it can be found a party stores or at hobby lobby)
glue
Just glue the confetti on the ball and there a mini disco ball. Some one might have said this before, shrug.

Michelle

Paper lace. I assume she means paper doilies. I think if you decoupaged or glued some to bedroom furniture (head and foot boards and drawer fronts) it could then be painted and would look like carved wood decoration. You could actually glue it around curved surfaces since it's thin. I used gold paper foil to make a Roman soldier's breastplate and armor and it looks pretty good.

Paulette in IN

Paper lace: Actually, she was talking about the lace paper sold through artists' suppliers (the reference she gave us was: http://www.dickblick.com). It's a very fine, delicate paper that resembles lace. All I could think of as far as mini uses were: 1) pull-down window shades, 2) those type of oriental fans that are hoop-shaped, or 3) panels for a screen.

Molly/StormBorn

Lace paper: I have a little shelf that I received as a swap with lace paper trimming the edges, it's adorable. Perhaps it could be used as shelf edging in those $1. Michael's hutches as well.

Marilyn, MI

Preserving bee: How about putting the bee in the crystals you use for preserving flowers? I don't know what they are called. The crystals can be used quite a long time. After using the crystals a few times you put them in the oven for a time and then they are as good as new. Worth a try I think.

Marcella

Preserving bee: I have preserved butterflies and bugs on my Brambly Hedge Tree Cottage. Don't cringe, but freezing is the most humane way to "save" them, if they are still alive. I attached them with a small dot of Grrrip glue and it's been over 3 years and they are still intact.

Ruth, Grass Valley, CA

Preserving flowers(and bees???): Here's a page full of suggestions! They also mention Silica Gel (desiccating granules) for drying flowers.
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1151.htm
I have used them with good results and suggested a few digests ago to use this stuff for preserving the bee. Good luck, from Holland

Marcella