GirlPiper Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Mike, I see that now BUT I don't like how you will be able to SEE the gussets in the dormers. hmmmmmmm You won't really see the gussets--there's a back edge of the roof that hides them for the most part. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Roxy, you can hang a light, a plant, a fan, or anything your little heart desires! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cah54719 Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 My Orchid arrived with a warped 2nd-floor sheet. I was so disappointed , I put the kit aside for a few years and worked on other houses. Later I took the warped sheet, piled loads of books (and 2 other kits in their boxes) on top and set it aside in my attic. I'd check every few months on the warpage, but it is still there. Has too much time passed from the original purchase (from HBS) to request a replacement sheet? Or, should I get a plain sheet from the craft store and try cutting out the stairwell and adding tabs? Any suggestions? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 If dampening it and letting it dry under flat weight doesn't elliminate the warp, once it's finished and glued in place with the walls it will often straighten out. If you can rock the piece like a rocking chair after the dampening process you can always order a new sheet directly from Greenleaf: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/about-us/greenleaf_dollhouse.html 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie2 Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 I had the same problem with the 2nd floor. I sprayed it with a little water , wiped it down and piled heavy books on it for a couple of days. It never came out perfectly flat but when I glued it together with the rest of the walls it was acceptable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cah54719 Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Thanks so much for the input. I never dampened it--that may be the missing element. It is very much "rocking-chair" material, tho, so I think I'd rather just order a replacement sheet and get on with the build. Thanks for being so supportive. Everyone on this forum is Great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kat57 Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I hope you will try dampening it first-save time and money,because you'll have to wait for it to come anyway, and I bet it will straighten out! My ex used to rehab old real life furniture and I witnessed him straighten out many a warped piece of wood that everyone thought was hopeless. What have you got to lose,since you have to wait on the mail anyway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfprincess Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 The Orchid seems to be the most popular kit, by far. It's cute and very gingerbread-y, but it's small and has very few rooms. Maybe I just love bigger houses with lots of rooms! Not feeling ;particularly positive tonight. But I've wondered about the immense popularity of the Orchid for some time now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Check out both the Team Orchid building blogs; it lends itself to a variety of interpretations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 The Orchid has the feel of what's known as a real life "starter home". It is a sturdy little cottage with the basic rooms, great charm and a feeling of coziness about it. It also lends itself to any number of decorative schemes with little or no bashing. I've done three of them, each one different, and enjoyed working on all of them. Despite our American leaning toward "bigger is better", a small jewel can be very satisfying. My Very First Doll House - Build My Very First Doll House - Furnishings Second Orchid - built with a 9-year-old Third Orchid - White Orchid 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otterine Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I will make an Orchid someday, too...as a mouse house. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalesq Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I love the Orchid enough that I plan to bash a Buttercup to get a half scale version. It's a great house! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kat57 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I looove all of KathieB's Orchid builds and Brae and Deborah,I love both your ideas and hope you do them soon! I'm a few weeks away from starting The Orchid kit my son gave me for Christmas,but I daydream about it all the time! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie2 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I am not as imaginative with my building as you guys are. I wish I could be but I get hung up with trying to get the actual building assembled. Maybe if I build the same house more than once I would think of another way to do it. Next time....... Today I am going to TRY hard to get the porch on at least!!! That's my goal! Brae, my Orchid is a house for a family of mice and their relatives that moved in from PA... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie2 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Ok Is it just me or did anyone else have problems with the front door not fitting into the opening?????? I spent all afternoon shaving it down and it just doesn't fit and looks awful. I didn't want to spend extra money on another door but I guess I have to. Any suggestions ? I am ready to toss the whole house into the nearest trash bin at this point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparklepuppies Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Ok Is it just me or did anyone else have problems with the front door not fitting into the opening?????? I spent all afternoon shaving it down and it just doesn't fit and looks awful. I didn't want to spend extra money on another door but I guess I have to. Any suggestions ? I am ready to toss the whole house into the nearest trash bin at this point! Keep on sanding, you will get it to fit. The paint makes it swell a bit, plus adds a tiny bit of width to it. Plus, the door is now double, so that adds a little more to what has to swing open. I have gotten to where I go ahead and cut some, then sand, then paint, and then sand some more. You'll get it there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie2 Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Tracy I cut and sanded so much of that door off its ridiculous! I just glued that sucker in and its never swinging in or out again. The occupants will have to use the back door! Lesson learned however....buy a separate door for this house next time! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Roxy, tracy is right; you do have to sand and shave quite a bit off the doors after they're together to get them to fit in the opening and to open & close. I've taken to clamping them in the bench vise and sanding them. One of the joys of having the workshop is access to DH's belt & disc sander! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cah54719 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Holly, I followed your advise about wetting my warped floor, weighting it down on a flat surface and letting it dry. First try made it somewhat flatter. Encouraged, I wet it again and did the same. Even flatter. So I went for the gold and truly Soaked it in the sink while doing a few dishes. Did the flattening routine and let dry for 2 days. That silly floor is now almost perfectly Flat! The tabs now meet the slots and I'll be able to use it. Thanks, again, so much for the advise... I also perused Cynthia Sperin's blog on her Orchid--it's Lovely! Such Wonderful inspiration. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I'm SO glad it worked for you. I love happy endings. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L Swearengin Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I appreciate the download, as with others, I needed a magnifier to read the thing. The download is much easier on old eyes. Thanks again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie2 Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I know, the print on those sheets require better eyes than mine. The downloaded instructions are better illustrated also IMO. Good Luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L Swearengin Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Just hope I can get it done before the 17th of May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeybear96 Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I've had the Orchid kit for about a year and the only reason I had not started building it was the vagueness of the instruction sweet...once I found the instructions online with the illustrations, I immediately dug the kit out of storage in a spare room in my house and started work on it...Just sanding the sheets, popping parts out, organizing, bagging and labeling but it's a start right? Do you mind telling me what you used to sand the pieces. This process is going really slow. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeybear96 Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I will make an Orchid someday, too...as a mouse house. I'm planning on making mine an animal house too. I'm not sure if I want Mice or Red Pandas or Racoons or what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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