Hey Mini Friends! Once again, I am in love! With one of my creations! I made a little Chapel to go on my Bird Themed Christmas Tree. It was a little tedious at times because I wanted the siding and shingles to be a little more size appropriate. But it turned out wonderful and I cannot wait to see it on my tree! I can't wait to see all of them on my tree. I think I am up to 11 houses so far and am working on another one. I also have about one dozen clay birds, which there will be more, and five papier mache eggs that are not really cooperating with me just yet. BUT! Here we go on the Chapel!
Showing posts with label ornament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ornament. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Miniature Chapel Ornament
Isn't she divine?!?! I believe this is the largest one so far. She is five inches long by 7 inches tall by three inches wide. I began by taking ZERO pictures of the pieces being cut out of chipboard. I usually just wing it in this process anyway. So, we start with making the "stained glass" windows. In addition to the chipboard outsides, I also cut out matching pieces of cardboard from cracker boxes to sandwich the stained glass. The stained glass is made from plastic packaging, black acrylic paint, washable markers and gloss mod podge.
I think the stained glass took three coats to get the color I wanted.
By the way, these little clips are amazing. You can find them on Amazon HERE.
I covered the inside walls with a thin layer of joint compound.
I tore out roses and florals from my favorite napkins and mod podged them to the inside walls.
I water/paint-stained skinny popsicle sticks for the flooring.
For the altar table I used pre-made very small spindles that I cut down. I also used the same spindles for the candles on the altar.
And what else does a tiny Chapel need?? Pews of course! I just cut out shapes from chipboard and tried to make them all the same. These ornaments are so small that I question my sanity at times lol. Not to mention my hands hurting.
I did add a tiny piece of black thread for the candle wicks. (not pictured)
As per usual, I took no pictures of making the siding. But, I used cracker boxes and painted the inside of the cardboard black. Then, I brushed on the thinnest layer of school glue and while wet painted on the white paint. I wanted the crackles to be very tight.
I wasn't sure if I was going to add a belfry. And I thought this one was too big and almost made a smaller one. But, I ended up trusting the process and used this one. It does have a tiny bell hanging inside.
Of course, everything on the bird tree has to have birds or eggs somewhere. So, I made tiny clay pigeons to live in the belfry.
For the roof, I used sandpaper that I painted black. I cut strips and then cut many snips to make the shingles. Talk about making my hands hurt!
I couldn't decide on the door whether to use the arched doors or not. They seemed way too tall. So, I made a stained-glass piece and made regular sized doors.
The steps are just three pieces of chipboard that I pressed with a small clay tool to look like stones. The gravel is decorative sand, and the grass is just pieces of green twine.
The pigeons in the belfry. Also, you can kind of see the bell here too.
What a joy to make!!
I think she turned out wonderful! What do you think??
I seriously cannot wait until it is time to decorate this tree!
Thank you for stopping by!!!
XOXO ~Laurie
Friday, May 8, 2026
Miniature Greenhouse Ornament
Y'all!!! First off, thank you for being here! Thank you for watching this year-long journey of filling my Bird Themed Christmas Tree with only handmade ornaments! Now that I said that... I will probably add real feathers to my tree. Just sayin.
This little greenhouse... I LOVE! It was tedious and really fun to make. I pondered on how to do this one for about a month until I finally just made myself sit down and start. I used wooden "skinny sticks", painted and crackled, for the frame and clear plastic packaging from my Swiffer floor wipes container for the glass. But the inside decor... wow was it fun and soooo tiny. Way smaller than what I am used to. Let's get to it shall we??
I really don't know where to start. I just measured and cut as I went. The dimensions of the finished greenhouse are 5 1/2 inches tall by 4 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide. The greenhouse itself is actually 5 inches tall but at the end I had to add a gable (don't know if that's the right word or not) to the top in order to add the hanger.
I used a base coat, then school glue and then white paint on top to get the weathered look.
The tops of Swiffer floor wipes containers are the best. Not flimsy like other packaging.
They are my favorite to use for windows.
Here is where I began making garden benches and shelving for the inside. I used skinny sticks and matches for the leg.
I wound up not using these wooden pots as they are too big.
So, I found a template for pots online and used some of them.
The potting soil bags are my favorite! I found a picture of a bag online and placed two side by side and printed them out. I used the same method as my Feed Sacks found HERE. I filled it with glue and decorative sand then added coffee to the top as my dirt. I also made a couple that look unopened.
I wanted a brick walkway out front and down the middle. I used egg carton bricks, painted and clear coated them, then used joint compound to fill in the gaps.
The garden hose is just painted, curled up wire with a cardstock tip.
The trowel is cardstock, wire and the tip from a fancy toothpick.
The watering can is made from cardstock and for the spout I used a straw from my WD-40 can.
I have a watering can tutorial that you can find HERE. Although this one is much smaller.
I found a book cover just like a gardening book that I used to have. I printed it and added some premade, aged pages.
When making these houses, everything has to be put inside before you can finish the outside.
It's all fun!
I found and printed some seed packets and as you can see in the pic below, there is a basket with chicken eggs inside! Which makes it A-Ok to be on my bird tree lol!
And apparently, I got so excited to finish putting it together that I didn't take pictures. (eyeroll)
I made so many tiny things for this project!
I took it to Easter at my sisters house to show them. So this is me and you can tell the size of the greenhouse too.
What would you like to see next?? Any ideas for me?
Thanks for stopping by and going on the journey with me!
XOXO ~Laurie
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