A long forgotten project: the Handbook for the Recently Deceased. And free printable!

I watched Beetlejuice when it first came out on cinemas in 1988.  I was a teenager at the time, and I remember vividly how much I felt in sync with Lidia, and how I would have loved to live in the Maitlands' home.  My dad bought me the VHS when it came out; I watched it so many times I could have recited the dialogue by heart.  Later I bought myself the DVD, and kept watching until Beetlejuice Beetlejuice came out last year.  

I was delighted when I saw all the merchandise pop up for the new movie - we did not have such things in the eighties!  I had wanted the Handbook for the Recently Deceased from the first moment.  But it was impossible to find it then.  And later, some replicas appeared, but they were valued in hundreds of dollars that I did not want to spend.  Most of them were blank journals with the original front and back cover, but they cost so much I was put off by the prices.

But I was so lucky that my husband got one for me for Christmas!  It was official merch, and it cost about $20 dollars.  The beloved book from my childhood was finally in my hands!

And that reminded me, that a long time ago, I had bought a printable to make my own Handbook for the Recently Deceased book box.  To do that, I purchased a book shadow box from Tim Holz - I think now it has been discontinued (this was in 2019!).  It looked like this:

 

A regular book box to embelish made of paper mâché

 

The inside little boxes are removable, which was great, because I wanted it to store inside my DVD copy of Beetlejuice.  A kind of personal limited edition, if you may.  But for some reason, even though I started the project anxiously, it got relegated to the back burner.  Well, now it was the time to retake it!

The image I bought to act as the cover was bigger, so it had to be manually adjusted in an image program.  I measured carefully and adjusted it to the precise size needed to cover the box.  I printed it professionally in A3 size.  It only took two tries to make it fit pefectly.  Since the box had been in storage for long, the part that holded the inside boxes came unglued, which was perfect.  It was super easy to just cover the outside with the printing, and it looked great!

So wondefully spooky!

I removed the inside boxes, and I was ready to store all my treasures:

 

If you would like to get the paper props, you can find them on Etsy.  I got mine from Paul Elder Designs, but he no longer offers them.  Instead, you can go to Legendary Tales Edit to get a whole bunch of Beetlejuice curiosities.  And from my part, I am happy to offer you the Take-Your-Turn numbers HERE. *Update*  I also made business cards with the Maitland Hardware shop info.  I hope you like them!

I hope you enjoy having your own Beetlejuice numbers!  Feel free to print as many as you like, and pass the file along to anyone; links back are nice too.  Just please do not sell the file.  Thank you very much, and enjoy! ♥ 

Scene: Ballet shop

This had been some time almost finished but a couple of days ago it finally was.  Since yesterday we were so busy with the Alien screen, I did not have time to take pictures.  But now is here!

A new scene that I absolutely love: the Ballet shop!

The logo is from an actual ballet shop in Murcia

I just love crafting these little shops!  A lovely scene so well contained, but with a lot of details and that I can actually hang in my wall, so it won't take up any shelf space.

The actual shop comes from Tienda de Casitas.  I find it so pretty, so affordable, and you can actually start decorating the same day you get it because, it just doesn't need anything else!  It opens on the back and it has a "glass" covering the window so nothing gets dusty.

Some things hidden behind the door

 

The tutu comes from Tienda de Casitas.  The hat boxes and the little pink boxes are from Zena Miniatures.

The ballet art posters on the wall come from Etsy.  The pointe shoes in the boxes and the ones in the dome are from Art of Mini.  In fact, they have a lovely section full of ballet items!  The converitble tights come also from Zena Miniatures.

The magazine holder I made myself, and you can find HERE the free printie to make ballet magazines.  The three nutcrackers are also from Art of Mini.  The mugs and the notepad I made myself.  Blue boxes from Zena Miniatures.

The nutcraker pillow came from La Belle Cuisine By Me; the rocking nutcraker was a gift from Nalladris; the suitcases are again from Art of Miniatures, available in the Ballet section; I made the DVDs myself with actual ballet DVD covers, as well as the ballet book (a gift from my husband); and you can get the ballet coloring books HERE.

I love how it came out!  

Free printable! Ouija boxes and boards, volume 2

I was taking a look at some pics that I had archived, and realized that the printie that I released long ago with Ouija boards and boxes were of William Fuld, and none of them had the famous Parker Brothers pics, so I thought it was time to remedy that.  And because I am on holidays, and in a good mood :)

So here is the another version of Ouija boxes (with the same boards and planchettes) for some of you that may have had the real life ones.  

I hope you enjoy them, even though it is still a long way to Halloween.

As always, feel free to print as many as you like, make gifts for friends and pass the file along to anyone; links back are nice too.  Just please do not sell the file or your creations.  Thank you very much! ♥

MojoWorld has a free printable for you

My friend Nikolai, from Mojo World Company, has a great freebie for you.  

What is better than an afternoon home watching movies or series, in the company of friends, and with some pizzas?

And of course, here is the tutorial to follow along while you craft.  Show Nikolai some love and visit his store!

A project for two afternoons: makeup chest!

 Today I found Kassandra very happy, opening a gift that someone had given her.

"Hello! What is that you are opening?"

"Hello dear!  Oh, I am overjoyed!  The principal dancer of a ballet company with which I work from time to time has given this to me."

"Oh, how cute!  Is it a makeup chest?"

"Yes!  Oh, Erika is such a dear!  I love her so much.  I have seen her progress from a novice dancer to a great ballerina.  She deserves all the success in the world."

"I am sure she does.  And I hope you enjoy your makeup box!"

"I am ready to fill it up!"

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fantasy apart, I saw a similar box in Facebook, and very much wanted to make my own.   I am in a phase now that I love what I call the "dancer pink" color, so I wanted the box to place it in the ballet studio.  I started with an ordinary box made of plain, untreated wood, and painted it pink:

 

Then I decided to cover the inside with a textured paper.  I was going to use a tan suede paper, but my husband said that looked too dark, and suggested something in ivory.  So I used the same fabric paper that I used in the natural history cabinet:

 

Trying on the patterns

Bottom side...

... and lid

Since it was a makeup chest, I wanted to include a mirror.  At first I thought of using a spare mirror I had in 1:144 scale, but it was very small, and I didn't like it.  So instead, I cut a piece of an acrylic mirror (the same type I used to hang in the ballet studio):

Dry fit to check the size

Wonderful!

 

I did not want to paint the bottom, so instead I covered it with a black suede paper, so it wouln't slide on the surfaces:

 

Then, embellishments!  So naturally, gold brass corners and a functional hinge (I love it!):

It looks perfect!

Next step, to craft some tiny makeup!  It was easier than I thought, with some help from YouTube videos made by talented crafters:

 

The lashes box comes from Zenas Miniatures; the two nail polishes I made following this video; the eye shadow pallete I got from here, and simply glued it to a piece of black Eva foam.  The gold nail file I made with gold textured cardboard, and the mascara bottle is just a piece of black paper glued around a toothpick that was painted with gold paint.  I covered the paper with a piece of clear adhesive tape.

It looks lovely in the ballet studio!

Free printable! Operation game box and board

I looooove designing my own printies!  The search for images, the composition process on the computer, and then printing them, and seeing how everything works together... Priceless!

Here is a new free mini for you to enjoy: a printable Operation box and board!

I glued the playing board onto a piece of 3 mm foamboard, to give it a 3D look.  You can use too regular cardboard (one piece or several pieces attached to each other).

As always, feel free to use it, make gifts for your friends, and share (links back are nice too!), but please do not sell the file or your creations.  Enjoy!

Little masks and boxes for dollhouse

People say that art imitates life.  I bring you a post about something of the sort.

This year our way of life has been altered by Covid-19.  Masks, gloves and plastic screens have become an everyday necessary object to use, to protect ourselves, and others as well.

I have seen many (many!) people incorporating such articles to their miniature scenes.  I refuse to do it.  First, because Kassandra is a vampire, and as such, she cannot get sick.  But second, because for me, my miniature wold is an ideal place.  A place where bad things cannot happen.  Where people do not die, and sickness cannot enter.  Covid-19 does not exist in miniature - even though the real virus is smaller than 1:144 scale.

I asked my mom today if she would be interested in some masks for her dolls, and she said no - apparently, she thinks the same as me: that with real-life Covid is more than enough.  However, she said she would be happy to have a box for her medical scene - a doctor practice.

Some days ago, I found a blog where the owner was providing a template to make a mask box.  Doing the mask was another thing.  I managed to come up with a method using blue tissue paper, regular white paper and a bit of white cord (white thread would work as well):

It is a little bigger than it should, but I could not manage to make it smaller.  If you are in need of a mask for your dolls or a little bit of hand sanitizer, you can get them at Buttecups Miniatures.

Stay safe and happy holidays!

Free printable, because Christmas is coming

This weekend I found Kassandra very busy.

"What are you up to?", I asked.

"Well, since the weather is awful and we are better at home, I decided to decorate for the solstice.  Our kids love this time of year."

"Oh, you are still starting."

"Yes, I only have hung the bounting.  I still have to take out the Christmas tree and decorate it.  Would you like to help?"

"Sure, why not?  It will be fun."

Taking out the Christmas tree...

... and putting on ornaments

"What about this?"

"Oh, that is Santa's mailbox.  Each kid writes a letter and deposits it inside for Santa to pick up.  We only let them ask for one thing each, although we always put on more gifts for them."

"And do you write Chrismtas cards as well?"

"Those are for the kids to write to their cousins.  We have family all scattered throughout Europe, and they like to send them cards.  But we will see them at the Solstice party".

"Of course!  I forgot that you do not actually celebrate Christmas..."

 

"But you have very little decorations, Kassandra..."

"I have bought some more this year, but I still have to prepare them before I take them out.  You'll see them soon."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you decorate your dollhouse for Christmas?  If you do, do you have a Christmas tree? And if so, does it have its proper box to be put away the rest of the year? No? Well, you are lucky, because I bring you one!

I designed this box some time ago, but today is the day I actually printed it and assembled it.  It measures about 8.5 cm long, so I could fit my mini Christmas tree inside, but you can make it bigger or smaller if you need to.  There are three files: one with the box as you can see in the pictures - you can print this one in white paper; one in which the box has no decorations, so you can use any colored paper that you like; and one with the labels so you can cut them and stick them in the box, if you prefer that look.  HERE you go!  Just click on the file(s) you want, right-click and select "Download". Have fun!

As always, feel free to craft and gift, or share the file (links back are nice too!), but please, do not sell the files or your finished creations.  Thank you!

Free printable! Miniature box of condoms

This is something that I have been wanting to do for years!  I love that we can include in our houses modern stuff like tablets, phones and computers.  But my favorite things are the subtle ones: like a box of tampons... or a box of condoms!

The one I have made I have scanned from a brand new box that I had at home; I composed the images, cleaned them a bit and made to scale.  I even scanned the condom packets and the pamphet!  Unfortunately, the pamphlet did not look good in 1:12 scale, so I omitted it.  But I very much like the end result:

The fun part is, the condom packets fit inside the box!  I may try something adventurous and glue a tiny jump ring inside them, to mimick an actual condom - I don't know if jump rings will be small enough to fit, but it's worth a try.

This will go into Kassandra's nightstand :)

I am very happy to share with you all the printable to make this.  As allways, feel free to share, make and give as gifts and pass the file along to anyone (links back are nice too), but please do not sell the file, or your creations.  Thank you!

HERE you go!  Have fun!

Free printable! Game boxes

When Winter is coming (ha ha, see what I did there?), what is better than an afternoon with family or friends playing games?  There are a lot of traditional games that would look awesome in a dollhouse setting.  I spent several afternoons searching the web for pictures, and I am happy I was able to make some very popular games, which I am sure many of us have played at least once:

It was so much fun to design these!  So, to not waste my efforts, I am happy to pass along the printable with all the boxes and the accessories.  Here you go!  I hope you have fun making these!

For the Twister mat, I printed it in regular copy paper and covered it with clear adhesive film - my box of Twister had a plastic mat, so this gives it a shiny plastic look.  The bad things is, you cannot fit the mat inside the box (the cover will pop up), so I am thinking in printing it on fabric paper; that way I can fold and store it in the box. If you want to display it unfolded then you have no problems.  The rest you can print in matte photo paper for best results, or you can print in regular paper and glue to cardboard before cutting and mounting.

Please feel free to print as many copies as you like, make gifts for friends, and pass the printie along (links back are nice too), but please do not sell the file or your creations.  Thank you, and enjoy!

Free printable! Ouija boards and boxes

Given that I have a wonderful coffin bookcase, I was anxious to feel it up with Halloween goodies, and the best goodies are the ones you can make at home.

So I made some Google searches and found some really cool pictures of Ouija boards and boxes.  I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning them up and turning them into miniatures, so Kassandra has something to entertain her guests.

The board fits inside the box!

 

Here is a printie for you to make 2 set of different boxes, boards, instructions and planchettes.  Feel free to share them, give them as gifts and pass the file onto anyone (links back are nice too), but please, do not sell your creations or the file.

The Ouija boards I already had, from the time my shop was open.  The black box I recreated with the help of a picture of a vintage Ouija box from the 30s-40s.  I could not find a date for the blue and orange box, though.  I am not very happy with the planchettes; I included them so your set would not be incomplete, but I actually plan to make a planchette out of polymer clay.  Maybe you can do too, or you can use a jewelry finding instead (maybe one in a heart shape?).

Enjoy them!

 

EDITED TO ADD:

 

This is what I finally did to make a planchette:

 

I used a bit of brown polymer clay, and cut it with these two cutters: a big one with a tear shape to make the body of the planchette, and a smaller round one to make the hole for the message.  I baked it like that for 15 minutes and removed the planchette once it cooled.  The round bit stayed behind, so no need to do anything else.  I hope this helps!

The final touch for the ballet studio

This was the only thing that the ballet studio was lacking: a ballet barre!

I wanted to order a custom-made one, but in the end I finally decided to try and make it myself.  It was easier than I thought.

My coworker Carlos cut the wood for the bases for me.  Then I drilled some holes on them, as well as in the wood sticks:

My husband's drilling tool came in handy!

Then I used a couple of toothpicks to hold the side bars in place:

Then came the gluing, painting and staining part, and voilà!

I think it looks very nice!

The studio finally has all the furniture that it needs! 

Also, this beauty arrived all the way from Italy:

It is the child of Minimariba.  Her shop is full of beautifully made dresses and shoes.  Go check her out!  Also, see the tiny ballet box? That is a free printable from Zena Miniatures, so go and grab it right now!  And, this is the most amazing thing ever:

A box of convertible ballet tights!  Just when I think I cannot find anything else for the ballet studio, I find the most incredible things!  Also the creation of Zena.

Love the ballet studio!