Sunday, March 15, 2020

Online Events April 17-19, 2020

 

Around this time of year, I'm usually ramping up my caffeine intake and carrying around to-do lists in anticipation for the show in Chicago...usually. But this year will be different. Miniature enthusiasts who've looked forward to the Spring miniature shows will sadly have to find ways to fill their mini voids until the shows resume.

In lieu of the Chicago show this Spring, I'm hosting online events, April 17-19, 2020, on my website, true2scale.com

Enjoy a workshop, website-only promotions, and prizes - all from your home.

Friday - Sunday, April 17-19 Introducing new kits and offering special sales on the website. 

Saturday, April 18 online workshop (requires registration)
Workshop participants will create a 1:48 succulent potting bench. The instructions will be given online via video with a live Q&A. Participants will receive the workshop kit in the mail before the workshop and a link to the online class. The workshop kit may be purchased without attending the class. Workshop info and registration 

Sunday, April 19 drawing for prizes and last day for special sales.
Sign up for the email newsletter to receive event updates

Please stay safe and sane during these stressful times. 💙




Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Miniature Workshops in Australia

Feb. 14 and Feb. 18, 2018

t2s-succulent-accessories.jpg

Workshop: Create 1" Scale Succulents and Accessories

LOCATIONS
Unable to attend? We'll send you a workshop kit from Australia. Contact us to order before Feb. 4, 2018.

Save on Shipping and Customs Fees. We're accepting orders for any  items from our website and we'll ship your order to you from Australia! Contact us to make your order before Feb. 4, 2018.

Workshop Description
In the dry climate of California, we enjoy using colorful succulents in creative containers. These little "hens and chicks" as they are sometimes called, grow in almost any well-drained container and make a cheerful, low-maintenance display. During the workshop, Carol will show faux painting and image transfer techniques to create succulents in old, re-purposed pots and pans. Students will make realistic looking succulents; weather wood; transfer artwork; create "china", "aluminum", and "graniteware"; and work with paper to make a 3D garden star.

PRICE: $63 (AUD) Includes:
  • wood crate with succulents
  • cooking pot with succulent garden
  • small pan with succulent garden
  • coffee pot with succulents
  • tea kettle with succulents
  • muffin tin with succulents
  • garden gloves
  • "mini" teacup house
  • "china" dishes
  • pot with soil and scoop
  • 3D hanging star 
A list of recommended tools/supplies to bring will be emailed to participants prior to the workshop.

The potting bench structure kit (shown below) may be purchased at the workshops for $88 (AUD). Please email Carol to reserve a kit before Feb. 4.

Hope to see you Down Under!

t2s-succulent-potting-bench-front.jpg

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Happy Holidays and a pretty wallpaper printie!


Happy Holidays and warm wishes for 2018! Thank you for your friendship and support! Please enjoy this pretty snowflake wallpaper. The wallpaper may be sized and printed in the scale of your choice.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season with peace & cheer in the New Year!

Carol

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Back to My Roots

One of the the things that I enjoy about making miniatures is incorporating my experiences into the kits that I design. Before we moved from Wisconsin to California, I visited my mom, who still lives on the crop farm where I grew up. I wanted to channel the feelings that I had about the family farm into a creative outlet.

On the family farm, my father farmed corn and soybeans. Under his patient guidance, I learned – among many things – how to drive tractors. I also learned that corn should be "knee high by the Fourth of July" (this was before the days of plant genetics)!  It was these memories that I channeled into creating our first farm-inspired kit, A Bushel and a Peck.

Recently, I've re-visited my farm roots to create The Farm Stand kit. I hope that it brings a bit of joy and a feeling of nostalgia to other miniature enthusiasts.


The Farm Stand, a quarter scale (1:48) Kit.

The Farm Stand is shown with the Farm Stand Accessories Kit.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Presenting: A Teeny Bit Christmas Magazine

A Teeny Bit Christmas magazineThis free, online magazine is the result of a collaboration with Robin Betterley's Miniatures. We wanted to work on a project that not only showcased our miniature art, but also gave us the opportunity to incorporate other creative interests: writing, photography, cooking, etc. In addition to delivering fun and unique projects to a teeny bit readers, we want to promote the work of other professional miniature artists, so we included an artist profile of Suzanne and Andrew’s Miniatures. It's been a tremendously fun and creative group effort. 

We are offering a teeny bit magazine in hopes that it will inspire you to... Make something teeny!

Monday, August 10, 2015

Teeny Tiny Kitchen Accessories

It's exciting to see just how tiny we can make our 1:48 (quarter) scale kits! These forks are just 5/32" (4mm) long, and have 3 tiny, individual tines.

Quarter scale Silverware Box and 25 Pc. Silverware Kit

For Summer grilling, we've introduced the grill/smoker kit and the grilling tools kit.

http://www.true2scale.com/1-48-55-gallon-drum-grill-or-smoker/
Quarter scale Grill Kit and Grilling Tools Kit.


21 pieces of baking tools...

http://www.true2scale.com/1-48-baking-tools-21-pcs/
Quarter scale 21-Pc Baking Tools Kit


And even a tiny set of knives hanging on a rack. Just 5/16" (8mm tall)! The knives were photographed on a handle of a real knife.

Quarter scale Hanging Knives Kit


A set of dessert utensils will complete a special dining scene. 

Quarter scale Dessert Set Kit


A vintage style kitchen rack catches the drips from the 2 hanging ladles.

http://www.true2scale.com/1-48-vintage-style-kitchen-rack/
Quarter scale Vintage Style Kitchen Rack Kit

Sunday, November 16, 2014

150 Dollhouse Miniature Christmas and Hanukkah Tutorials




Here are 50 more dollhouse miniature tutorials for holiday inspiration. These are a follow-up to the 100 miniature tutorials that I previously posted (added to the bottom of this list for convenience). If you would like to add a tutorial to this list, please leave a comment below. Your suggestions are welcome!
  1. Fireplace Studio E Miniatures
  2. Quarter Scale Christmas Printables Jean Day
  3. Quarter Scale Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Garlands Pauline Coombs via AIM
  4. Quarter Scale Grandfather Clock Bea (Fiona) Broadwood via AIM
  5. 1/144 Scale Wreaths and Swags Anna-Carin Betzén
  6. Candy Tubes, Candy Cards, Stockings Kendra's Minis
  7. Crocheted Christmas Stocking Gail St. Clair via AIM
  8. Sweater Pattern HeartStrings FiberArts
  9. Draped Tablecloth from Vintage Hankies Kendra's Minis
  10. Christmas Tree (detailed instructions) minifleur
  11. Tree Bark Sharon Ojala via YouTube
  12. Christmas Tree Ornaments Minifanaticus
  13. Shiny Brite Vintage Style Christmas Ornaments Kendra's Minis
  14. Ornament Box Printable PuNo's Minis
  15. Bird Ornaments about.com
  16. Ornament Tree with Birds The Little House
  17. Vintage Ornament Wreath Kendra's Minis
  18. Door Wreath Marianne Cook via AIM
  19. Christmas Market Stall - Skirt Kendra's Minis
  20. Christmas Market Stall (French) Le petit monde de la Fée Erie
  21. Hard Candy fairchildart via deviantart
  22. Apple Pie fairchildart via deviantart
  23. Pandoro, Italian Christmas Cake Simplystella
  24. Oranges SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  25. Clementines SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  26. Pomegranates SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  27. Ice SmallCreationsByMe! via deviantart
  28. Plates Using Molds fiat5005 via deviantart
  29. Oysters SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  30. Fish SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  31. Roast Lamb SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  32. 10-Minute Frosted Miniature Cookies minifoodtutorials.com
  33. Icing GrandmaThunderpants via deviantart
  34. 7 Easy Christmas Cookies SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  35. Crinkle Cookies Simplystella
  36. Christmas Sweets SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  37. Gingerbread House SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  38. Hot Chocolate SugarCharmShop via YouTube
  39. Christmas Bread and Jam Raggedy D's Miniatures
  40. Poinsettias Peppewood Miniatures
  41. Christmas Printables Jean Day
  42. New Years Day Printables Jean Day
  43. Simple Mistletoe Marianne Cook via AIM
  44. Snowglobe in a Bottle LilacSprinkles via YouTube
  45. Candy Canes Heather Wells via YouTube
  46. Angel Sandra Stacy via AIM
  47. Santa Marotte Doll Tower House Dolls via AIM
  48. Hanukkah Cookie Cutters about.com
  49. Chinese New Year Joann Swanson DIY Miniatures
  50. Fortune Cookies SugarCharmShop via YouTube
Previous tutorials:
  1. Fire surround Keith Walker
  2. Sleeping Santa Rita McVinnie via msatminidolls
  3. A Blessed Noel Cynthia Howe
  4. Santa ornament Cynthia Howe
  5. Christmas tree ornaments My Small Obsession
  6. Orange cane Daniela Nielsen via YouTube
  7. Angel tree topper Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  8. Roast and steak Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  9. Jar of jelly Garden of Imagination via YouTube
  10. Dollhouse for a dollhouse joannesminis via YouTube
  11. Toy train joannesminis via YouTube
  12. Toy truck joannesminis via YouTube
  13. Toy xylophone joannesminis via YouTube
  14. Doll's winter hat joannesminis via YouTube
  15. Christmas tree from pipe cleaners Smallwood Village Magazine
  16. Evergreen Tree anniesminis.com
  17. Molasses cookies and tea Cotton Ridge Create!
  18. Teddy bears from pipe cleaners Harvington Guides
  19. Bow making 1 Jan's Dollhouses and Miniatures
  20. Bow making 2 Jan's Dollhouses and Miniatures
  21. Meccano box Natalie Gayle Miniatures
  22. Needlework wreath pattern Dancing Violet Designs
  23. Fabric dollhouse for a child UK lass in US
  24. Felt stocking MsMiniLover via YouTube
  25. Cross stitch pillow chart The Dollar Store Dollhouse
  26. Sugar N' Spice baking scene Joann Swanson
  27. Lebkuken Jan Stuart via A Small World's Big Buzz
  28. Food tins lemondecratifdecatherine.blogspot.com
  29. 1:48 Candlesticks Anna-Carin Betzén
  30. Wrapped gifts Anna-Carin Betzén
  31. 1/144 scale angel tree topper Frances Armstrong
  32. 1:144 scale Georgian fireplace Anna-Carin Betzén
  33. 1:144 scale Christmas tree Anna-Carin Betzén
  34. 1:144 scale wreath and swag Anna-Carin Betzén
  35. 1:144 scale candlestick Anna-Carin Betzén
  36. Winter tree Blue Kitty Miniatures
  37. Braided door mat Miniatures & maisons de poupées
  38. Lantern mijnkleinewereld.piczo.com 
  39. Star shape cutout cookies Unoesadoce 
  40. Scissors My mini world
  41. Prawn Snowfern
  42. Panettone Simplystella's Sketchbook
  43. Doily made with liquid clay Christel Jensen
  44. Cinnamon rolls talty.deviantart.com
  45. Christmas crackers about.com
  46. Retro printable boxes howaboutorange.blogspot.com
  47. Beaded angel Wilhelmien's Poppenhuizen en Miniaturen
  48. Ice skates Ellen Boersma
  49. Sled Ellen Boersma
  50. Mistletoe kissing ball about.com
  51. Bow making Andrea Thieck 
  52. Polymer clay candles My Small Obsession 
  53. Ham Slices Daniela Nielsen via YouTube 
  54. Turkey with garnish Julie Old Crow via The Mini Food Blog 
  55. Oranges Angie Scarr 
  56. Candy and caning Chrissy via CDHM 
  57. AIM 2011 advent calendar (24 projects) 
  58. AIM 2010 advent calendar (24 projects) 
  59. AIM 2009 advent calendar (24 projects) 
  60. Christmas tree Victoria Miniland 
  61. Beaded Santa Victoria Minland 
  62. Tiny snowman Victoria Miniland 
  63. Fire for your fireplace Merry Jingle 
  64. Gingerbread Stephanie Kilglast via CDHM 
  65. Egg nog Mary Eccher 
  66. Christmas pudding Mary Eccher 
  67. Christmas punch Mary Eccher 
  68. Hedgehog cake Todd Toys and Miniatures.com 
  69. Wreath and candles Todd Toys and Miniatures.com 
  70. Christmas cake Todd Toys and Miniatures.com 
  71. Poinsettia Abby Benner via CDHM 
  72. Leg of lamb Linda Cummings via CDHM 
  73. Straw ornaments Miniatures & masions de poupées 
  74. Mistletoe Miniatures & masions de poupées 
  75. Christmas boxes True2Scale 
  76. Christmas cactus about.com 
  77. Needlepoint stocking about.com 
  78. Swedish Christmas Joann Swanson 
  79. Cookies Pine Studio 
  80. Gingerbread house Pine Studio 
  81. Ornaments Smallwood Village 
  82. Toys in 1/144 scale Frances Armstrong 
  83. Shopping bag and gift box On The Scene 
  84. Christmas tree skirt pattern Laurel Wheeler 
  85. Ornament box Christine Woolsey 
  86. Printable sleigh about.com 
  87. Toy soldiers box Natalie Gayle Miniatures 
  88. Seashell angel Butterfly Dreams 
  89. Printable wrapping paper 1 and 2 Jean Day 
  90. Printable nativity scene Jean Day 
  91. Printable micro Christmas room Jean Day 
  92. Wrapping paper TreeFeathers 
  93. Victorian Christmas cards TreeFeathers 
  94. Sheet Music TreeFeathers 
  95. Ornament boxes TreeFeathers 
  96. Gift boxes 1 and 2 TreeFeathers 
  97. Gift bags Treefeathers 
  98. Tinsel tree Puchicollective 
  99. Teapot from polymer clay Christel Jensen via YouTube 
  100. Cheesecake Christel Jensen 
Additional holiday tutorials shared by readers:

Advent wreath Christine, Hollyhock Cottage
Centerpiece Natalia, Scarlet Sails Miniatures
House in a teacup Natalia, Scarlet Sails Miniatures 

If you would like to share a link to a holiday tutorial, please leave a comment below.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Chalk Painting Tutorial for Miniatures

Chalk paint has a velvety, dull finish that gives the appearance of old, painted furniture. You may have seen chalk paint used on full size furniture found on Pinterest and on blogs. Here is a tutorial for mixing your own chalk paint and adding a finish to create that perfect, vintage look!

This is a great way to enhance the look of manufactured dollhouse furniture!

Tools and supplies
  • sifter
  • various grits of sandpaper
  • small whisk to use in paint
  • stain in your choice of colors
  • X-ACTO knife with extra blades
  • airtight plastic container for paint
  • soft rags for wiping stain and buffing wax
  • paintbrushes: 3/4” wide flat brush, approx. 1/4” wide flat brush, small detail brushes
  • paints: off-white latex/household emulsion; acrylic colors of your choice to tint the off-white paint
  • calcium carbonate (available in small quantities from wine making shops)
  • paste wax (I like the American Paint Company brand because it is not harmful to breathe or to work with)
Mixing
Mix 2 parts latex/household emulsion paint and 1 part sifted calcium carbonate into a small, airtight container. Whisk together until the paint is completely smooth (this takes a while).

Add a VERY TINY amount of the acrylic paint to the latex mixture and whisk. Keep adding acrylic paint and mixing until the desired color is achieved. Remember: the paint will dry darker than the color of the wet paint.

Creating samples
Make sample chips using scrap pieces. This is a great time to learn about chalk paint and using it with stain and wax finishes, so don’t skip this step! You may wish to try various combinations of finishes, for example:
  • stain, paint, wax
  • paint, sand some areas bare, stain bare areas, wax
  • paint, wax
  • how about stain, paint, gold marker, wax?
Have fun and be creative! Don’t forget to write your recipes on the back of your sample chips!

Applying finishes
When you’ve chosen a look that you like and the color, proceed to sanding your piece and applying the finishes. Sand between each coat of stain/paint.

Finish the piece with several coats of wax, buffing between coats (following instructions on the container). 

Used in the photos 
BLUE CABINET: A tiny amount of green and yellow acrylic paints were mixed into the off-white latex paint (mixed with calcium carbonate) to achieve the color of this cabinet. The cabinet was sanded between coats of paint. Clear and dark wax was applied. Pink Chintz and Blue Chintz Decals and Dish Blanks are available from true2scale.com. Doll by Marcella Cupello, Cutie Mini Dolls.

WHITE CABINET: This cabinet was painted with the off-white latex/household emulsion paint mixed with calcium carbonate, sanded, stained in the bare wood areas with dark walnut, and waxed.