Printables: you can create your own pharmaceuticals with printies from www.geocities.com/boopmini40/ which is a gold mine of various packaging and other mini-household goods conveniently sorted by type.

Marianne van Beelen tipped me to this site (thank you!), which features gorgeous Portuguese tiles, very inspirational as flooring or quilting/needlework patterns: http://newmediarepublic.com/azulejos/House.html

Loretta Sniarowski

Source for fine sandpaper: Try auto body shops (at least up to 1500 grit) and places that sell tools to stone sculptors.

Tom Berkner

Two ideas for fine sandpaper:
1. If you have sandpaper that is too course - rub two pieces of the sandpaper against each other. Sanding side against sanding side. Use the "sanded" sandpaper on your project. This method will make a 400 grit work like an 800 grit paper
2. Use brown paper from a shopping bag or packing material instead of sandpaper. This gives a very mellow sheen to painted or wood finishes. Pieces of cloth and fine leather also work. You probably have what you need right in your home.

Jackie from Maryland

Make windows Fit: You can make standard size windows fit. If the standard windows are too large, the answer is obvious, make the opening wider. If the standard windows are too small you can make the openings narrower by placing pieces of wood on the frame edge. You then cover the seam with wallpaper or wood fill and paint or use broad molding. I remember doing this with a door as the door I really wanted was too small for the opening. Of course the windows would have to look proportionate to the rest of the house and if they won't, using standard windows, chuck out my idea.

Carol

Dollhouse Plans: Here are a couple sites for dollhouse plans. http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/segment.cfm?&DID=6&User_ID=7714079&SegID=2

http://www.woodenmodels.com/

Nursemini

1940's Schoolroom: Once you have determined exactly what you want in your 1940's schoolroom, visit our site. You will find everything you need there. We offer the largest selection of school furnishings and accessories on the market. http://www.stockton-miniatures.com

Sharon

Scale card: Yes the scale card is still in business. Here is their web site http://www.thescalecard.com/ .

Susan

Custom Paper Punches : Control Concepts (used to be PJ Meith) can do custom punches - they charge $100 (one time charge) - for a custom die charge - punches are $30.00 each - - BUT you need to buy 12 of these punches. Their phone number is 800-745-6551. Carolina Stamp has a large selection of punches, and their web site also says they will make custom punches - I didn't see any prices here, but the punches appear to be the same ones manufactured by Control Concept - and I know that they are no longer making the large number of dies they used to make. http://www.carolinastamp.com/index.html

Sue in NC

Reducing the thickness of wood: The Preac thickness sander is made to reduce wood in thickness.   It has the advantage of leaving none of the chip out experienced with planers on very thin lumber.  It is very easy to use and the abrasive sleeves last a long time.  Works on any thickness or type of wood up to 3" width. I just put it up on the you-asked page of http://smallerthanlife.com. http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~smallife/you_asked.htm Planing mini lumber can be done using a full size planer and a backing board. It works pretty well down to 1/8".   Thinner than that, I get lots of tear out and lose too much lumber up the dust collector.  This is especially true with the quarter sawn cherry we prefer to use.

The Carbatec miniature lathe and duplicator are also up on the web site. http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~smallife/carbatec.htm

Pete Boorum

Painting without brush marks:

First- did you prime your wood? Wood is dry and sucks the water out of your paint. Seal it with gesso and a little water or shellac. Either method is fine.

Second- did little fuzz bits pop up? Gesso is sandable, just give it a light touch up, dust it off and you are ready to paint. I like the white gesso behind my colors because then you get the true colors. Gesso is found with painting supplies at a craft store.

Third- I think the primer will give you the best result. You should always prime even before wallpapering. Wood may seem just fine but continue to drink up even wallpaper paste until it starts to pop off.

Laurie Sisson