Tiger skin rug: Rita Weiss and Frank Fontana's book, Miniature Iron on Transfer Patterns for Dollhouses, published by Dover, ISBN 0-486-23741-9 Amongst the various items such as quilts, carpets etc, there are two transfers for animal skins, a zebra and a tiger.

I ironed the tiger transfer onto cream felt, then using deep orange, mid orange and black bunka snipped very fine. I 'filled in' the tiger skin pattern.  It looks REALLY WONDERFUL as it has a furry texture

Helen

Mini Pictures: I visited the Phoenix Art Museum recently and while in the gift shop found a little booklet of Monet stickers. They are stickers based on different Monet paintings. Just the right size for mini pictures for my dollhouses! In fact I had just purchased a small gold frame that fits perfectly on several of the pictures.

Kathy

Lipstick samples from Avon: Lipstick samples using the clear top can be used as a vase or dig out the lipstick cut down the top and put in a very tiny miniature in adome.

Sherrall

Pie Pans: I cut circles out of old pie tins I had saved from store bought pies. I placed the circle of tin or aluminum over the top of a film canister (mine are white or clear) then I put the canister on top of the tin and pound with a hammer until it forms trim the edge and you have a pie plate.

Terrie

Vanity Trays: I found palette sequins in mirror finish at Wally world in one inch size. I glued 3 of them together for rigidity then glued the rings from a bridal decor shop for the edge. The tiny holes in the sequins were covered by a bottle and if the rings didn't quite meet at the back on some - found they come in different sizes later - then most trays are set so you can not see the back or you could put a decoration in the gap. This was less costly than using mirrors plus not quite so heavy.

Carol

Pie Pans: Have you thought of the beer bottle caps, or coke caps, etc. they have the rims fence like pie pans. To open one with out bending it, put a dime, or a washer the size of the cap, on top of the cap and then use the bottle opener, and lift up gently. The top remains flat. Then paint it any color you like.

Joseph

Pie Pans: I use aluminum tooling foil, (foil pie tins will work). Cut a 1 1/4" circle, place it on a piece of folded paper towels or thin foam rubber, (I use a piece of shoe insoles). Using a stylus, press firmly approximately 1/8" from edge, making dents about 1/8 " apart. Then, pressing firmly, connect the dots. This makes the foil cup up and makes a scallop edge pie pan.

Flo

Pie Pans: I took a piece of my aluminum and shoved it down into a bottle cap. Use a ball point pen to run around the bottom of the aluminum inside the cap. Bend the aluminum out over the edge of the cap and trim it off close to the edge. It gives the pan a wavy edge. Roll out a pie of sculpy for the crust, lay it inside and go around the edge of the crust with tweezers squeezing the edge. Makes a great looking fluted edge.

Elizabeth Cooper

Western Saddle: Go to http://www.riorondo.comThey carry saddle kits and just about everything else you will need. Also, Nutshell carried a series of articles by Sylvia Roundtree back in the 80's on making bits, bridles, and an English saddle. You can get reprints from the customer service at DHM for a modest fee.

Rose

Spectacles: I have a catalogue from Butler Manufacturing. In it are four realistic pairs of specs. Size and price are not listed but their email is butlerco@setnet.com.au.

Dee

Fly Paper: When you get the fly paper up, how about tying black thread (maybe button thread - you'd have to try different weights) into a double knot for the fly's body and clip the threads about an eighth of an inch long for the wings? You can glue them to the fly paper.

Dani

Lamps: I've used a clear bugle bead for the glass funnel. I've been very happy with the result.

Pamela

Lite Brite Pegs: Anyone who is familiar with my projects will know that I use these pegs quite a bit....

Besides the jelly jars (red for raspberry, light red for strawberry, amber for peach or marmalade, green for mint, purple for grape.. which are made by cutting off the slanted, large end (whole for large jars and half for smaller. Top with a white punched round for a lid or a round of fabric tied with thread for a fancy country look).

The large or small ends can be cut for glasses of juice or whatever depending on the color.....clear ones for clear glasses or glasses of water. For a half filled glass of whatever, use a clear peg section and color with permanent marker pens for the liquid.

The pegs are easily carved by hand or with the aid of a moto tool. They can be shaped into bottles (see an upcoming DM article for soda bottle instructions) of almost any variety....the amber ones are perfect for beer or honey. When you choose a peg, look in it and you will see a bubble.....placed just right the bubble will add life to a bottle, jar etc. If you have the patience the small pointed ends can be carved or turned (insert them into a variable speed drill for turning) for ink bottles, perfume bottles etc.......the colors are perfect for this. Any dullness brought about by carving, sanding etc. will disappear with a coat of clear nail enamel.

By the way, the pegs can be purchased separately from the game or look for bags full at 2nd hand stores.

Joann Swanson

Mini Tea Tins: I bought a mini tea tin in Chicago last year at the International Miniatures Show. It is a kit that you put together. It is made of tin and it has little hinges with it. I haven't put it together yet. I don't remember who I bought it from, but the name on the directions is Mary Ann's Mini Pearls, Mary Ann Ledyard, Wright Guide Miniatures.

Nancy

Mini Tea Tins: Jacqueline's has tea tins available at your local miniature shop.

Mary Kay

Brass Goblets: My neighbor found a sweet red wine called Kirkesberry.  The bottle has a depression on the front, with a miniature brass goblet set into it.  I have a pair of them now.

Elaine

Van Gogh Art: For those that have a Books A Million close to them, I found a sticker book on the children's discount table that hasvery nice Van Gogh's in it.  The book is called "My Van Gogh Art Museum, A Sticker Book of Paintings, by Carole Armstrong.  The pictures are quite nice and range in size from 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" to about 2" x 3".  If youdon't peel the stickers off the backing, just cut them out, they frame very well.  It was only $2.97 (regularly $11.95) and has about 45 pictures in all.  If your mini people like Van Gogh, it is worth looking for.  In the back of the book, there is a blurb about the author that says she has also published a Monet Museum, but I didn't see that at my store.

Melinda

Picture Frames - I make most of my frames out of wood and lace. I make the frames out of wood, glue tiny lace flowers, etc. on them, paint them black or gold with acrylics, then I gild them with "Renaissance Foil" by Delta that I get at JoAnn's or most craft stores. It comes in gold, silver and copper. Ialso make fern stands and lampshade bases out of wood , paint them and gild them.

Anita

Gel Candles (for making miniature jello molds): I've not had a problem getting the gel out of molds, this is what I do. Put the molds in the sink and spray with Pam. Turn upside down on a paper towel on the counter to drain, don't try to wipe or spread the Pam. Make your mold and in only about 5 to 10 minutes it will come out.  Run a needle around the top edge or use your fingernails.  I've made 3 or 4 in the same mold without having to spray again as it doesn't get absorbed by the gel.

Patrica Morrison

Mirrors: UNIQUE makes a mirror material that can be cut with xacto knife.  Any mini shop can get it for you.  In Dee's catalog.

Fannye in TX