Laundry basket: I also made a laundry basket out of the badminton bird that someone gave a tip on--- love it and even snipped out handles each side. The pieces left over can make maybe a dog dish, or a pot and rubber tip a light in the ceiling, the mesh formed into a small garden fence or strawberry basket----etc.

Marlene

Removing Compact Mirrors: I have had good success in removing mirrors from compacts. I have a pot of water deep enough to submerge the lid of the compact --bring the water to a boil and then dip the lid in for just seconds --test to see if it is loose - dip again and many times it comes out very easily. Just dip and test. It works for me.

Ruth Morey

Removing Compact Mirrors: Almost all mirrors can be removed from old makeup cases by soaking in white vinegar, then remove with an old butter knife or spatula.

Joan Holst

Cake plates

I just found this out by accident this morning, so I guess it was meant for you.  I have a lot of pill bottles, and the cats like to knock them over.  One lid got jammed crooked in the process, and when I pried it loose, a clear plastic dish with a lip sailed out.  This is the part that makes the things childproof.  It's thin, it comes in various sizes depending on the medication, and, uh... I'm not so sure that doesn't already a hole in the middle, but as I said, this only happened a few hours ago, and I'm away from home and can't confirm.

Melissa

Flute Material: What you need for the flute is a piece of river reed, found in floral shops.

Alice Zinn

Canvas Paper: I have used canvas paper to make realistic looking "oil paintings". The texture is great for that.

For rugs, I have used suede or velvet paper that I purchased in a store specializing in rubber stamping and scrap book supplies.

Colleen in MA

Use of toothpicks; both square and round. As balustrade; trim on furniture; round tooth picks for bamboo trays; chop sticks; wind chimes; flute; broom handles; turned on a lathe for chair/table legs; candles (tapers); just for starters. Don't look at them as toothpicks!

Bob in Hollywood, FL

Flooring/Cork: You can find small cork in rolls at an auto supply store. They use it for gasket material. Also works framed for a mini cork board.

Ruth

Frames: You can dress up plain frames in many ways...you can glue on pieces of doily, paint designs with dimensional fabric paint, use modeling paste to create raised details, whatever, then paint with gold or silver paint, and antique it or not!

Alice Zinn

Miniature Picture Frames: I make mine with leftover moldings. I often use the 1/2" scale cornices as they have a bit of a curve to them. Remember to miter the corners. If you want a fancy frame you can use a paper doily and paint it gold and then paste it over your wooden frame. You could also use those fancy type moldings and paint those gold.

Marsha, Newark, CA

Frames: The best frames I have seen are on Ruth Mazer's video. These are more then just simple, plain frames. If you are a N.A.M.E. member, you can borrow Ruth's video for $3 for shipping from the N.A.M.E. library. It is "Masterpieces in Miniature" and well worth viewing.

Anita

Chrysnbon dishes....I found a suitable design in the border of a package of napkins, cut circles to fir and decoupaged with acrylic matte medium. Be sure to finish with two or three coats of medium.

Betty

For a hint, use the temporary tattoos you can buy in most dollar stores as pictures to hang on the wall, artwork in a fantasy room (if you buy the real fancy ones. They stick to almost anything and the artwork is really fantastic. Much better than most people can draw or paint. There are some really pretty dragons that would look good in a fantasy setting. If anyone can't get them, email me and I can get them for you.

Lorrie Harvey

Mason Jars: Michael's Craft Store has them at a very reasonable price.  a problem with things such as the Mason jars and several other things that might just need a touch or so to make them presentable.

Marilyn

Mini bottle caps: I would recommend that you use JAF #394 which they call 1/2 ball/foot.  They measure 1/8" in diameter and sure look like a bottle cap to me.  I have some of these (but not 200). They don't have the fluted edge but maybe someone else can come up with an idea for that.  Do you think on something this small anyone would notice the fluting.  Maybe you could just kind of score the edges.  The last JAF catalog I have is #7 (old) and they are on page 18 bottom right of that catalog.

Dina

Brooch: I've been using single stud pierced earrings for brooches. Some are very small. If you want to buy a really small pair, the baby ones are nice. The pin at the back can be cut off some. Instead of the bulky backs that come with them, I use the tiny plastic keepers that come with lightweight French hook types.

R. Roweblue

Brooch: How about using the magnetic earrings that give you the pierced look without the hole? You could place the back behind the shawl and the earring part looks like a fancy pin.

Alberta

Brooch For Shawl: A nice brooch can be made sewing about three little iridescent seed beads together and tacking them to close your crochet shawl. Or dig around in jewelry findings and/or cut a big one down to size.

Pamela Swain

Picture Mats: Metal frames offer a look that is hard to get with wood especially if you are going to make them gold. By matting, any picture could work with any frame. Matting for miniatures should be easier than fullsize because the stock is pretty thin. You don't have a bevel to deal with that is as critical as full size.

Here is my approach. Take your mat(any nice craft paper will do) and lay it face down. Place the print on it where you like it. Trace around the print. Remove the print and use a striaght edge to draw lines about 1/16" inside the traced lines. Use an Xacto knife to cut the center out following the inner set of lines - use caution at the corners. Now take another piece of paper cut to the size of the mat. adhere your picture to the second piece of paper so it is centered on the mat. Tape the mat and backing together.

Also matting is not always used. Often folks drymount a picture into the middle of a backing and then place the mounted piece in the frame. Drymount uses a thin sheet of heat sensitive material that is placed behind the pic. I fuses when ironed.- of course any thing that works IE: double sided tape works. .

bill

Brooch for Shawl - since your shawl is crocheted, you could use a small piece of fine wire on the back of your pin, and just twist ends thru the open work! The front could be made from anything, a bead, bit of clay, a tiny earring, even a small silk rose, glued into the wire!

Alice Zinn