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Tutorial: Miniature floor boards for diorama or doll's house

8/11/2017

4 Comments

 
I've been slowly making a sort of diorama / doll's house room to display my cloth art dolls in. As with most of the creative projects I take on, this one took a lot more time and effort than I anticipated... but I've really enjoyed it and have learned a lot along the way. 
Handmad diorama for Willowynn dolls www.willowynn.com
Diorama / room made using coffee-stained popsicle sticks
I wanted to make one large room with interchangeable walls, windows, a door and wooden floor boards.  I really love the way it's turned out - kind of like a cottage or cabin in the woods. I'll continue working on it - adding things like book shelves, furniture, curtains etc., but just wanted to show you what it looks like at this stage and describe how I made the floor, windows and door.  

​I'll start off by explaining how I made the tiny floor boards, and save the window/door tutorial for a later post...

DIY miniature floor boards for dolls house tutorial

To make the floor boards

You will need:
  • ​A large piece of plywood or MDF board for the base - cut to the size and shape you'd like your floor space to be
  • Lots and lots of wooden popsicle sticks (paddle pop sticks here in Australia)
  • Scissors
  • PVA or wood glue
  • Coffee grounds and vegetable oil
  • Vinegar, rusty nails, glass jar
  • Rag
Instructions:
  1. Trim the rounded ends off each of your popsicle sticks to give them straight ends (like real floor boards).
  2. Glue the popsicle sticks onto your board in rows, starting from one end. 
  3. To get a smooth, worn-looking surface, give your floorboards a sand.
  4. Stain your floor boards to achieve the colour you'd like (*See wood stain suggestions below).
  5. To give my floor a slightly glossy finish, I rubbed it with a leather shoe wax / polish. Just wipe it all over then buff it with a clean cloth.

Suggestions for non-toxic DIY wood stains*:
  • Dark grey/black: wipe with a solution made by soaking a couple of rusty nails in white vinegar for a day. 
  • Light warm brown: wipe with a solution made by soaking fresh coffee grounds in vegetable oil. Each layer will darken your wood a little more.
  • Any colour: rub leather shoe polish all over your floor boards in whatever colour you like. This creates a good colour as well as a bit of a shine.
Willowynn doll in diorama www.willowynn.com
One of my dolls inspecting the new space.
4 Comments
Jeanette Sappe
11/11/2017 03:14:05 am

Absolutely beautiful. This is a wonderful way too showcase your work!! Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to the next step.

Reply
Margeaux link
12/11/2017 01:00:53 pm

Thanks Jeanette! Will post the next step soon...

M

Reply
Linda ferguson link
13/11/2017 05:10:22 pm

Hi
I am starting to make my own diorama for my doll I bought from you
Really enjoying this project
Thanks for sharing
Linda

Reply
Margeaux link
14/11/2017 10:20:23 am

You're welcome Linda. So happy to hear you are making your Willowynn doll a diorama :)

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    Margeaux Davis aka Willowynn

    Hello

    My name is Margeaux Davis. I'm a doll-maker, sewing pattern designer and children's book illustrator, based in northern New South Wales, Australia.  

    ​Here I'll share what I'm making, as well as some hints and tips to help you sew your own soft toys... 


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