Miniature Swivel Office Chair

 Hello to all my sweet mini friends!  So, I needed a chair for my loft.  I've already made an easel for her paintings and also a desk (which I thought was too tall until I made the chair).  I did not plan on making a tutorial for this chair so I didn't take many pictures along the way... or measurements as usual.  But I took enough pictures so that I could share it with you.  I was mainly nervous about making the feet and thought I would make it from balsa wood or something like that.  I wound up using chipboard as it has become my favorite to work with.  

Full honesty about the chipboard though... the only thing I don't like about using it is the finish.  I like to use either a gloss or matte Mod Podge finish on my pieces and, once the clear coat is on, it doesn't always appear to have a perfect flat finish.  I am very OK with it but just thought I would put that out there.  I'm sure I am the only one this slightly bothers.  Not going to keep me from using it.  It's just so easy to work with.

At first, I made the feet way too big and wound up getting my Dremel out to do the sanding down to the proper size for me.  I picked out the wire, which came from my husband's shop, two matching jewelry pieces, a rolled up piece of cardstock for the middle of the legs, and a few cardstock hole punches glued together for the bottom of the legs.  I also kicked around about the wheels.  I wound up just gluing the gold beads to the feet and I am happy with it.

I cut out eight pieces and glued two together for each foot.

You can see my inspiration chair picture here.

I also used chipboard for the seat and top of the back of the chair.  I used premade spindles for the arms and two for back on each end and fancy toothpicks for the three spindles on the back.  I used wood glue for these pieces and E6000 for the base where I used the wire and jewelry pieces.

I pulled out my farmhouse chair just to measure for size.  You can CLICK HERE for the tutorial on my farmhouse chair if you'd like.

I decided to use a new paint color that I got at Walmart.  It is Apple Barrel Spiced Berry.

For the cushioned seat I just used a piece of my favorite rose fabric.  I don't have very much of it.  I glued the back and sides of the fabric down first then put a little bit of pillow stuffing inside and glued the front.  Then I glued tiny black rhinestones all around to look like tacks.

The adjustable control thing is a piece of wire and a bead that I painted gold to match the wheels.

And this is her!  I and pleased with how she turned out.  I don't know why I get nervous when creating a new piece.  I rarely am dissatisfied with the results.  I just keep going until it's finished.

I didn't realize that the left arm was slightly tilted until I took pictures.  I guess it moved while the glue was drying.  But it's an old chair and I call that "wear and tear" from all the years of use.  

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I think she turned out just precious.  What do you think??

Thanks for visiting!  Please feel free to share!

XOXO ~Laurie

Miniature Vintage Metal Lawn Chair Tutorial

 Howdy all!  I know the title says "metal" chair but in fact the chair is not metal.  Just made to look like the old metal lawn chairs that your Granny used to have.  I love these chairs.  Especially the old, worn, rusty ones.  Although the ones that are refinished have their charm too.  

Mine is made from a piece of paper covered wire that I can't quite remember where it came from.  One might think I just hoard a lot of trash with the hopes of making a miniature out of it one day but it just isn't true.  I only keep the cool stuff. I also used card stock and paint.  

I have really been digging using layered card stock lately.  The more you layer, with wood glue in between the layers, the sturdier it gets.  Plus, you just use a fingernail file to sand the edges and it will have a solid edge.  But, if you are slightly impatient like me you make have layers that show... just a little.

P.S. I didn't take pictures of me bending the wire... just wing it.

Here's what we're going for... the finished product.

P.S.S. I included zero measurements in this tutorial.  Once again... wing it.

Pretty sure I wound up using seven layers of card stock.. could have been six.

I bent the pieces of paper then glued the seat parts together first, one by one.  Then glued the back layers together.  Not sure why really... it just felt right.  I also used a fingernail pick thing and pressed in a design on the back part.

I just used dabs of wood glue when I put the chair together.  I truly in my guts feel that the glue held better because of the paper-ish covering on the wire.  I feel I would have had trouble if it was just metal wire.  I might try making another one from a coat hanger just to check.  But there is somewhat tension in the wire so it held nicely.

I'm slightly funny about my painting and will often apply many layers of paint that I am not exactly happy with before I get my final look.  I initially wanted the chair to be yellow.  This is the first coat of paint.  I used chalk paint for this coat. 

This is me with half of the paint colors I dragged into the kitchen for one tiny chair.  Hey, whatever makes a girl happy right?!?!

I LOVE this part... the part of my project that I am satisfied with.  I dab too much paint to certain areas, that also have wet school glue under them, then use a paper towel to take up a little paint.  It left the chair with am old paint look.

Isn't that just delicious??!!

So cute. (Although I have issues with the word "cute")

If you like it... Pin It!

XOXO ~Laurie

Miniature Farmhouse Chair Tutorial

Hello Mini Lovers!!  Today I am sharing a miniature farmhouse chair that I made.  I know chairs can be easily purchased and painted but isn't is more fun to say "I made that"?!?!

I made this chair from premade spindles purchased from Etsy, toothpicks, a piece of balsa wood for the back and a piece of heavier craft wood (can't remember the name lol) for the seat.

I don't use fancy tools.  Mainly to cut wood I use an exacto knife or kitchen shears.  To sand I use a fingernail file or sandpaper.  I also like to use a little fingernail kit that I've had for years.

I sanded the leg ends at an angle then glued onto the bottom and two on the back.  These usually come in a pack of eight and I always save the parts I didn't use.  They come in handy for other projects.

I painted some brown splotches over the chair where I wanted chippy paint to look old.  I painted school glue over the brown and then painted white paint.  Don't let the glue dry before you do this part.  As it dries the white paint will crack exposing the brown paint underneath.

 

Miniature Faux Wicker Chair

 Oh y'all... I'm in love with this one!!  I noticed an old wicker rocking chair in a flea market garden magazine that I've had for years last night.  I looked at the chair for several minutes and decided to try and make a replica.  Ideas started swarming in my head and I got to work.  

I made the rocker from a vanilla wafers box, some twine ribbon left over from another project, four pieces of chair legs from a different project, tape, glue, paint and an old scrap piece of lace.  Take a look!

I wound up using four pieces total of chair.  One for the whole frame, on for the back and two for the arms.

I taped the lace in between the frame and back piece.  Then used wood glue and cut pieces of ribbon all over.

I used a multi strand, twisted piece of string all along the edges.

For the rocker pieces I used balsa wood.  I glued two pieces together for strength and thickness.  I used a knife to cut away the excess and a fingernail file and sand paper to carve the pieces to exactly what I wanted.  

It looked really pretty with just a coat of white paint!  

But I love to age pieces and it needed aging to match the one in the magazine.

For the cushion I used a piece of vintage rose fabric that I have very little of.  It is saved for special pieces.  I really didn't feel like sewing the pillow so I just glued the fabric onto a piece of cardboard and stuffed it.  I later ran a straight pin through the middle, glued it and snipped the end off.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed making it!!