Floral origami paper: why not use your origami paper to wrap gifts in? Other things that spring to my mind are miniature kites for your nursery (or to display on the walls), folding screens, fans, end paper for miniature books and shelf paper (but that may not be very exciting...).

And of course the obvious solution - to fold miniature origami figures! :)

Asa from Sweden in Fairfax VA

Floral Origami Paper: Your mini Origami paper could be used on small items of furniture. Tear the edges of the paper so they "melt" over each other. Use Mod Podge and a paint brush. These items could be vases with colors that you never liked or pottery flower pots or a stool top...anything. You could do matching plates and cups. If you want a shiny finish, let the project dry and then hit it with a shine not matte sealant. Small prints are excellent for this type of project.

Laurie Sisson

Origami ideas: matched set of stacking hatboxes (cutouts in Dec. Miniature Collector = templates), coordinated desk accessories (blotter, stationery rack, stationery box, pen/pencil cup, wastebasket, address book, portfolio, etc.), coordinated packaging for a cosmetics counter display (boxed sets of powder, cologne, lotion like those in the shops now for holidays), use as lining and exterior on gift box for Chrysnbon dish set painted or decoupaged to match, or as box for dollhouse doll (shower favor doll dressed in lace scraps with bunka wig).

Loretta Sniarowski

Floral Origami Paper: Maybe your origami paper could be used for a lampshade covering or a dressing screen. Be sure to paint with mod podge (or similar product) to give it a semi transparent look to the piece. I had very successful luck printing out a lampshade on tracing paper and giving that a coat.

Brooke, Wa

Miniature Origami: You can find some basic instructions online for origami, just by doing a search! These were found by typing in "origami instructions" are from

http://www.google.com

This one includes rocking horse instructions-

http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Palace/3457/diagrams.htm

This one includes a cat-

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/4800/anidiag.html

Also, your local library and book shops carry books on the subject. If you are planning on making tiny pieces, you will need to use a tweezers! Last year, to celebrate the millennium, I made miniature origami paper cranes (which signify 1000 years). They were tedious to do, but fun!

Alice Zinn

Hanging Wallpaper: I apply my miniature wallpaper the same way I decoupage in real life.

(1) I coat the surface the paper will be applied to with a healthy coat of plain white glue - school glue, not heavy craft glue.

(2) I dip my paper into warm water. Please note: I said DIP not SOAK. The latter is only applicable if you want to make paper mache. This relaxes the fibers and is a great assist in the elimination of air bubbles.

(3) I coat my hands with white glue. This keeps them from grabbing or tearing the paper.

(4) I apply my damp paper to my gooey surface. It will slide easily by gently placing my entire hand, palm down, over the center of the paper.

(5) When satisfied with placement, I use a brayer (rubber roller) to smooth my paper. Do not use the side of a credit card as a smoothing tool in this type of application. NOTE: the damp paper opens the fibers and allows air to escape through the paper. I do not have to worry about smoothing from the center to the outer edge, etc. Or have a panic attack when I find an air bubble. The damp paper delays drying time and gives me all the time I need to be satisfied with the application. My only concern is to be sure my paper is pushed gently and thoroughly against my floor, wall or ceiling.

(6) The next step is to use a damp household sponge to remove the excess glue from the top and edges of the paper. I rinse the sponge after each

stroke. You can't "clean" if you don't keep the sponge clean. My final step is to clean me. I usually am wearing more than one small sign of my efforts. I am especially famous for wiping my hands on my bottom.

(7) I like to seal with the same acrylic varnish I use on the canvases I paint. My favorite brand is FolkArt water based varnish by Plaid. It is non-yellowing and water clean-up. I use a sponge brush to apply this. NOTE: you can practice this technique with any scrap piece of paper and scrap piece of wood or tile. Doesn't hurt to get the "feel".

- In response to your query about the wallpaper sample you would like to use for tile, I would apply it exactly as the mfg. instructs. This is probably premixed wallpaper adhesive and soaking your piece of paper to activate the glue on the back side. It would not hurt to call any store that sells items made by this mfg. to verify their directions.

- Before I go, I'd like to remind you that your creation is an artistic expression of you. Don't worry too much about perfection in your work. If you strive for satisfaction, you will be much happier. If there is a bubble in the floor when it has dried - break it, color the hole black, lay miniature fire crackers and a box of matches beside it and you have created the presence of the naughty little boy that played with matches in the house! My point is to learn to roll with the punches and keep your sense of humor. Often the boo-boos are the greatest challenge to our creativity and the best encouragement to express our individual personalities.

Becky

Sealing Paper: J. Hermes makes "Super Sealer" which is brushed on and dries to a gloss. I have used it on floors quite often.

Also if you cut art work from catalogues, you can glue it to cardboard or mat board, brush on the sealer and before it dries rebrush to imitate artists strokes or "pounce" on it with a fine sponge and it looks very authentic when framed.

When I use real wallpaper, I use real paste. Some of the papers are so thick that dh paste doesn't seem to do the job.

Dani

Stuffing a closet with clothing - realistic clutter - i.e. clothing all over the place. Barbie's little sister's clothing is great! Perfect size for 1 inch scale wardrobe. Shoes and accessories also are available. Source: Yard sales, thrift shops, neighborhood kids, toy stores etc.

A closet overflowing, dresser with half open drawers, shoes tossed around, jacket hung over bedpost, etc. All over the house there can be personal clutter. Really gives the rooms a 'lived in look.' To drape properly, dip the clothing in thinned liquid starch and hang or drape to dry. Weights (clothespins) will pull the reluctant pieces in the proper direction. Or shield the furniture with plastic bag and drape the item. When dry, remove the bag. What fun!

Judie St. Onge

Flooring: I just thought I should let you guys know about the flooring I made. I went a show in Annapolis some years ago and a man was demonstrating this technique. I used that piece of cardboard that came with my tile flooring (mini). I sat on the floor (for more room!) drew lines with a black ball point pen and ruler, then poked small holes for a realistic look then took stain all over the piece then I cut is to size. I think it looks great!! Just thought I would pass this on to everyone just trying to share my tip.

Chris Collett in Maryland

Wedding scene suggestions: I've always thought about a dome scene with a dressed bride admiring herself in a pier mirror, maybe a few wedding accessories around...and on the other side of the mirror a chair with a pair of jeans and sweat shirt thrown over it...maybe some sneakers...some other things pertinent to that particular bride. The mirror would be a natural divider for the dome. Once had the perfect bride on order...but it was broken before it could be shipped and was a one of a kind doll.

Pat in SC

For that pre-wedding room box, I have many ideas. How about a dressing table, suitcases, near the door, gifts strewn around the room, old stuffed toys, etc, etc.

Barb in PA

Pre-Wedding Roombox: I have a cross stitch kit at home that one day I my actually do. It is called 'Through a Mothers Eyes' or something to that effect and shows a young lady in her wedding dress standing before a full length mirror in her bedroom. Beside her is her mother with her arms around her shoulders. They are both looking into the mirror, but instead of seeing a grown women the mirror shows a little girl holding a doll. The room is full of memorabilia from the girls life, toys, dolls, teddy bears, hats, letters etc. and is set probably at turn of the last century. I have always thought this would make a lovely roombox gift for when (if) my daughters get married filled with all the favourite things from her travels through life.

Yvonne Rush NZ

Marble Tile Floor: I would make a posterboard pattern of the bathroom floor, cutting it to fit exactly the space needed. Then, I would glue my individual tiles to the posterboard - using Bond Instant Gripp glue...it's a better adhesive than Tacky brand (in my humble opinion). It will adhere much faster, and hold the tiles in place better, while the glue dries. Put a piece of foil on top of the "tiled" floor and weight it down with a few good books, so that it will dry nice and flat. Then just trial fit the whole floor again to make sure everything is the way you want it. If there's no wiring running across the floor, then use the same glue to install the finished floor, and again weight it down to dry. Oh yes...about finishing the "marble paper"....use Delta brand clear satin or gloss varnish. Use a GOOD quality brush to apply several coats....this stuff usually only takes 15 minutes or so to dry between coats...more, of course, when humidity is high.

Laura in OKC

carpets / rugs: This may have been mentioned before but there is a product available here called "image maker" made by Dylon. You can transfer pictures to fabric very easily with time and patience. I have made some wonderful carpets and rugs using felt as the base and then hand sewing all the tassels on for the finishing touch. It costs about $13 N.Z and there is enough to do several depending on the size and of course you also need the picture you want to transfer. In my case I did patterned rugs.

ROBYN L MITCHELL in New Zealand

Keeping Cabinets/Mirrors on Walls: How about using velcro? I'm going to try some velcro for holding up my mirrors on the walls and my kitchen cabinets. It's the only thing I can think of that might keep the things from flopping down in the floor.

Susan

Carpeting: I have used washcloths or terry toweling for "shag" type carpet in rooms with a 60s theme, also I did a handmade stenciled rug using a fine velvety textured hand towel, trimming each end and fringing, to get an approximate copy of a real-size rug in a replica room. It worked for me.

Susan at WRH

Quarter Scale Stucco: I am doing an 1/4" southwestern and I am using stair tread, both inside and outside the house. There were two southwestern magazines in Miniature Showcase and they did say that the insides should be stucco and white and that the outside were maybe a couple of other colors. I am doing the inside white stucco but doing the outside a pinkish-brown! I have also used the miniature stucco and that worked fine in 1".

Isabel Allen

Decorating Ideas, Chicken and Rooster, Seascapes, Lighthouses

Better Homes and Gardens "Country Style" spring 2000 issue has a bunch of chicken/rooster stuff in it.  Rugs, china, a clock.  There's also a lighthouse rug, a couple of 'windows' with seascapes painted outside, a clock shaped like a pocket watch that says "English Watchmaker", some other china, another round, antique-looking clock with roses on it, etc.. Lots of stuff to scan and play with.

Quinn

Art Sites:  In the quaint-and-charming folk art category (with a bit of mischief) is  http://www.willmoses.com/   
For a huge collection spanning centuries and styles, try http://www.postergallery.com/default.html Indexed by artist as well as general subject matter.
Another good source: www.barewalls.com

Mary

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