Spooky Squirrel Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 (edited) My first build - the Orchid model - is coming along! I have been having a ball with the walls, I could seriously spend HOURS making them look moldy and decrepit. I know that I am still early in the process, but I really wanted to share my process This window so far is my favorite - I love the peeling wallpaper and the plaster, still needs more aging and mold (that window casing is looking way too clean IMO) This is a wider shot of the bedroom wall (upper) and the kitchen wall (lower)- complete with water damage and a healthy dose of black mold and this is the last wall of the kitchen, still needs a lot of mold and distressing but I am so excited to see how it is coming along!! This is a shot of the livingroom (lower) and the really cute bird wallpaper for the bathroom! here are all the walls in one shot - I am really happy with how they seem to be fitting together And I just had to sneak in a photo I took a while ago that shows the custom windows I made! Edited April 9, 2021 by Spooky Squirrel took me a hot minute to figure out how to do photos LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 It looks awesome! Maybe some nail holes in the window trim? My real house has those. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 43 minutes ago, Medieval said: It looks awesome! Maybe some nail holes in the window trim? My real house has those. Lol ooooo that is a lovely idea! I am planning on having the lower level windows nailed shut anyhow so that would be an excellent detail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 It is coming along nicely. Such nice cheery wallpaper, yet it is so decrepit.....quite the juxtaposition. Who lives/ lived there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 27 minutes ago, Mid-life madness said: It is coming along nicely. Such nice cheery wallpaper, yet it is so decrepit.....quite the juxtaposition. Who lives/ lived there? So... it seems to be evolving into a life of its own but it started with an old couple that came from money but was disowned by their families due to their interest in the occult. Now.... it does seem to be turning more into a house of horrors. They had a beautiful and lovely house but over the years they have focused their energies on more gruesome activities and their home has begun to fall apart around them. The only thing that is going to remain constant is the fact that they are old because I was able to score two dolls for $5 and they are an old man and old woman. Oh, and they have a scottie - yet to be named but probably will have a human femur as a chew toy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 32 minutes ago, Spooky Squirrel said: ...a human femur as a chew toy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Just promise you won't glue Barbie doll parts to the walls. Lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 9 minutes ago, Medieval said: Just promise you won't glue Barbie doll parts to the walls. Lol Thats a promise I can make! Barbie dolls are way too large for this scale anyhow :P I do however have a bunch of small skeletons in our Halloween decor that may wind up chopped up and sprinkled throughout the hosue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 13, 2021 Author Share Posted April 13, 2021 The house is finally starting to come together!! The real MVP of this process is books - I have been using them to hold everything in place LOL Living room Kitchen Bedroom wall and staircase opening Bathroom wall (don't mind the mess) I am so excited, and a little amazed how quickly the inside pulled together as I glued it together. Next steps is finishing up the inside of the roof/gables. After that is wrappedd up I will be working on the outside. I saw an idea to use cereal boxes/food boxes cut in strips for exterior siding .... anyone try that method? I really like the idea of reusing but now sure how it would hold up to pain and glue and distressing.... thoughts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 I started building whilst I was in Nursing school; those heavy textbooks were perfect for getting flooring to lie flat whilst drying. Seal one side of your cereal boxes with clear sanding sealer. When it dries, cut your strips and glue them on (print side down) and seal the exposed side, then prime and paint. I've used construction paper for roofing slates and the only issue I had was with the sun's UV rays bleaching all the color from the paper (through the sealer; not direct sunlight, either); but I painted the roof and the problem was solved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 13, 2021 Author Share Posted April 13, 2021 1 hour ago, havanaholly said: Seal one side of your cereal boxes with clear sanding sealer. When it dries, cut your strips and glue them on (print side down) and seal the exposed side, then prime and paint. Thank you!! That is very helpful information - really appreciate it! Yes - textbooks would be ideal to hold stuff together LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Bedroom is coming together - my first attempt at a floor!! I am happy(ish) with it but already am debating redoing it as I am now way more comfortable with the tool and how to cut the pieces. I used three different stains on stir sticks, painted one by one because I wanted the variation. I used chipboard to cut out the floor template, painted it black, and glued the wood directly to the chipboard. I haven't glued it down yet as I want to make sure everything fits once I get the bathroom floor done. Love the stain - but you can see on the edges that they are not even ... but it is supposed to be a house that is falling apart so maybe that is ok as wood floors do tend to warp and contract over time? I also had my first attempt at an egg carton brick wall (because I ran out of scrapbook paper and the recycle bag was waaaaay closer than the store) I love how the floor looks from a distance - maybe I am only seeing the errors because it was my first attempt and I know what I learned along the process? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 9 minutes ago, Spooky Squirrel said: ...maybe I am only seeing the errors because it was my first attempt and I know what I learned along the process? Precisely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Spooky Squirrel said: ... maybe I am only seeing the errors because it was my first attempt and I know what I learned along the process? Yes! And don't be surprised when you anguish over perceived errors on future builds. We tend to see the worst in our work because we have an innate urge to do better. Others who view our work see only the overall presentation; the details get lost in the whole. It is what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 3 hours ago, havanaholly said: Precisely. 1 hour ago, KathieB said: Yes! And don't be surprised when you anguish over perceived errors on future builds. We tend to see the worst in our work because we have an innate urge to do better. Others who view our work see only the overall presentation; the details get lost in the whole. It is what it is. Thank you both - my first build so I want it to be 'perfect' even though I am having a ball playing around with techniques and ideas LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 35 minutes ago, Spooky Squirrel said: Thank you both - my first build so I want it to be 'perfect' even though I am having a ball playing around with techniques and ideas LOL Oh, yeah, the "perfect" thing... in case you hadn't noticed, your Squirrel Cottage is already perfect for the condition it's in. In case you haven't taken a really good look at the real world, it's not perfect out there, either. I gave up on perfection when a coworker looking at photos of my Dura-Craft Cambridge, said she thought it was a real house until she saw the little people in it and realized they were dolls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muriel Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 26 minutes ago, havanaholly said: I gave up on perfection when a coworker looking at photos of my Dura-Craft Cambridge, said she thought it was a real house until she saw the little people in it and realized they were dolls. Now *that* is perfect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 And never forget my favorite mantra: It is all smoke and mirrors. It doesn't have to BE real to LOOK real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 Building miniatures has actually helped me realize things don’t have to be perfect. Also you can always add more wood filler I love your exposed lath and plaster I really regret not doing that in mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 All of Christina's exposed structural details are spot on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 15 hours ago, havanaholly said: .... I gave up on perfection when a coworker looking at photos of my Dura-Craft Cambridge, said she thought it was a real house until she saw the little people in it and realized they were dolls. That is amazing!! It sometimes feel like a game of "is this a real people house or a dollhouse" when looking at pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 15 hours ago, KathieB said: And never forget my favorite mantra: It is all smoke and mirrors. It doesn't have to BE real to LOOK real. I may have to steal that mantra - it's so true!!! And I feel like I should know better because I love horror movies and LOVE hearing how they use practical effects to achieve looks. You are wiser than I LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, Spooky Squirrel said: ...You are wiser than I LOL Just older. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky Squirrel Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 14 hours ago, Graham said: Building miniatures has actually helped me realize things don’t have to be perfect. Also you can always add more wood filler I love your exposed lath and plaster I really regret not doing that in mine. I am hoping that as I move along in this process I will finally get that through my head as well - also can I ask what type of wood filler you use because I got some Elmer's wood filler in a tube and I loath it ... it could be user error tho TBH Thank you so much for your kind compliment - I am excited to continue with the room (there will be moss growing on the laths) and see how it pulls together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 43 minutes ago, Spooky Squirrel said: what type of wood filler you use I've never had good luck with wood filler in miniature projects. I lean toward joint compound/drywall mud or paintable caulk if there are voids to fill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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