How to make a seashell decorated miniature box

Hello dear readers,

My seashells decorated boxes are a big hit with miniatures' as well as with non-miniatures' collectors. Recently I had to make four of them for very special friends.  I became bored creating the same design again and again, so I'm trying to make some variation and thought I'd take you along, step by step while I do it.  After all the shells are free, a gift from nature, and the wood is easy to to find at craft shops so why not give it a try.

Materials required for the box:

One large wooden craft stick  (20/2.5 cm) or a 2 mm thick balsa sheet
One long narrow craft stick (18/0.7 cm)
wood cutting tools
tacky glue
Black, brown or any other color of your choice, acrylic paint

Cut two 2/2.5 cm pieces from the large stick, one for the box top and one for the box's bottom.
Cut one  2.00/1.5 piece          -     "      -          for the underside of the box top
Cut two 0.7/2.5 pieces from the narrow stick for the sides of the box.
Cut two 1.5/2.5           -      "     -

Glue together all the parts.  (See photo bellow)  Glue the sides on top of the bottom part.

Paint with the color of your choice and now we are ready for the decoration.

I painted the box black all over and used seashells.  I also spread some tiny no-hole gold colored
beads on top.

I am not so sure about the tiny gold beads.  It looks better in real life than in the photo.

Hope you'll be able to use this tutorial and do some variations of your own to show me.

I wish you a lovely weekend and blessings..

Unexpected finds

Hello all,

Stuff for creating miniatures can be found where you least expect them to be.  The other day I was
looking for a new frying pan at a home appliances store and look what I found.

A silicone mold for pralines.  Perfect for fimo miniature cakes.  The price: about US$3.00.

Another silicone mold, a little bigger than the first, for cookies.  This one will be good for
cold porcelain or ceramic miniature cakes.  These two air-drying clays loose about 30% of their volume when dry and need larger molds.  The price about US$4.00.

Two bamboo placemates good for wooden floors at the price of US$2.40 each.  (lots of easy to
cut wooden strips in them.)

I was putting order in a long forgotten chest when I found this beautiful hand painted miniature
of a traditional ox-driven wagon in Costa-Rica. My husband received it, years ago,while working on a short project in this lovely country.

Here it is again with a match on top of the wheel for size.

A picture of a 1:1 cart full of coffee bags. (From the internet)

More information here.

I wish you all wonderful sunny spring days.  Blessings

Baby Dragon from Hungary

Hello dear readers,

I have not blogged for a while, real life occupation kept me away. I missed you and shall try
to visit as many of your blogs as possible to make up for lost time.

Lucky me had a chain of giveaway winnings. Don't ask me how and why.
A few days ago I received a fantastic baby dragon, a giveaway prize by a very talented miniature animals artist Fanni Sandor here.  I recommend a visit to Fanni's website.  There is a tiny hummingbird Fanni created which is mind blowing.


Wait until Baalatova meets him.  No chance I'll be able to keep him.  He's mine while she's still limping  homewards.

This adorable, recently hatched baby  is  going to meet new friends on the meadow.
For the first time in his short life he meets bunnies, hamsters and chickens

I was thinking about doing an Easter scene and the baby dragon fits perfectly well in it.

To keep the dust away, I used an old glass bowl.

THANK YOU DEAR  FANNI FOR THIS WONDERFUL GIFT!

I wish you, dear readers. a lovely sunny weekend to enjoy.  Blessings to all!