Basic Dollhouse Furniture: There was a request a few digests back for a book with directions for simple dolls' house furniture.

I like "The New Dolls House D.I.Y. Book" by Venus and Martin Dodge ... and for a little more advanced work, "Making Miniatures in 1/12th Scale" by the same authors.

The first book keeps the tools to a minimum and covers using them well. I think the second book is excellent on tools. I tend to buy way too many gadgets. But these books seem very sensible. And all the projects are attractive looking.

Annie

Spool-bed: get some Tiny Turnings (from local shop or one of SS's on-line dealer-members) and make your own. Most of the DIY books have bed patterns and instructions, and TTs are scale versions of spool work, so cut the head and footboards, side rails, and then substitute lengths of TT for the pattern bedposts.

Loretta.Sniarowski

Basic Dollhouse Furniture: I would suggest that a fine series of books for patterns for mini furniture are those written by Peter Westcott. He did a lot of work for the Scale Cabinet Maker and has put out a series of books about various styles. The prices have recently gone up because he printed a new batch with all new photographs. They are the Miter Box series because they can be made using a saw and miter box. There are one or two in each of the following categories--colonial, southwest, mission, contemporary, and Art Deco. Also a book of porch and patio furniture.

Dottie in Tucson

Basic Dollhouse Furniture: I would suggest that a fine series of books for patterns for mini furniture are those written by Peter Westcott. He did a lot of work for the Scale Cabinet Maker and has put out a series of books about various styles. The prices have recently gone up because he printed a new batch with all new photographs. They are the Miter Box series because they can be made using a saw and miter box. There are one or two in each of the following categories--colonial, southwest, mission, contemporary, and Art Deco. Also a book of porch and patio furniture.

Dottie in Tucson

Hanging doors: Drilling wee holes; Get some dental bits from your friendly DDS. Drill the holes for the nails and notch the nail shank with a file and then put glue on the nail shank and set it into the holes.

Using pivot posts; Drill the hole in the bottom of the door deeper than the post. Place the post in the hole. It will slide in and disappear because the hole is so deep. Now when you turn it over so the hole in the bottom of the door matches the hole in the saddle area of the door frame, the pin will drop into the floor hole but enough will remain inside the door to make it functional. Then search and seek the top hole with the top post.

Sometimes the door must be "hung" prior to being put in place. This may make getting the pivot posts in place much easier.

DrBob

Hinges for doors--After dropping many brads, I finally glued the hinges on with a small dab of 5-minute epoxy, then added the little nails "just for looks".

Marilyn

Mini preserves: Try glass stain for your preserves and "juices" in jars. It will dry clear with a tint of color to it. Add some fimo bits or beads or whatever for the texture you need for the particular type of "jam" you are making. I've used it for juice on a cutting board when cutting tomatoes or peaches. Also used it painted on the inside of a clear pony bead to make it look like the jar (pony bead) had something in it. Then add a little label and a lid.

Mary in Minneapolis

Another use for sawdust: paint a liter-bottle cap brown, apply a thin layer of tacky glue around the sides, roll in fine sawdust and you have a fancy chocolate cake with the edges decorated in chopped nuts.

Loretta.Sniarowski

BBQ Potato chips: You can also sprinkle pepper seeds with paprika for "barbecue" chips.

Maureen in St. Albert AB Cda

Button Cakes: There are cakes that you make from buttons. Use White Silicone and stack the buttons according to sizes and color and make up your own layered cakes. Use dimensional paints to drizzle sauces and icing effects. I used toothpicks to support the button sitting on top of some tacky and then positioning all on styrofoam. From there, I squeezed out a small bead of silicone onto a toothpick and placed it on the button. I placed another button on top and let dry.

When dry, add another dollop of silicone on top for whipped cream look and drizzle with paints; chocolate, pink, green, yellow, anything to resemble the real stuff (dimensional paints work best for me). Then sprinkle real cocoa, sprinkles, etc. to change the "types" of cakes you are making..

Bon from Edmonton, Alberta