Mid-Month Tutorial #6: agusyornet's Tiny Hangers!

Ok, so I *barely* squeaked this one in...

BUT IT'S STILL JUNE!

Me: Uhm... you're not Christie...

"Christie": Who's to say? You never did name me. *glare*

Me: *gulp*

Let's start with the facts!

I followed the tutorial by agusyornet,

http://www.agusyornet.com/2013/11/mini-hangers.html

I have to say, I love folks who can make clear, precise, easy to follow tutorials in 4 steps!
I have to admit, I modified mine just a little though... but let's get crafting and you'll see!

Supplies:

1. Paperclips

2. Needle Nose Pliers

3. Wire Cutters

 

Here's a little tip from me...

buy a pair of Needle Nose Pliers that have built in wire cutters!

 

 

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Let's begin!

Step 1:

Pull the inner loop and the longer stem piece upwards.
 

Looking at the picture below will give you a good idea what I am talking about!
Make sure you pay attention to where the arrow is pointing in the image below.

You want that angle to feel "hangerish" to you.

Step 2:

Grab the loop end that you pulled up and bend it upwards.

You will leave the loop shape alone, that becomes your hanger hook.

I try to make it so that the hanger hook will end up centered when the hanger is finished.

 

 

Step 3:

In agusyornet's tutorial, she doesn't wrap the wire around the hanger hook, which is fine and will work great... I just like having a little more stability than that when it comes to hangers for doll clothes.

I pull the  longer stem past the hanger hook.

Step 4:

I then take and fold the longer stem over the base of the hanger hook...

it gives you one very stable little hanger!

 

Conclusion:

I LOVE this tutorial... there is something so satisfying about coloring these pencils and seeing them come to life.

This is such an easy and painless process for making tiny hangers!
Plus, they're ... uh... "Christie" tested and approved!

They really will work to hang up your dolly clothes!

The cost was minimal (my pliers cost me $3.99, the paperclips I've had around forever)

and so was the time investment.

I highly recommend you try this tutorial out!

http://www.agusyornet.com/2013/11/mini-hangers.html

Mid-Month Tutorial #5: Zakka Life's Miniature Colored Pencils

Sorry for the lack of posting this month, guys!

Life got super crazy, so I had to pause!

I figure I'll start back up next month with the Friday Favorites...

but I really love the Mid-Month Tutorials... and even though it's half a month late,

I still wanted to get it in before the month ended!!

Tutorial #5 is Zakka Life's Miniature Colored Pencil tutorial!

It's easy, cheap, not a huge investment of time and yields great results!

**NOTE**

These pencils don't actually write, they're just for show.

Please see the original tutorial here:

http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2011/02/craft-miniature-colored-pencils.html

Supplies:

1. Round Toothpicks

2. Scissors

3. Markers

4. Sandpaper

5. (Optional) Mod Podge

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Let's begin!

Step 1:

Take a single toothpick from the box and decide how long you'll want your colored pencil to be.

Zakka Life's instructions say to cut the toothpick in half... but for me, that would have been too long, proportionally, so my toothpicks are about 1.125 inches long.

A little less than half a toothpick.

TIP:

Step 2:

Sand the end of your pencil so that it's nice and rounded.
I used 220 Very Fine 3M sandpaper.

 I didn't even have to take it out of the package to use it XD

Step 3:

Now it's time for coloring!

**IMPORTANT**
Do NOT handle your dolls while you're coloring these... you *will* get marker on your fingers,

unless you wear gloves... and it could be unintentionally transferred to your dolls, or their clothes.

I color the pencil tip first... and to color it, I just dab the marker against the toothpick tip... because toothpicks are made from a soft wood, they absorb the ink, and it spreads a little... so don't get overzealous right away with the ink application.

Then again... if you do... it's just a toothpick... there are plenty more to try again on!

Next I color the body of the pencil:

 

 

Step 4:

Let the markers dry for 24 hours.

(This is not a step in Zakka Life's instructions... but I'd rather be safe than sorry!)

 

Step 5:

(optional)

Let's take a minute to discuss dolls and markers.

Bottom line?

They don't mix.

I've seen many a doll ruined with Sharpie markers... some intentionally, some, not so much so.

After I made these colored pencils, I let them dry for 24 hours,

then I took the darkest one and rubbed it against my doll's skin.

 

Light rubbing was fine, no color transfer,

but harder rubbing (like if you were going to shove it into the doll's hand between fingers)

yielded color transfer.

I wiped it off right away, and it all came off... but it still worries me that if you left a pencil in a doll's hand, color transfer would happen over time.

My solution?

Coat the pencils in Mod Podge to seal the color in.

Glossy or Matte, your choice.

Conclusion:

I LOVE this tutorial... there is something so satisfying about coloring these pencils and seeing them come to life.

 

 

Marwencol

Have you heard of Marwencol?

©MarkHogancamp

I originally watched this documentary when it was on Netflix,

and it's an amazing story.

Here is the blurb from the Marwencol website:

"Marwencol" is a documentary about the fantasy world of Mark Hogancamp.

After being beaten into a brain-damaging coma by five men outside a bar, Mark builds a 1/6th scale World War II-era town in his backyard. Mark populates the town he dubs "Marwencol" with dolls representing his friends and family and creates life-like photographs detailing the town's many relationships and dramas. Playing in the town and photographing the action helps Mark to recover his hand-eye coordination and deal with the psychic wounds of the attack. When Mark and his photographs are discovered, a prestigious New York gallery sets up an art show. Suddenly Mark's homemade therapy is deemed "art", forcing him to choose between the safety of his fantasy life in Marwencol and the real world that he's avoided since the attack.

"Marwencol" was released theatrically by the Cinema Guild and aired on PBS. It has won over 25 awards, including two Independent Spirit Awards, Best Documentary of the Year from the Boston Society of Film Critics and Rotten Tomatoes, and the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at the South by Southwest Film Festival. The Los Angeles Times calls the film “an exhilarating, utterly unique experience” while the Village Voice says that it's “exactly the sort of mysterious and almost holy experience you hope to get from documentaries and rarely do.”

Marwencol was an interesting, emotional, wonderful documentary...

and I love that the art gallery that shows Mark Hogancamp's work is still working to help him.

You can donate dolly items to him via this link:

http://www.marwencol.com/donate/

 But it's worth it to watch the movie,

and browse the gallery on the website.

Mr. Hogancamp's work is amazing, detail oriented and interesting.

©MarkHogancamp

If you haven't checked it out, do so, today. 
http://www.marwencol.com/ 

Friday Favorites #43

Oh man... look at that... I haven't made a new one yet, but it is NOT winter weather here today

so no more "Friday Favorites" winter icon! HUZZAH!

 

1. I'm totally blown away by this salsa and chips from No Big Thing Minis:

NoBigThingMinis

2. Joyful Girl Gypsy Heart is selling room boxes you put together yourself:

JoyfulGirlGypsyHearts

3. This Beehive from BonAppetEats would make the cutest home adornment!

BonAppetEats

4. This sewing machine set from Big Red Angel is too cute:

BigRedAngel

5. Last but not least... Callahan Toys is making some really great, really affordable alternate heads for the Hot Toys bodies... I am trying to convince Heather that some of these guys should move in:

CallahanToys

Mid-Month Tutorial #3: blackfrangipani's chest of drawers

Christie: Hi everyone! Time for another Mid-Month Tutorial!

Tutorial #3 is blackfrangipani's chest of drawers tutorial!

http://blackfrangipani.com/2012/12/17/diy-beautiful-miniature-chest-of-drawers-made-from-matchboxes-tutorial/

This one is a bit more complicated than the last two XD

The list of supplies on blackfrangipani's page is much longer than mine...

I opted for her simpler instructions when it came to things like attaching the drawer handles...

so I will be including my list of supplies. To see blackfrangipani's list,

please click the links above. :)

Supplies:

1. Scissors

2. exacto knife

3. scrapbooking paper

4. paper glue (I used Elmers)

5. strong hold glue (I used gorilla glue)

6. beads

7. thin balsa wood

8. foam core

9. ink pad

10. sharpie marker

11. rubber band

12. matchboxes

13. pencil

Optional:

14. paintbrush

15. paint that matches inkpad

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Let's begin!

Step 1:

Remove the matches from the match boxes!

In blackfrangipani's tutorial, she used 10 matchboxes...

but I figured for my first try, I would make something more like a jewelry box,

and only use three.

Step 2:

Using Elmer's glue, I covered one side of the matchbox.

Step 3:

Repeat this step until all of your boxes are glued together.

(If you had boxes being lined up side by side, you would glue their sides together as well)

Step 4:

When you have all your shelves glued together,

wrap a rubber band around them (make sure they're all lined up straight!)

and let the glue dry completely.

Step 5:

While we wait for the body of the chest of drawers to dry,

we can start working on the drawers.

To begin, you will need the stamp pad and a marker of matching color.

Step 6:

Coat the front, back, sides and bottom of the drawers in your ink color of choice,

then allow to dry.

Helpful Hints:

1. Ink is messy, put a piece of paper under your work station.

2. Dabbing ink took FOREVER! Sliding the drawers in a back and forth motion over the ink pad was much quicker.

Step 7:

Sit back and eat some cookies...

now is when you have to wait for everything to dry.

Step 8:

Now you'll need a pencil, the foam core and an exacto knife.

I also recommend having a spare matchbox around, for measuring.

On the foam core, trace the bottom of your chest of drawers.

blackfrangipani says she likes to add a layer of foam core to the bottom of the chest of drawers 

because it gives it more weight, and makes it feel more realistic. I am inclined to agree.

Use the exacto to cut the foam core out.

If you have shaky or unsteady hands, I recommend using a ruler when you cut,

but I just did it freehand.

Step 9:

Glue the foam core to the bottom of chest of drawers.

Before I attach the foam core, I use the marker (the one that matches the ink color) to color in the edges of the foam core.

Wrap a rubberband around the chest of drawers and let dry.

(You might be saying, "DUDE! You *just* said you colored the foam core... and now I see it, it's totally white!... this is the back side you're looking at... when the chest of drawers is comepleted, the back and sides will be covered, so no need to color them in :) )

When this is dry, though, it is a good time to color in all the edges of the cardboard with the marker that matches your inkpad.

Step 10:

Trace the sides and back of the chest of drawers (including the foam core) onto the wood

Cut the wood using your exacto knife.

(again, if you have an unsteady hand, use a ruler to help guide your cut!)

Step 11:

Glue the wood paneling to the sides.

I did the sides first, and then the back later, after the sides had dried.

Apply weight to help keep the wood panels flat as they dry.

Step 12:

Now let's work on the shelves some more!

Trace the bottom of one of the drawers (I used the extra matchbox for this)

onto the back of the scrapbooking paper that you want to line the drawers.

Cut the rectangles you've traced out, and press them into the bottoms of the drawers.

There is no need to glue them. :)

Step 13:

Once the body of the chest of drawers is all put together, and before applying the scrapbooking paper,

color in all the edges of your piece with the marker that matches your inkpad.

Now... mine didn't line up as nicely as blackfrangipani's did... so I also went in with some paint and a paintbrush and filled it in a bit.

Step 14:

I apologize... but evidently I got over excited and forgot to take pics of the next few scrapbook paper cutout steps. I glued all of these pieces on with Elmer's Glue.

Anyways, trace the sides and back of the chest of drawers onto the back of the scrapbooking paper you want to cover it with, then cut those out. 

Next, trace the top of the chest of drawers, but make it a little bit longer than the top, so you can overlap it onto the back. (You can kind of see the line where the paper from the top of the chest of drawers is covered by the paper on the back.

In gluing application, put the top piece of paper on first, then cover it with the back piece.

Trace the fronts of the drawers onto the back of the scrapbooking paper you want on your drawer fronts, then cut those out and apply with Elmer's glue.

Step 15:

Next, we will break out the heavy duty glue.

I used Gorilla Glue... which was scary... that stuff is serious gluing business...

but dang does it work!

Anyways, I opted for blackfrangipani's simpler drawer pulls.

You can go check out her post for directions on more elaborate ones.

Put a little dab of glue where you want the pulls (and legs, if you opt to add legs to your chest of drawers) to go, then attach and let dry (for as long as the glue bottle recommends)

FINISHED!!

The end!

You have a little chest of drawers!

You can see where I needed to take more care in not scuffing up my paper edges. *sigh*

Christie: I need more jewelry.

Christie: This really is a great size for us playscale gals.

Problems:

The only *real* problem I had with this tutorial was blackfrangipani's suggestion of using ink.

I've no idea if my ink was too cheap, or what... but it DID NOT DRY... and continued to get all over my fingers, and thus all over my paper, and I was constantly afraid of getting it inadvertently all over my dolls as well.

I would not use ink again.

Or, at least, not THAT ink.

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Conclusion:

 I really love this tutorial!

Overall, once you have the basic stuff you need to make it,

it's a pretty cheap tutorial with pretty awesome results!!!

Thank you, blackfrangipani!

I think for a first try, this turned out pretty cute, if not a bit... er... wonky.

As my father-in-law would say, "Not a right angle in the thing!"

... but admittedly, I wasn't *as* careful as I could have been when letting things dry and set,

so with practice, I think I could do better... and I would not blame the tutorial for the wonkiness of my chest of drawers.