Friday, June 4, 2010

Come win some mini mail!!

First, we have to get to that point though....so bare with me for a minute!

Like I said in my last blog, I didn't want a traditional bed in this house, so I opted for a nest like cove thingy. I took a cube of Styrofoam, cut it down to size, then carved out the middle.


I also have started the middle wall that separates the two sides of the top floor.

One thing I have learned along the wall is that when your building houses from the inside out, things tend to change a little. Walls get bigger, walls shift on you.........things just don't add up! Here I've used blue tape to mark the line that I want to cut away.

OK.....any guess as to what this is, LOL.......


What about now? ......here it's covered with paperclay.......


I think I'm going to play a game with this one, lol........Here's the rest of the room, not that it helps......But any guesses as to what it is? Leave me a comment, make a guess, and on Monday I'll pick a name to win a prize. (You don't even have to be right, Just guess!!) I'm thinking some mini mail might be a good prize.........


OK, on to the nest.........Here, I've added the second layer of paperclay....and did the scratchy thing.


This is that same area, just a close up.

And again with that black paint....b*o*r*i*n*g!!

But look at what a little bit of brown paint can do.........Nice! I used brown and a golden color to do this, just dry-brushed both colors where I felt like they needed to be...

That brown paint is like magic, isn't it!!

....got the fireplace glued in.......


And then the bf said those miserable words again, "Honey, it's just toooo shinny, chalk it up some!" LOL, Well, it does look a lot better, just wish he had thought of it Before I glued it in.....


So this is where I am with this. I need some 'glass panes' for the windows and the inside will be 90% done.......and I have to start the outside of the tree. But here's where I come to the fork in the road. I want the outside to look like a tree grew around it, but I'm afraid to make it look convincing, I may have to Go Big.....and well, I just don't have any more room.....But, I fear, there's no other way. ((giggles))

My second problem is I need more Styrofoam. Didn't quite realize how expense it is when you need a lot. So I've been trying to recycle. My mother-in-law- recently bought a microwave and gave the Styrofoam it was packed in.......but I still need more. Any ideas on how I can build something 3-D, using something other than Styrofoam. I'm thinking of something along the lines of paper machee.....or something...........any ideas?

Well Alrighty then, this is where I'm leaving you at. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

~Oh, and if you missed it, check out the last 5? blogs......it's the beginning of this story.
......until next time!

22 comments:

nikkinikkinikki72 said...

Absolutely amazing and really enjoying watching you work.
I love everything and how its all going together... i think this is going to be my favourite mini house ever!
If you are short of the foam you could use papier mache, but how about going behind electrical shops in their big bins and looking for more, or even asking in the shop. I'm sure they would be able to give you loads.
I wouldn't be afraid of making it look like a tree grew around it, its fabulous so far and if you just keep going like you are it will certainly be wonderful.
Nikki xxx

Kim said...

I think it may be the bathroom and that is the shower area :) I am loving this even more with the brown added! Don't ya just hate it when your guy helps you with your minis and he's always right :) the fireplace looks wonderful with the chalk added ♥

Caseymini said...

Katie, have you looked into using builder's foam from the home improvemnet centers? It comes in huge sheets and is very reasonable. Some of my friends did adobe houses with it a few years ago and it is essentially styro. I think it comes in 1" thick sheets.

My guess is a bathroom and the corner is a shower stall? The house is outstanding!!! Who is going to move in when it is done?

CA Verstraete said...

My imagination must be dead, could not "see" your design. Now, wow! That's incredible! Who'd a thunk it? I got the 2 story house; have to see if the rooms are big enough; was thinking of making stone outside and shabby inside...

love the mail idea! I guess that is the bathroom. (that part is the shower!)

Tabitha Corsica said...

This is just the cutest project ever! Love the way the painting is turning out. I think the little "mystery" alcove will be a shower?!

As for building materials, styrofoam (or polyfoam) is the cheapest (because it is easily available as discarded packing) and the lightest. Ask around... The white kind that has the large "balls" when you carve it is much cheaper that the green foam I saw for some of your walls. That white foam can be purchased in various thickness at Home Depot (in very large sheets used for home insulation. You probably don't need that much anymore) for not much money. But maybe you will need a quantity for the outside. Check it out.

Tabitha

Whittaker's Miniatures said...

Katie its amazing I love it! Bu tOn no now this is how Lola wanted to do her mouse house and I had told her it would be tto tricky and she should keep it plain on the walls and maybe make the outside of the house like the bark of a tree. But you have made it look so incredibly easy and so effective that I can see her nagging me about it lol!! Cant wait to see this evolve, so pleased your camera is working and we cna all share in this wonderful project. Lola loves it! Kate xxx

A. Wright said...

oh my gosh Katie, it's so awesome! Looks like that might be a little shower/bath area :) Very cool. great to see you back and being very creative as always.

Mini hugs

miniannalee said...

I love the house its such a great idea for a Mouse house. It looks so real. I can't wait to see it all furnished.
Use some real soot to really dirty up the fireplace to make it look used.
Any time you are out and about keep look for trash at the curb, you might find a lot of busted styrofoam coolers this time of year. Ask all your friends and neighbors to save any foam they have. I'm sure you will soon have a large supply of foam. Tell the bf to be on the look out for foam. Maybe you can even get broken sheets of builders foam for cheep/free from home depot.

Lirael said...

It's gorgeous! You're definately back and how! Really love the barky effect you've created :)

Dawn said...

On first glance at the mystery room, I thought bathroom. The second photo looks like a shower to me. I continue to be amazed at how you have transformed this house. The brown and gold paint made it look like the inside of a tree polished and smoothed with time.

I can't wait to see the outside. This watching it progress as you work on it is *the best*.

Another place to check for free Styrofoam would be an appliance store. Or how about those cheapie coolers?

Unknown said...

He left me speechless. I love tree house is the best I've seen in my life. Thanks for sharing, it is very gratifying to see how it works.

I look forward progress. Greetings.

Whittaker's Miniatures said...

Oops forgot to say! Must be a little bath or shower area with that little tiny plug hole so cute!! Kate xxx

onbeingaminimum said...

I think it is a shower room, can I spy a plug?

The effect you have managed with the stytofoam is fantastic. It looks like a living thing.

Ana Anselmo said...

Fantastic, lovely, fabulous!!!! I have no (more) words! I want one like this!!!! since I was a child I want to live in a house tree LOL. I also think it is the bathroom ,I think I did see the tiny shower hole for draining the water.

Anonymous said...

This is absolutly fantastic. I just could not visualize where you were going with this before but now that I see where you are I am just amazed. Wonderful. That room must be a "bath" room with the drain in the floor. Can't wait to see what you do with the outside.

Karin F. said...

Thanks to the little drain in the floor, I'll guess a shower stall in a bathroom.
Your house is coming along amazingly!!! Can't wait to see the types of furniture you're going to come up with.

Sans! said...

OMG! Katie!! The hiatus has done you wonders!!! I want to build this house! Love, love love it, Babe! You know, there are beautiful houses and then there are houses that truly moved you. Yours is the latter for me. You must pass this house down to the children's children's children :).

That is a bathroom , dear. Now will you shut the door after you so I can stay in there for a long long time? :)

Michelle said...

Oooh it's just spectacular! I LOVE it, the bark effects are amazing....gosh, I'd love to be able to create something like this!! Very talented indeedy.

Methinks it's a shower. :o)

Michelle xx

My Wee Life said...

I just adore this little house - it looks amazing. The colour is so realistic and oh, even the fireplace is fab. I would have to guess at a shower/wet room with a little vanity area. I am amazed at the talent. Looking forward to seeing more.

onbeingaminimum said...

Wonderful Katie. I have just read through all the posta showing how this house has evolved.
You make it look very easy. I love the idea of using paper clay but I haven't taken the plunge yet.

Linda said...

I think the mystery room is a shower/bathroom. :) I LOVE the whole thing, btw. Very organic and very creative.

Wendie-kins said...

I thought shower room too! Id have never have thought of making something lkike this.... it looks fantastic and far less complicated than Id have first imagined. I'd love to be teeny tiny and live in this house :o)
as for the outside... I wonder what would happen if you sprayed some of that expandable foam all over the outside? would that work? maybe you could carve off the unwanted bits?