Gift Room box ideas: I recently made my best friend's "office" (read: extra room) for her and what I had the most fun with was things I could do with my computer or scanner.   For example, I captured images of her favorite book and magazine covers on line, and printed them out to scale, and left them lying around.  There was a desk in the room, so I tucked away scanned images that she'd understand in the drawers, like a tiny little portrait of my kid and me, little CD's and VHS boxes of hers, etc.  My favorite was a tiny version of our high school yearbook.   Being a newbie, this was a great way to give it a personal touch until I figure out what I'm doing.  

Marti-in-Maui

Gift Room box ideas: How about a mini-room-box that works as a neat thing she will use.  I mean a Kleenex box cover with a room box end that will have meaning for her.

They are nothing other than a box to hold the Kleenex with an end added to make a small scene of any kind.  If you want to go this way, find a scene your Mom will like and place it into the display end of the box.   The best part of this gift is that it provides a memory or a pretty picture and still has a use by the loved one you gave it to.   You can see more of these gifts on my website If you want dimensions for such a box, e-mail me separately and I will send you a plan.

Dave

Gift Room box ideas: Whenever making something like that as a gift, I always make a list of things that remind me of that person. For example, list their hobbies and others interests. I had made a shadowbox (more shallow than a roombox) one time for my accountant. I took an inexpensive desk, and made shelves above it. On his desk I put all the usual things you'd expect to find. I had a calendar hanging on the wall with April 15th circled in red. I used a small piece of cork to make a bulletin board and put tiny notes on it with things like his kids phone numbers, and a dental appointment. (We go to the same dentist.) He and his wife go RVing, so I got a charm of an RV and put it on the shelves. Their dog is a Doberman, I found a tiny one and put that there too. He loves riding motorcycles, so I did the same. You all get the idea. I reduced a picture of he and his wife and put it on his desk. You get the idea.

So, starting with a list of someone's interests is, to me, the most important thing! Often, you do not need to do a whole room, a vignette or small display under a dome can 'say it all'!

Alice Zinn- Pt. St. Lucie FL

MicroMark-Smoke Generator: I have tried several times to come up w/ a smoking chimney and just when I was about to give up, MicroMark listed one in their catalog that is wonderful. It's very small (I think 1x2x1) and fits just perfectly at the top of the chimney.

I built a wooden box to set it in that makes it easily removable, then covered it on the outside w/ clay bricks to match the chimney. It plugs into an adapter. The smoke fluid is added (up to 75 drops). I didn't use the smoke stake that came with it, but I'll keep that for another project. It's supposed to shut off auto when the fluid runs out.

Theresa Thomas

Roombox for Mom:   Here are some of the things I included in a roombox for my Mom and Dad. Basically divided the box in half and did one side for each parent.  I listed hobbies and interests from their work and retirement years as well as some of my memories growing up in a rural family with 8 children.  Mom's side had her sewing on a quilt top, with yarn for knitting close by, a crocheted tablecloth, homemade cookies ready to go in the oven after the pie came out. Home canned fruit, a butter churn, flowers and a cupboard with mugs with everyone's name in the family(one way to include all family members).  Pictures on the wall include parents and wedding pictures and a cross to bring in their religious faith.  Dad's side included his favorite roll top desk, and many tools and projects he liked to build including a dollhouse for one of my daughters.   Dad wore his striped overalls that I made from the remnant of a striped shirt.

Joan

Faux Stucco: You may tear your tissue into 2 or 3 inch squares. Be sure the edges are torn, not cut. Wad the tissue into a ball to wrinkle it up. Spread it out, but do not smooth it out. Press it into your glue or acrylic varnish that has already been applied to the surface you wish to cover. This will work better if you use a sponge applicator that has been dipped in glue or varnish to tamp your material to the wall. Your tamper will not stick as long as it has a layer of glue or varnish between it and the tissue. I am especially fond of the round sponge applicators used for stenciling. Think of your wall as a checker board. Apply the first piece of tissue to the middle black square but keep it at a bit of an angle, not squared up. Now apply tissue to the four squares of black that touch each corner of the first square. Continue this random pattern until all of the black squares have been covered. Now, repeat the process for the red squares. Start in the middle where the original tissue has had a bit of time to set up. Overlapping is a good thing. Torn edges keep lines from developing in your pattern. Since this is only tissue, experiment on a piece of cardboard to get comfortable with the technique.

Becky Holliday

Roombox for Mother: Amelia has been looking for ideas for a room box for her mother. I made a mini scene for my mother that she was just thrilled with.  If you're interested in seeing what I did, check out the photos here: Mini-scene: An evening at home with mother http://community.webshots.com/album/22875277sxzDpiIKzd

Mary in Virginia

Stucco on wall - the simplest way and one that Bluette uses, mix corn starch in white acrylic craft paint (or whatever color you wish your stucco to be) to the consistency of cake batter. Paint a thin layer on the surface you want to stucco, then pounce with a stipple or other blunt stencil type brush. You'll get the perfect effect that you are after.

Molly Cromwell

Dremel Tutorial up and running: The Dremel Tutorial (with photos) is now up and running thanks to the wonders of Anne Gerdes of the administrative staff. Thanks for all that showed such patience while it was put together.

If there are any questions you can post to SS or e-mail me. I will collect the questions and if there are repeat questions I can try to answer them all at once. The site is http://www.smallstuff-digest.com/dremel.htm

DrBob...Delray Beach, FL.

Vertical sander; during a Dremel tool demo one customer suggested using the scroll saw as a  vertical sanding machine. Here is what he proposed.

1. Remove the blade.

2. Place an emory board between the 2 blade clamps.

3. Turn on the scroll saw and use the movement of the emory board for a  sander while resting the work on the saw table.

Added thoughts: Cut a hack saw blade to fit between the scroll saw blade clamps also place a   strip of sand paper in with the clamped blade and you have a more rigid sander.

DrBob...Delray Beach, FL.