Shop Cinderella Moments

Whimsy! A dollhouse

2012-02-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

My new project dollhouse is much more whimsical. I happened upon Kim's shop Kim's Cottage Art on Etsy and fell in love with her work. One particular cottage caught my eye! This is my inspiration Sugar Dust Donut Shop:

So cute! I wanted to get started immediately. First I found adorable Forget Me Nots that I thought would go perfectly with the color of the cottage. I ordered a bunch from 32North Supplies also on Etsy.

I'm not sure which ones I'll use they are all so sweet!

I already put the main structure together.

And I already made a purple chandelier to go inside.
Thank you Kim for letting me use your cottage design as my inspiration!

Camille's Kitchen Shop

2012-02-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

It's Ballerina Cottage one more time!

Camille contacted me about Ballerina Cottage. She loved the house but needed one less window in the front to set up her kitchen shop. She also didn't want the roses.

We decided to replace the missing window with a trellis and vine.

This one is battery operated. And the battery and switch are hidden in the chimney.

For the paneling I used Johanna's tutorial over at mini daydreams blog. It's so simple and so good!!

I love the way the paneling turned out. Thanks Johanna!

The crystal chandelier has clear and teal Swarovski crystals.

She's ready for Camille's finishing touch!

A Swap With Katie

2012-02-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

I had a little swap with Katie of Dollhouse Littles & Hitty Art by Virginia Folk Artist KArthur and Dollhouse Littles on Etsy.

Katie also has a blog called Dollhouse Miniature Art .

Katie specializes in Textiles for your dollhouse and vintage mini furniture.

So tiny! I wonder how she tied those knots!

And so perfect! Total Shabby Chic overload here!!

A little bundle of cuteness!

It all came tied up in this cute lace runner. Love it!

I checked out her work and she has this adorable bunny rug!

Sheep! I have a thing for sheep and this sheep rug is so sweet!
If your dollhouse is in need of cuteness you have to go check out Katie's shop!

DollhouseLittles Dollhouse Littles and Hitty Art

Thank you Katie! I love my little gift!

The Craft Studio Custom Dollhouse

2012-02-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

It's now all done. I added the last details to the Craft Studio Dollhouse.

Charlotte dropped by for a visit! She wanted to try sewing some Yo-Yos on the quilt.

Charlotte is available at my shop

Now that's done I'm on to a few special orders for customers. Up next is a Kitchen shop for Camille that will look like the Ballerina Cottage with a window change.
.The Craft Studio is available at Cinderella Moments.

The Craft Studio Custom Dollhouse

2012-02-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

I've been working on the little craft studio. I'm almost done with it. It's just missing some tiny details.

Inside, I made the ceiling with Popsicle sticks.

I painted everything cream. That was an easy paint job!

Outside, same color! I used concrete under ridged cardboard for the siding.

Bing! Done!

I used the little wire fence I had used on "Sprinkled With Love Cottage." I just think it's the cutest thing I've ever seen! It came from a shop that was selling fairy garden accessories.

This studio has worn out paint and stone foundation.

The front porch is brick. I used the usual concrete and sculpted some little brick shapes.

This house has 2 battery operated lights.

Inside is so much fun to do.

Of course there's a dollhouse in progress.

I made a little notepad with the dollhouse's design and notes.

I made 3 scalloped edge shelves.

I had to try out some burlap curtains.

I love the memo board. It used to be a dollhouse window.

Loading up this board with stuff was a blast!

I have some stuff in the cupboard like fabric bolts, ribbons, and bobbins.

I made the shopping bag with some brown paper bag I had and filled it with paper, fabric and an umbrella. I love putting brown paper packages tied up with string in the dollhouses!

Here's another started project: a yoyo quilt with a tiny needle on a string to look like someone's working on it.

Now I need a real life sized one of these!

Ballerina Cottage Custom Electric Dollhouse

2012-01-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

Here's Ballerina Cottage Dollhouse!

For the front door I left the little light bulb plain. I tried a little light fixture but there was just something about the light bulb I loved!

The top window in the roof is a bit angled so that when the house is set on a tabletop you can see directly inside.

All the walls are aged with a little mahogany colored stain. It's the perfect combination of red and black to give that vintage feel.

On the floor, a forgotten cup of tea, a ballet instructor application, a ballet book and program. I also made a bouquet of a dozen red roses out of paper wrapped in plastic and pink tissue paper with a note.

These tutu are from the scrapbooking isle. Perfect size.

The Audrey Hepburn photo is a must for a ballerina!

All the embellishments including these white shabby chic frames are from Artistic Supplies.

This house is electric. It has a transformer.

Available at CinderellaMoments or ask for an invoice.

Next is the little craft studio!

Ballerina Cottage Custom Dollhouse

2012-01-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

Before I update you on Ballerina Cottage I have to say thank you to Deb of Zur Designs for featuring Sprinkled With Love Dollhouse on her blog.

Thanks so much Deb!
Ballerina Cottage got it's coat of concrete.

I just butter it on...

Then I used a brush with 3 teeth and pulled it through the concrete while it's wet and I get a design.

After all the sides were done I started painting.

I used a golden brown. It's a little bright right now. I will do some aging later on.

Inside, I added some little details.

The dresses are from the scrapbook section in the craft store. I printed out some pictures and photos from the internet using the contact sheet setting on the printer. It shrinks things down to a good size.

I used varnish on the photos for a glossy finish.

I also put this teacup with some old tea and a teabag like the ballerina left it there a couple days ago and hasn't had time to clean it up. I just used some water based stain and let it dry in there. It kind of looks like chocolate. But I think if you left your teabag in a cup for a couple of days it would look this dark. There's a ballet book, a ballet program and a ballet instructor application next to the cup. Our ballerina is thinking about teaching ballet!

Cinderella Moments Featured in 2 Blogs

2012-01-16T17:40:00.000-08:00

I'm so honored to have my work featured on 2 blogs!
First, I got word Friday that a dollhouse would be featured on Charming Ink.

Thanks Charming Ink for such a sweet post!

Then Tracie Dean of Dean Designs contacted me with the same news. I'm super excited!!

And what a post that is! I'm truly touched by the generous words.
The encouragement I get from fellow bloggers delights me beyond words. Thank you both so much!

Ballerina Cottage Dollhouse

2012-01-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

I'm now concentrating on Ballerina Cottage.

The interior is plastered and painted. All the decorative accents like the roses you see here are from Artistic Supplies.

I finished the chandelier with clear and teal Swarovski crystals.

The aged mirror was pretty hard to do. The first 4 mirrors had a red painted back. I was able to strip the paint off of those easily. But I wanted one big piece of glass. So I went to Lowe's and bought some mirror tiles. They have a gray backing. I had to apply the paint stripping 3 times to get it off. This mirror in the above picture has some striped marks. I like them for this space, but they are not the traditional old mirror aging.

I actually thought it was wong until I went to a shabby chic store and saw a table with that same look. So I'm using it. The spots are made by leaving Clorox drops on the exposed silver back for about 5 minutes. You can then paint the back of the mirror with a black and silver mix.

For the ballet bar I used 3 picture hangers and 2 bamboo strips I got from an old placemat. I had used the placemats as matchstick blinds in the 1920s dollhouse.

Pretty convincing right?

The mirror will get a framing next.
I'm also working on another little project.

This is a tiny little workshop. You know the kind we all dream of having. Just a weeny place where you can create at your hearts content.

My inspiration was one piece of furniture I picked up at Hobby Lobby.

It started it's life all brown. I stripped the paint off since I had the stuff out! And painted it blue outside, cream inside. I'm going to fill it with crafting stuff.

See this place is tiny. I'm going to squeeze in some sort of table/desk and shelves. This place will be all filled up when I'm done with it. The last time I did that was for the Artist's Cottage.

Sprinkled With Love Cottage Custom Dollhouse

2012-01-11T18:01:00.000-08:00

Sprinkled With Love Cottage Dollhouse is done. Although I found it hard to stop with the details. This was one of those houses that I could have gone on and on with. But I have to leave some fun for the next owner.

I put vines on all 4 sides. I wanted a very lush garden look.

I made the beehive with air dry clay. Just make a couple of long thin snakes and wrap into the hive shape and poked a hole at the bottom. I painted it with golden brown paint and highlighted with white while the brown was still wet. I made the table wit scrap wood and added the little knob so it looks like there's a drawer.

I picked up this rake and shovel at a little store nearby. Irresistible!

I also found the chair, watering can and darling wire fence at the same shop.

Battery and switch hiding place: the chimney.

No time to dwell on this charmer! I have to get back to Ballerina Cottage. If you're interested in the Sprinkled With Love Cottage I will have it in my Etsy shop Cinderella Moments.

Sprinkled With Love Cottage and Ballerina Cottage Dollhouses

2012-01-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

Sprinkled With Love Cottage is coming along. In fact, in will be finished very soon.

The windows still need to be paned. This dollhouse has the battery operated lights with the switch and battery hidden in the chimney.

These are pine shingles painted gray and cut with a special edge scissor.

For Ballerina cottage I decided to do the first electric light dollhouse in Cinderella Moment history! OK it's not so dramatic. Actually it is so simple I can't believe I put off trying it out for so long!
I got the Cir-Kit starter kit:

I got it at Hobby Lobby. I also bought 2 light bulbs to make my own chandelier.

I cut off the plug part of the light bulbs and stripped the wires. There is an incredibly simple tutorial about the whole electric thing here: http://www.cdhm.org/tutorials/learn-to-tapewire-a-dollhouse.html
If I had found this before I wouldn't have hesitated for so long.

The tape is super easy to stick on. I used needlenose pliers to put the tiny eyelets and brads in with no problems.

The chandelier has one light in the middle. For the next project I'll try putting a bulb on each arm. But for now this will do.

This is the ceiling medallion for the chandelier.

I used plaster on the walls and it covered the electrical tape with no problem.

The medallion and this rose decoration above the window are by Melissa Frances. I get these cuties from Niki at Artistic Supplies on Etsy. She has the best prices and a huge selection. These are perfectly sized for dollhouses!! Love them.

The outside still looks the same. The mirrors have been hard to deal with! I was able to strip them of the paint. But the patina is hard to achieve.

Sprinkled With Love Cottage Dollhouse

2012-01-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to put the siding on the house. I used cardboard with the top layer ripped off. I butter the house with concrete and then stick on the siding. This makes the house strong for shipping.

Inside everything is white. I put the Swiss dot lace curtains in already. And the chandeliers are all wired in place.

I'm also working on the Ballerina Cottage. I tried to age the mirrors. No luck yet. I think I'll have to go the traditional road with paint thinner and Drano splatters or maybe bleach. I'll let you know which works.

Sprinkled With Love Cottage Dollhouse and Ballerina Cottage

2012-01-03T17:36:00.000-08:00

I worked on some details for "Sprinkled With Love Cottage."

On the sign I added pink, fine glitter and shadows for the house and cupcake. That's the top of the white mantel you see under the sign. I tried something new for this mantel, I used a real ribbon tied into a bow and painted. It turned out fantastic! It hardened perfectly and now looks like a wood carving. I aged the mantel with a brown ink pad.

I made the chandeliers too.

I'll try to put this little pink one on the front porch.

The front will have this little bay window.

This is the front door. I used a Melissa Frances heart embellishment.

On the other side I stamped a crown in brown ink.

The wood floor is going in. These are Popsicle sticks.

The interior is completely coated with plaster.

I also started another dollhouse. I doodled this house a while back.

I have no idea how close to it I can get, but I'm going to try. This will be the Ballerina Cottage dollhouse.

I have just put the walls and floor together after having cut out my windows and door.

For this one, I imagine a ballerina's tiny place. Very sophisticated in cream, ocre and grays. Maybe a wall of mirrors and ballet bar., ballet paintings and photos. Can you envision it? I'm so excited about this one too!

Sprinkled With Love Cottage Dollhouse

2012-01-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

I saw this sign in a store once. It read "Grandma's house where each little cupcake is sprinkled with love". I thought that was the cutest. So I changed Grandma to Home and went to work on my new dollhouse project.

I cut out some cardboard for the siding. I will put a layer of concrete underneath to strengthen the house.

This house has lots of big windows.

I started the chandeliers. One will be crystal and the other pink. I'm hoping to be able to fit one on the front porch.

Back From a Christmas at the Beach

2011-12-29T18:16:00.000-08:00

I took Lizzie to the beach for Christmas! There she is with her little coat on. It was a bit chilly that day. We went to Destin, Florida in the panhandle(north). We stayed at this gorgeous new neighborhood called Watersound.

We stayed at this gorgeous beach house.

The tree was missing a few lights. But there was almost nothing left in the stores. At least we found a tree!

The white sand looks like snow.

The last day we were there, there were huge waves. I had to stay very close to Lizzie. I didn't want her to get washed out to sea!

I tried to leave comments on blogs. But I've been getting messages that the comments are not being delivered. So if you haven't heard from me on your blog, it's just because I haven't been able to leave you a comment. I'll keep trying though! I hope this is not happening to anyone else.

Lucille- I read your comment on the "Someday my Prince Will Come" house. What a wonderful story you told! Thank you! <3

Now back to work on some houses!!

2011-12-24T19:58:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas filled with happiness and chocolates! : )

Thanks 'Your Craft Book'!

2011-12-22T17:29:00.000-08:00

I'm a featured artist on the blog: Your Craft Book.

This is a very cute blog with lots of vintage style and my favorite pastel colors. Thanks so much for the feature and the kind words! I'm truly honored!
If you want to see the post click here. And there's also a shop to get all the goodies you see on the blog: Your Craft Book on Etsy.

Someday My Prince Will Come Cottage Dollhouse

2011-12-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

The "Someday My Prince Will Come Cottage" is done.

Both turret roofs open. I figure if the light bulbs go one day you could still get to it and either add another battery light or a battery operated candle. The battery and switch are hidden in the right turret.

I painted 3 rose pictures and put them in these little Melissa Frances frames.

I made a day bed. The mattress is burlap wrapped. I knitted a little pink throw with a tattered pink ruffle. And I made 2 other pillows: a bolster pillow tied with twine and another with a brown crown stamp.

There's room on the attic ledge for some old books or something.

The lats are exposed with some plaster in rough shape!

More wall "damage".

Night time!

This dollhouse is 16" across x 17" tall x 13" deep.
Inside the downstairs is 11" across x 10 1/4" deep x 8" tall.
The attic is about 6 1/2" tall.
This is going to Deana. Thank you Deana!

Someday My Prince Will Come Cottage Dollhouse

2011-12-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

I now have all the major elements on this house.

I haven't put the roofs on the turrets yet because I don't want them to get stuck on there while the concrete dries.

This window will get shutters.

Now I'm painting the whole exterior.

Someday My Prince Will Come Cottage Dollhouse

2011-12-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

Today, I worked on the little topiary that will go on either sides of the front door.

The first one, all white , is how these came. They are actually place card holders for weddings. They have a slot at the to that I filled with a bit of plaster.
The second one, I painted the roses pink and pot terra cotta.
The third one is almost done. I added little leaves. I found this greenery at the craft store with little leaves that are dollhouse size.

Here they are all done. Super cute right?

Inside, the walls downstairs are painted a faint pink. Hard to see here. It's dark and rainy so no good shots. I did the "tin" ceiling with my hot glue method. I draw a pattern on poster board. I follow the pattern with the hot glue. It gets a thick coat of white, then silver and finally rust color. The chandelier is in place so the floors can now go in.

Someday My Prince Will Come Cottage Dollhouse

2011-12-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

I cut out the windows in the turrets. I put the stones around the edges.

This is the attic. I did another exposed slat wall with cut up Popsicle sticks and plaster oozing through.

Downstairs is also plastered. I smooth the plaster with a little water on my artist spatula.

2011-12-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

I'm still getting the base done for this house. Today, I put in the chimney on the side of the house.

I used cardboard. This is just to give me a shape. It will all be concrete.

On the other side, I already framed the window inside and outside and painted it gray.

You can still see the glue not yet dry on there.

I also worked on the front door. It's also gray with a Melissa Frances embellishment.

I put a little rust running down from the door knob.

This is the window box that will go under the attic window in the front. I used a flower embelishment that I painted white. Then I used a brown ink pad to highlight the whole thing.

I'm going to try putting lights in the turrets with some stained glass windows. We'll see how that comes out.

This is inside so far. Nothing exciting yet.

Someday My Prince Will Come Cottage Dollhouse

2011-12-11T16:44:00.001-08:00

I started my next project. This one is called "Someday My Prince Will Come". It's another fairytale cottage a princess doll can call home until she meets her prince.

It is a double turret house. I cut out a curved top door with two sidelights on either sides.

The turrets are two big cardboard rolls. They will be rock hard when I put the concrete on. They are just for show. If I cut out windows, I'm afraid the structure wouldn't be strong. So they'll just have to look pretty!

Here I've cut out one more window in the roof. The roof will be thatched and the turrets and tiny window will probably be shingles.

The French Cafe Dollhouse

2011-12-10T09:44:00.001-08:00

I have completed the French Cafe.

This had to look like an old building in the Paris area. I love that the awning came out with a dip in the middle. It has a total antique effect!

I loaded the roof shingles with rust and white stuff. I don't know what the white stuff is. Mold? Age? Bird droppings? LOL! It just looks right.

Guess what's in the box.

It's the chandeliers battery and switch.

This is number 27. I don't know why 27. Just looked cute. I had these wood ovals left over from a kit. I don't remember what from. But they are perfect as street numbers.

I antiqued the entire outside and inside with a rosewood stain. It's a water based wood stain with a lot of red in it. I smear it on with my fingers and I get a nice warm aged look.

It measures:
19 3/4" tall x 19" across x 13" deep
The inside is 17" tall x 17 3/4" across x 9 3/4" deep
Camille gets his one. Thanks Camille! : )

The French Cafe Dollhouse

2011-12-08T19:12:00.001-08:00

The striped awning is on. The gray shingles are almost done.

Inside, I hinged the door in place and the window trims are painted.

I'm starting to paint all the stucco and stones.

I'm going for a very old look just like the cafes in Paris. So I used a moss green and a lighter green to make those moldy drip marks under the windows.