Garfield Understairs cupboard 2

Those under stairs closets are so neat. Yours looks great.

Well thanks for the lovely comment - its so encouraging when people say positive stuff. I have now started painting the walls and windows.

Jo

I just want to wish you the best of luck as you continue to build your Garfield, and most importantly: have FUN (that's what it's all about, besides being very challenging). ha I got my first house for Christmas and blindly set out to build it according to all the not-so-perfect directions that came with it. First of all my kit didn't contain a "warm-up sheet"...but, thanks to this website, I learned how to do many things. I had no idea of the problems that would present themselves with doing interior decorating after the house was finished on the outside though. What a pain it's been to put in the flooring, wallpapering and painting everything!!! Oh well, I'm getting there, but slowly. I will say I'm having the time of my life. I have always dreamed of having one of these dollhouses since I was a young child and my husband made that dream come true with this Christmas gift. Love him! Multiple questions have arisen in my mind about several things that were'nt covered in the directions. I am still wondering if there's some way to attach all the doors without buying those expensive hinges, etc.? I eventually would like to put some "real" doors in it, but am more interested right now in purchasing furniture and such. Anyone have any ideas for me about that? I am sure that my arms have totally changed shape after trying to maneuver around the walls, doorways, stairwell, and tiny spaces to most that has to be done inside. Gosh, if I'd only known to do some of these things before I completely the whole house. Guess we live and learn, huh?

The staircases you built look magnificant! You have done a great job and your efforts were rewarded by the way they turned out. Keep up the good work and best wishes on what you're tackling now on your dollhouse.

I decided to use flat-wire electicity tape for my house. I ordered a kit and thought all was fine. I laid out a plan and set to work on the bottom floor. Got some done and decided to check out the circuits to make sure I was on the right track. Low and behold the switch was faulty! Just my luck, huh? ha ha I cut the switch section out and bypassed it. Works fine but I have to unplug it to turn everything off. Now I'm going to have to buy a new switch to replace that one. Just a hint, install the wiring before doing any of the flooring and wallpapering. I did that and, after not becoming a real expert, have just went nuts adding more and more wiring to my house. Yes, I am getting carried away since I "saw the light". I just keep ordering more and more light fixtures now, and am about to wear out the online tracking for UPS these days waiting for the packages to arrive. (Read about some others that unanxiously await their orders for various things on here and had to chuckle: I definitely know the feeling!) I used paper clips to hang a light around in different places in my house so I could see to place the wiring, etc. I also found that installing those little plugins and the use of the small dollhouse extension cords worked greatly. As far as having a blue-print or real plan for the wiring, I just put my first main wire along the foundation and added the tapes as I went up to the other floors. I made some slots in the floor/ceilings next to the sides to slide the flat wiring through to the other floors. I had some trouble with getting those itsy bitsy little brads inserted, but when I was about finished, learned how to do it. There were a couple of splices that I gave up on because I just couldn't get the copper to connect properly within the tape. The problem was that I reamed out the tiny holes too much and there wasn't any copper that was connecting within the splice. I also didn't think that a 30 foot roll of that wiring tape was going to do the job, but I still have some left and I'm through (I think? ha) with making my house "light up my life" now. I love looking at it all lit up at night, but my 17 yr. old step-son thinks it looks scary. (He's been really interested in watching as my house came out of the box and has turned into quite a creation after three months now).

I have several Greenleaf scars from using my glue gun, too, and I have used one of those for years! There's just so much to be affixed when building this house, and the glue gun scars will just be reminders of how my southpaw (left-handed) isn't so coordinated.. ;) ...especially on small boards and small spaces. I put the siding on the house, one piece at a time and that was a hot glue experience, too, just trying to quickly slap the pieces on before the glue set up!! I have to admit that there are some lumping looking places on my siding, but I know why! I have my excuses ready for anyone who tempts to attack my carpentry skills!

Thanks for reading my post and I hope some of my experiences herein might be helpful to you. If you or anyone has any advice about my doors, please do reply.

Have fun and keep on creating!

Sincerely,

Another house nut,

Sharon

Sharon, Great to hear from another Garfieldite. Your experience will certainly point me in the right direction. I am still painting walls, floors and windows. When these are done I will dry fit the house and plan the wiring. I know exactly what you mean about lights, I've bought loads. I have a bit of an idea where they will all go but that's all it is - an idea.

My kit didn't have a warm up sheet either but I downloaded one and that, together with advice from forum members has helped tremendously. I find the best help of all is in the gallery when members put a blow by blow account of the build, a picture paints a thousand words.

On the subject of hinges, I received lots of advice from using webbing or chamois leather as hinges to pins (tried to figure out how you would get a pin hinge in situ, and couldn't so I gave up on that one.

After the wiring plan (masking tape) is in place, I will try and do as much interior decoration as I can before assembling the house.

My Garfield was also a Christmas present from my husband but it took longer to arrive and I didn't get it until some time in January. You seem to have done so much more than me, I'm such a slow coach. I keep getting waylaid buying bits and bobs of furniture, fabrics to amke soft furnishings etc. instead of getting on with the build. I had an operation on Wednesday so I am now off work for 2 weeks recovery and I hope to crack n with the build and get some more pictures up in the gallery. I would love to see some pics of your house.

Hugs from Jo