Posted by DeeinNJ on April 1, 2008, 9:52 am (DollDivas USA forum discussion thread)
Hi, everyone.
Well, being a week late with last month’s Diorama Discussion, having an early Easter, for which I was dinner host, and a landslide of other commitments, I didn’t have any extra time to put together a super exciting DD for you today.
However, I know you all look forward to SOMETHING, so I was lamenting to fellow board member Vin about how I had NO time to prepare this week’s DD and he suggested just focusing on “things around the house.” He was even gracious enough to offer to snap some photos for me.
So, although this isn’t gonna knock your socks off, you may find some interesting little ideas for how to use stuff that you may already have lying around or that are easy to acquire.
So, I promise a better topic next time, but in light of my crazy life, I present to you… Little Things Mean a Lot.
First, let’s talk about coasters. We have ‘em, we use ‘em, but they also make great props.
Here’s a table made from stacked coasters on the coaster caddy. Real tiny cactus (hens & chicks) and Swarovski crystals help the look.
Here’s a photo from our last Diorama Discussion, the African-look table made from a coaster.
And here is Vero sitting on a bench that is actually the caddy for a set of four coasters,
I just turned it upside down.
The same coaster holder is a bench in this shot
Adding coasters on top of candle holders, blocks or other objects is a great way to make tables.
Here, the candle holder IS the table, but it is still being used as a candle holder! Funny, huh?
The black chest with the gold drawer actually WAS a candle holder, I just pulled the candle dish off the top and, viola!, a cool asian chest.
Here, Vin used the bottom base of a hurricane lamp (the top glass part got broken and he couldn’t bring himslef to toss the base). With an oval mirror on top, it makes a cool table.
The little glass bowl is actually a tea light from Target with the candle removed. Artificial red berries fill the bowl nicely. There’s also a Fashion Fever vase with real ivy sprig and a crystal “knick knack.” Just snipping off pieces of real plants is a great idea to fill your vases, even the cheapo playline ones. It truly helps them look more realistic.
Speaking of vases, this one is a real hoot. This bud vase is made from a pierced earring back and the protective clear tube for a small paint brush. With all of the painting Vin does, he has lots of these! A sprig of real ivy does the job.
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Jewel boxes make nice furniture. They can be found at craft stores, discount stores and places like Marshall’s, Home Goods, Ross, etc.
This chaise is actually a jewelry box. But my dolls like it to sit on! By the way, that little round side table is actually a dining table for a dollhouse, so dollhouse furniture can work, too. Tiny dining tables work well for coffee tables, end tables or night tables.
This jewel box with three drawers looks like a 'High Boy' of sorts for your dolls...
It came from Michaels and was $12.00.
This lamp is made from a miniature teapot and an empty glass tea light with a shade from a Yankee Candle room freshener. These shade are great and you can make all types of lamps with these. The ink well is a swarovski piece and the dish is the wasabi dish with an ivy sprig and almonds to resemble brown stones!
How about toothbrush holders from the bath shop? Here, the fancy brown table with the gold scrollwork is just a toothbrush holder with some cardstock attached to the top to make this great console table.
The console table in this photo is also a toothbrush holder, but this time, I just turned it upside down. Good thing the little accessories cover the "Wamsutta" words!
This entertainment unit is made up of drawer organizers. FOUR sections are put together. Each set was sold in two's and stack nicely.
Arranging small 'things' from around the house - they can take on a 'Southwestern' decor, a 'game room' decor or 'eclectic decor.
The cactus from the previous shots in a bit larger terra cotta mini's serve as southwestern decor/living plants.
The bubble gum machine and globe are 'Boyds' bears mini boxes and go for around 12.00 per piece. The TV is a Hallmark ornament that actually plays the ESPN theme. You CAN remove the ESPN logo with nail polish remover (so I'm told).
The coffee table (also the coaster and inverted coaster caddy) is topped with a tealight bowl of 'ICE' (silica gel pellets), a FR 1/6 bottle of champagne, a Swarovski 'cork screw' and a Christmas ornament that resembles a wine rack with two bottles/glasses and wine bucket! The ornament was 7.50 at Christmas time but they always go on clearance after the holidays!The coffee cup is a doll house mini from a craftstore such as Michaels or AC Moores! That great artwork is just a piece of scrapbook paper!
The dining table for two is an inverted candle holder from Target (5.00) and a square mirror top. The embellisments are the tealight holder and 'silicon gel pellets' to resemble ice. The other elements are a tiny Asian-style bowl (a cone incense holder), Swarovski wine caddy/bottle/glasses and cork screw set!
The smaller 'mirror' tray is the tiny mirror found in a CREST tooth whitener strips box lid!
The chairs are from Pivotal Barbie Jazz Babies! The sisal rug is a round place mat from target for 2.98.
So, there you have it. Start looking at those little things hanging around the house in new ways. I hope, however brief this week's topic was, that it provided some inspiration.
I hope to be back with bigger and better things once my schedule allows. AND, I always remind board members that if you have a project or idea to share, don't feel shy about writing me to perhaps have your creation featured in an upcoming Diorama Discussion.
Til next time,
DeeinNJ
Hitskin.com
Saturs
