Miniature Mantle Clock Tutorial

 Hello all!  Isn't it funny how one little thing can inspire a miniature piece??  That is what happened with this cute little mantle clock.  The faux gold oval ring with plastic probably came from an old piece of jewelry, maybe a watch.  I found it in an old sewing box I bought at a yard sale.  But it totally inspired me to make a purpose for it again.  

I do not have proper measurements, I never do, because I made the clock around the oval piece.  I would say it is about an inch and a half tall.  For the back I used black card stock, in two solid layers then two layers with an oval cut out for depth.  I found and printed a clock face from the internet.  I also used layered card stock for the base and top.

I used beads for the columns and trimmed down lace for the edging design.

I used wire to hold the beads together while the glue dried then trimmed the excess wire.

I painted it all black first then decided to paint it brown.

Not too shabby don't you think?!  

Oh, and as pretty much always, I used Elmers wood glue to hold everything together.  

Thanks for visiting!  

Happy mini-making!

XOXO ~Laurie

Miniature Bird Nest Tutorial

 Hello all!  I noticed a branch on the outside of my fairy pumpkin house that looked like it needed a little something.  So, I thought I would try and make a teeny bird nest to go there.  I wish I would have taken pictures of the first one being made because I think it turned out better than the second example.  They both turned out precious in their own way. 

The first step that I took, no pictures, but I used two shades of DMC floss (cross stitch string) in tan and brown.  I dabbed school glue on my pointer finger and thumb and ran the string through the glue then let it dry.  This just stiffens the strands.  I then cut it up into small pieces about a half inch long and also cut pieces a little longer and a little shorter because the "sticks" would naturally be different sizes.

I then used a very small button and dabbed wood glue on it then placed some "sticks" on the glue.  After that I just used my tweezers and would barely dip each stick into the glue and stacked them up around the edge of the nest until I came to what looked like a nest.  

Of course, I had to make some tiny bird eggs out of air-dry clay :) 

Have you ever made a teeny bird nest?  What material did you use?

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

XOXO Laurie