Miniature Guitar Tutorial

 Afternoon mini friends!  Today I am sharing a miniature guitar.  I made this tiny instrument from card stock, glue, paint, string and beads. 

I began by finding a picture of a simple guitar on the computer and printing it out on card stock.  When I decided exactly what size I wanted (2 1/2 inches tall) I printed several of them on one sheet of card stock.  I wound up using 13 layers for my guitar.  The bottom three cut outs were whole guitar shapes, the top three were whole shape with the hole cut out and the middle seven had the center cut out.  

This is the one I used if you would like to copy and paste it.

I used Elmer's wood glue to glue each layer together.  If you want your guitar thicker just print a few more layers for the middle. 

I also used the wood glue to go around the outside edges and let that dry.  It is a filler and can be easily sanded with a fingernail file.

Ready for paint!

I always use simple acrylic paints.  I also decided to use Mod Podge Dimensional Magic for the coating over my paint job because I wanted a really glossy shine.  If I didn't have it, I would have used Mod Podge Gloss Lustre as a topcoat.  

On the first guitar I made (below) I simply stuck pieces of thread on the neck while the dimensional magic was wet.  Then I discovered how dull my tiny scissors have gotten so I didn't get as close of a cut on the as I would have liked.  

Applying the strings was a bit fiddly also.  But if there's one thing that making tiny things has taught me it is patience. 

On the second guitar I pre-cut the fret pieces for the neck.  They aren't all the same size (obviously) but I'm not a perfectionist really.  And I find that you don't really notice when the piece is finished.  

Note to self... buy new tiny sharp scissors!  

To attach the strings, I glued them to a tiny rectangle of card stock.  Snipped the ends when dry and glued the rectangle to the guitar.  I also glued another tiny rectangle on top to cover the strings and let all that dry.  Next, I put a drop of regular school glue on my finger and touched it all the way down the string then held it tight on the frets of the neck for a minute or two and repeated this step for all four strings.  Once they were stuck good, I put a tiny drop of wood glue on the side of the top and held the string on the side.  Repeated this for all four... just to give an ending point for the string.  Then finished it all off by placing a dot of glue and a tiny bead over each string end at the top to act as the string tuners.  

Well, if I haven't confused you too much with all that string-gluing talk we are doing good!  It really is pretty basic and simple to do.  You've just got to be patient with yourself and your work.

I really hope you enjoyed this tiny tutorial.

Have a wonderful day!

XOXO

Laurie

Halloween Minis - Triple Tutorial

 Hello all!  Welcome to spooky season!  I absolutely love making my own Halloween decorations for our home!  So, while I haven't made many minis lately, I thought it would be fun to whip up a couple new things for the cottage!

My first thought was to make an "outdoor" door mat that the residents could wipe their feet on.  As usual I have no measurements for you lol.  I pretty much just eyeball the size I need for most things.  I made and printed BOO on some card stock and cut it out.  I gave it a touch of watered down brown paint so the white wouldn't show through.  Then I tinted some fine sawdust with a drop of black paint and a teeny bit of water and let that dry.  First, I applied wood glut to the words and sprinkled the black sawdust.  When that dried, I brushed glue onto the rest and sprinkled brown tinted sawdust.  

I also made the little ghost and I absolutely love him!  Even though I kinda messed him up at the end.  But as I always say "never apologize for mistakes when cooking or creating."  No one knows that you didn't mean for it to be that way.

For the ghost, I used air dry clay for the base and feet and the smallest clothespin that I could find in my bag.  He stands about 4 inches tall.  I took the clothespin out and let it air dry all day and then before bed I used wood glue in the base and put the clothespin in.  So, this morning I was ready for the "sheet".  I used about 1/4 cup water to 2 teaspoons powdered starch and a good squirt of white school glue and mixed that real good with a whisk.  I soaked my piece of white fabric that I cut into a rectangle size with the corners rounded.  I squeezed out as much as possible and got to shaping.  I used a Styrofoam base and sewing pins to hold the fabric in place and set it in the warm sun to dry.  Then I used craft paint to paint the eyes and finish up the shoes.

I also made the little signs today.  I made them on my computer, printed them, sprayed them with matte clear coat, cut them out and glued them to really thin balsa wood.  I made a hole in a dollar tree hay bale for the post and glued the signs to it.  I also included a picture of the signs below that you are welcome to use.  Maybe it will let you copy and paste it somehow.  Then adjust the size for your project.

Well, that's all folks!  Hope you enjoyed!  Sure have missed you!  XOXO

Miniature Tobacco Basket Tutorial

  Hello Mini Friends!  Today I am sharing a piece that I created for American Miniaturist Magazine, Issue 226.  This post will be a little bit different as I have simply copied and pasted exactly what I wrote to go along with the tutorial for the magazine.  So, I am sharing the written steps first and the tutorial pictures after.  It was fun working with American Miniaturist Magazine and I had tutorials appear in Issues 225, 226 and 227 of this year.  I really hope you enjoy this easy Tobacco Basket tutorial and make one (or more!) today!

  Hello mini friends! My husband grew up in Robertson County, Tennessee, where his family were tobacco farmers. Robertson County is known as “Home of the World’s Finest Dark Fired Tobacco.” Years ago, after the tobacco was stripped, they would lay the plants across the handmade baskets, with the plant heads on one side, to present a beautiful display to take to the tobacco auction, showing pride in their beautiful crops. 

 Many farm houses today have heirloom tobacco baskets hanging on their porch and on the walls in their homes as decoration. I thought it would be the perfect addition to my mini farm house to have a tobacco basket hanging somewhere to represent my husband’s family tobacco farming heritage. So, I created one made from cardstock and it wound up being the perfect tiny addition.

  Supplies: one 8x11 sheet of black cardstock, small scrap pieces of cardboard, wood glue or strong craft glue, one disposable plastic cup with a square bottom and brown shades of acrylic paint.

 Step one: using a the piece of black 8x11 inch cardstock, on the 8 inch side, cut four ¼ inch wide strips and cut nine 1/8 inch strips. Cut the nine strips in half. You will wind up having eighteen 1/8 inch wide strips. It is perfectly fine if the pieces aren’t exactly 1/8 of an inch as the real baskets were handmade and none of them were perfect. 

  Step two: using the four ¼ inch wide strips, glue two strips on top of the other two strips (for strength). You will end up having two strips for the main edge of the basket.

  Step three: turn the plastic cup upside down. The square bottom of the cup will pose as your mold for the basket. Cut scrap cardboard into small squares and tape onto the bottom of the cup so the basket will have a slight dome shape. Using one of the ¼ inch double strips, curve strip with your fingers and bend strip around the base of the cup. Place a dab of wood glue on one end to join the ends on top of each other. Secure with a small paper clip or rubber band and allow to dry.

 Step four: curve the 1/8 inch pieces with your fingers. Beginning slightly off center, place one strip over the basket frame and dab glue on the frame one two sides across from each other. Hold piece in place until it adheres.

  Step five: Turn the cup and place your next 1/8 inch strip the opposite direction, over the first strip and glue on the ends. Continue alternating 1/8 inch strips and gluing, weaving the strips over and under previous strips allowing the glue to dry. You will use only thirteen or fourteen of the four inch strips, depending on how closely the weaving is. You only need to glue the ends as the weave will strengthen the basket.

 Step six: Using the last eight inch double strip, place glue around the outside rim of the basket. Curve the last long strip and place it on the glue, securing the 1/8 inch strips. Use a rubber band to hold in place until the glue has dried. 

  Step seven: Once the glue has dried, remove the rubber band and carefully remove the basket from the cup. Trim the excess of the 1/8 inch strips. Step eight: using four of the remaining 1/8 inch strips, glue strips in a criss-cross square pattern on the inside of the basket. Allow to dry and trim off excess. Step nine: using brown shades such as tan, mushroom and dark brown, lightly brush paints in wood grain directions on strips.

Thank you for joining me today!  I hope this post found you well and was explained just as easy as this little basket is to make.  I actually came up with the idea while I was in my chicken coop.  I usually just use a large cup for their feed scoop and I remember turning around to see the bottom of the cup was square and I thought "hey, that could be used as a square mold for a tobacco basket".  And here we are!

If you like this tutorial please feel free to share the pictures on Pinterest.  If you would like to share anywhere else please ask permission from me.  

Until next time.. XOXO