New project finished! Advent calendar

Happy New Year, everyone!

I just realized that I had not posted a single thing since the finishing of the beach hut.  How is that possible?  Weeeell, truth be told, I haven't done much minis since then.  However, taking advantange of my husband's absence (he went to Hannover for 3 months), I wanted to make an Advent calendar for him - I promised to do it, and bought the calendar in the July sales.

I chose a blank wood calendar; I bought it here:

Stock photo

Since it has a central space, I thought it was perfect to do a Christmas scene in it.  But I started by painting it in gold and copper - hubby requested Steampunk feel.  So gold for the frame and copper for the drawers.  After that, I started designing the scene.  First, some wallpapering to set up the ambience:

You can see the gold and copper painted frame and drawers

The wallpaper comes from Easy Print and Cut, and so does the floor.  Super easy to cover, compared to a regular dollhouse with all its nooks and crannies!  Next, a fireplace:

There were several options available, but the dark ones gave a me a "sad" vibe, if you know what I mean.  This one was perfect for a warm and cozy room on a holiday.  Then, a window was needed:

I wanted to use both two windows, but the scene looked too crowded for my taste - a pity, cats and bats together are a perfect thing for me ;)  But really, it did not work.  Well, once the room was set up, it was time for decorations.  And after all the decorating, this is the final result:

The numbers on the drawers are from Vectoria Designs

The picture behind the Christmas tree you can find here.  The gifts piles are the work of Michael R. Miniatures

The rug is also from Easy Print and Cut.  There is a table with milk and cookies for Santa.

The cards and and paper tree on the fireplace come from Ever After Miniatures. The little basket and the pinecones are from Art of Mini.

My mother suggested a mirror on top of the fireplace, but I thought a tapestry was nicer. 

The tree, the sconce, the table and the rest of accessories are from Tienda de Casitas.   

 It was a super fan project, specially since I am not so fond of Christmas.  Hopefully I can start soon with the new project, with will involve even making furniture!  More on that very soon, I hope!

Free printable! Christmas coloring books

Christmas is approaching - it comes earlier each year... So here is a fun little free printable for you to make and enjoy: Christmas coloring books both for children and adults!

As always, please feel free to print as many times as you like, gift them to 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 and enjoy! ♥

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."

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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!

Happy Holidays!

Kassandra wishes you all a very happy Winter Solstice

and nice holidays!

Christmas letters are starting to pile up

Kassandra invited me over today for tea, and she showed me some of the letters that the children had written to Santa.

Letters have been made with templates from Vectoria Designs

"I can see the mailbox is getting full", I said.  "Are they being extra nice now that Santa is coming?"

"They are making an extra effort, but they are good kids all year round.  We hardly ever get fights or arguments.  I am starting to get the packages ready".

"I cannot wait to see them!"

Kassandra is getting ready for the Solstice

I came by Kassandra's place recently, and I found her very busy, putting up her Solstice decorations.

"I see you are getting ready for the Winter fun", I said.  

"Yes", she said.  "I am even putting up a mailbox for the kids to deposit their Santa's letters".  

"Oh, do you have more kids?" - that was something I did not know.  

"They are not mine, but I am "Grandma" to them.  They are lovely, and always so full of joy.  They really enjoy preparing for Santa's visit.  I will invite you over when I have some of their letters.  They are always something special."

"I'm sure they are".

Solstice decorations

December is here, and the holidays are around the corner!  Surely most of you are already getting your house ready with your preferred decorations.  

Yesterday, I found out that Kassandra also is, which was quite shocking.  I asked her if she would be celebrating Christmas or some other tradition.  She said that it is the use of her family to celebrate the December Solstice.  She specified that the longest night of the year was something worth celebrating for a vampire - unlike the Summer Solstice.

She has set up a lovely and tiny Winter tree in her parlor; but the most intriguing thing for me were the gift packages under it:

I found them very curious-looking, and asked if they also had the tradition, like humans, to exchange gifts.  "Of course!", she responded.  "It is the only moment in the year we get presents.  We do not celebrate human holidays, such as Valentine's Day, or birthdays.  Most vampires tend to forget what day of the year they were born.  I cerntainly do not know what day I was born.  I only know that it was Summer."

And then I asked about the original boxes she had used to wrap her presents.  "Oh, are they not delightful?  A very talented designer made them.  I do not like the overuse of shiny red, green and gold humans tend to use this time of year.  It all looks very fashion and stylish, but people have forgotten about the elegance and good taste we used in past times to wrap presents."

She proceeded to ask me to sit down to enjoy some spirits, and was talking about how difficult it would be for her to keep her daughter Perséfone from munching on the decorations.