Barbie shops. Often. Right? But where does she go? How does she come home loaded with new items? She goes to the store of my imagination, of course! I have put together a store box room to allow Barbie to shop to her hearts content. But it also serves a practical use. This store of mine holds my minis. Neat and orderly! Walk through the steps with me, and I will show you how I created this room.
Do you watch My Froggy Stuff on YouTube? No? You are missing out! That lady is super talented. My husband says even crazy to some degree, as her builds are SOOOOO DETAILED! There are things she will build that I'm thinking... Nope. Not necessary. But I keep watching, because more times than not she makes something that I'm thrilled with. She has a ton of printables on her blog that you can find HERE. For this project, I used the Target wall background under the Shops and Stuff list. It will take you to her Google document list where you can print those out for free.
I glued those to foamboard that were cut to create a 3-sided room box. On the right-hand side, the wall isn't full. I'm considering a door option to go there.
I used dimensions from My Froggy Stuff that were in one of her videos to create the free standing shelving unit. The platform is 3 1/4" wide by 8" long. The middle part is 5" wide by 9 3/4" tall. I think the base ones were about a 1/4"? I didn't write those down and mostly eyeballed it. The shelves I made just to fit.
Then I covered mine, because I haven't been able to get smooth cuts on my foamboard. If any of you know a trick to doing it smoothly, feel free to leave me a comment! I like that these can move around while offering extra shelving. I think they will also work well for photos. But they take me a really long time to make. Partially because of everything else I have to do during a day... The wall on the left-hand side has shelves that go from top to bottom, as well as all the way across.
One thing I found is that some of my minis are a bit on the large size. As long as we aren't talking mega here, I was thinking it suits that family or economy size. Back when I was a kid, it was also called institutional size. How do I know this? Because I'm the oldest of 10 kids and we bought that size before places like Costco and Sam's Club were cool. But I'm not satisfied with calling these larger minis by those names. I'm thinking... Survival Solutions. A play on the prepper mind.
My daughter has helped me with setting up this store. We found that attaching the minis to a clear plastic piece by using glue dots worked best. Once the layout was just right, I hot glued the strips to the shelf. This way, I can remove minis and move things around as needed. However, you can just glue them down too. Or if you have doubles sitting one in front the other, just glue the front one down and make the back one removable. Do it how it works best for you.
The first set of moveable shelves are being used for the toy aisle. Don't mind the naked doll in the background. I asked my daughter to grab a doll for comparison in heights. That was the only one she could find apparently. *insert face palm here*
Next, was the checkout counter. I just used foam board to create the open-sided box. That was then glued to the floor. I used various card stock and paper to make it look prettier. I had a small cash register piece that I painted and glued on as well. The card reader that we have came from a Mini Brands capsule. As you can see on the left side, I tacked the Mini Brands coolers to it with Glue Dots. This way, I can remove them if I want to later. They hold juices and sodas, like you would see near checkouts normally.
For the rest, like that cooler you see in the back, I'll be leaving you with this video to see. I'll walk you through it and show you how it looks on a closer level. Hope you like it!
I still have not decided on a name, so if you have one in mind, leave me a comment below!
About a year and a half ago, we built what we affectionately called the Tiny House. Its first purpose was temporarily house my mother and sister-in-law while they searched for their happy place, or forever home. After they did, it became a temporary home for another woman we knew. Then she found her forever home too. Now, we stand here looking at the progress we have slowly made. We also see all the incredible potential it holds!
Time to make this Tiny House my She Shed!
Now, don't get me wrong. It won't just be for my things. But that is the main goal. My crafting and cosplay-making supplies will move out there. So will the girls' dollhouse stuff. And then part of it will house the solar power system my husband is working on installing. I'm so excited about it all! First things first, though. I want you to see what we are currently working with. This also gives you a glimpse inside, something I didn't get to show you when we finished originally.
I've already finished fixing those lines in the walls. Turns out, skipping the taping and mudding process is NOT the way to go. So take it from me, do it right the first time.
I decided to start in the closet. But... the red paint we had gotten before had gone bad. Bummer!
I ended up having to toss it. So what to do? Hmm... get creative! I pulled out some gold spray paint and thought I would make it look like an antiqued map.
I mean my whole theme in here was supposed to be Steampunk. So I thought I would just wing it. I don't have the money to be buying supplies. Which means I need to use what I have on hand. What is that saying again... 'Necessity is the mother of invention'. With this in mind, I gave it some slight naming and my poor excuse for drawing to make it look slightly like a map... A very old one.
My kids gave me some ideas on locations to add as we went along. With more names slowly adding as I go. Once I had finished that, the cosplay closet is open for costume designing!
I think I will add some shelves with storage bins to really organize it. I know it isn't truly 'finished', but it is enough for now. Eventually, my husband will install the baseboards. And maybe some carpet for me.
I was sent this mirror for a review. This will be our cosplay mirror where we can try things on and create the costumes of our dreams! It is a gym wall mirror that we enjoyed hanging up. Simple, yet highly useful.
We have painted! 3/4 sides are now ready to be worked on as far as bringing in shelves and adding to the layout. We got this paint on clearance and I plan to go back for more to finish the last wall.
Next on the agenda was putting together a shelf my husband bought me to put some of my books out here. Trying to clear up space inside the house for the kids' book collections. However, after my son and I put this one together, we came to realize it is SOOOO cheaply made. I don't know that it will be holding books after all.
Even two of the parts broke while we were installing them. So you have been warned if you were looking at acquiring this particular one.
I also have to move the metal shelves around and bring out the doll rooms and dollhouse. But it is coming along! Can't wait to show you when we finish doing that.
I couldn't pass up this Goodwill find. It made me immediately think, What a perfect store starter! However, after looking it over and having a poll on Instagram, it seems more people wanted to see what kind of an upgraded closet I could come up with. So... I have all these little Mini Brands set aside to recreate a store in 1/6 scale when I find another one. I even have a Re-Ment set my husband got me on clearance recently. International section, perhaps?? But back to my closet. Let's see what we can create with this!
The original is Barbiecore to the core! I'm not a fan of Barbie colors. I prefer something a little more realistic. First steps I took were to paint the outsides with a paint+primer blend. This adheres well to the plastic and was how I did things with the Jurassic Park jeep makeover.
I taped off what would be a window. I know it is pink, but I have no choice. I want something that resembles a window or glass door. Maybe one day I will get to swap that part out. For now, it stays and won't be covered with paint.
Front and back were painted with the grey I had on hand. Don't worry about the cardboard inserts. I have a plan for changing those later.
So here is the front. That marbled design is from a card stock page meant for scrap-booking. But I think it adds a pretty outside look. This was glued to a thin cardboard piece. On the other side of that cardboard is where I put my inside paper. This was printed and gives off that calm, almost Japanese-styled look I was wanting.
In order to get this to work, I did have to pry the white shelving units out. That was no easy task, by the way! And yes, the seams make it a little less how I envisioned. But for now, I'm going to roll with it.
So this is where it is was at after adding the new background pieces. One side was painted a darker grey. I ended up having to buy more paint and could only find a different shade. Then I salvaged the mirror from the original cardboard background, but decided it needed a nice frame before I added it to the new background.
Using cut popcicle sticks, I painted them white before adding a green glow-in-the-dark paint. Then I framed the mirror. After digging into my bits and bobs drawers, I found some wooden pieces that were included as spares to a Steampunk clock I had received a while back. After arranging, painting and gluing in, I think they add to the Japanese style. What do you think? As an added bonus, I like having it glow in the dark. Kinda like a portal.
I made the hair dryer from a broken headphone piece and some craft foam. Then I used a broken off piece from jewelry to make a hanging hook for it. Now Barbie can do her hair at the counter. But enough reading! Let me show you, in my video, the rest of what I did. Well, there you have it! Barbie has a new dream closet that actually works well for storing things. What do you think? Is there something else you'd have added? Leave me a comment below and let me know! Another project is on the way.
I have been working on my 1/6 scale world on and off, as time and materials are available. This Christmas, I received so many things towards it that I was a little overwhelmed. And, halfway through January, I'm still sorting through those gifts! But one thing in particular has finally been integrated into its new place. Suzette has a game room, that now has an arcade game console! We have made new friends here in our lovely town. One of those is Kaleb at Portals 3D. He does amazing 3D prints with his Bambu machines. With my printer out of commission, we talked to him about things he made for RetroFunk. Like a bunch of mini arcades. And this beauty is what he created for me!
Check out the DigDug arcade console he printed. He even added the art decals and battery operated lights. It is amazing!
It wasn't quite tall enough, so for now it is on a raised platform made of a box. Eventually, I will change that. Can't help it that Suzette is taller than most!
Kaleb really puts in effort to make every one of his 3D printed gems to perfection. He has incredible attention for details.
When I said, "Surprise me" I never thought he would go this far to do so! But I'm so happy he did.
It suits the game room theme I have been building. And I'm thinking I might ask him for help on printing the consoles I'm missing... But I'll show you that part later. For now, I want to give him a huge shout out! Much thanks to him for this addition. I also want all of you to know you can reach out to him and check out his Facebook page to see some of his other creations. Like these...
And like this one. I had also bought this clock for my husband for Christmas.
What are you thoughts? What is your favorite thing he made? Leave me a comment below! And don't forget to visit his Facebook page.
Comic Con was coming! Winter Edition, that is. Which meant my daughter came up with the perfect costume idea. She wanted to be an Ice Princess this time. So follow along as I take the first step with an old tank top of mine to create the perfect Ice Princess cosplay!
This tank top of mine was one that I only wore at home. It was a little on the big side, even for me. So I had to trim it down about 4 inches on either side.
My mother had sent this homemade cape she found a couple years back. We decided to use it as a removable skirt piece that gave her a bit of a train.
Then, she needed something to make her more regal. In comes another piece my mother had sent a while back.
This was a curtain! But now, it is getting new life as flowing sleeves and cape. Reminds me a little of Elsa from the Frozen movies. But don't say that to my daughter, she doesn't want to be anything like Elsa. That is just way too old for her! So I started sewing the edge to the tank top shoulder edges.
This allowed it to drape behind her back. To make it sit better, I sewed lines, gathering it together along her back.
We had get a long sleeve shirt for her to wear under the dress. This allowed her to be better covered as the tank top kept falling too low. It also kept her from being irritated. She is very much a texture girl and some materials cause irritation to her skin.
She wanted just a little bling on her dress. So I found this plastic piece that came from a broken toy crown. When you put it upside down, it looked closer to icicles. We glued that down to the dress neckline.
Her crown was one I had 3D printed a long while back when the printer was working. It is actually from glow-in-the-dark filament. She pulled it out of her costume collection to be her crowning piece! *pun totally intended*
She looked fantastic! And I was so proud of her. She is learning to cosplay with us. She is putting thought into her looks. So, let's look at the finished product!
We even brought icicle pieces for her to hold, but of course they were forgotten in moms pockets. What do you think? Leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts. What might you have added to make it better?
My husband has learned that I have quite the affection for little things. Almost anything that can be used for 1/6 scale dolls catches my attention. And even his! He has helped me find things whenever we go out. From a tiny glass bottle at the local antique shop.
To the tiny books and passport at the Hobby Lobby. These, in particular, are often going on sale!
This Christmas tree was one such gift from him. We found it at a game store and I was just over the moon! It even plugs in to light up.
But it was lacking in decorations. Which is when I decided to create some nerdy ones myself. My first one was this tiny tophat that I made into an ornament. Again, these things go on sale often at the craft store!
Then someone traded me some beads that I strung around the tree. I have been watching for things I could add and it is slowly coming together.
At the antique shop, they had these bags of mini decor, as they called them, that were half off. There were even books and music score pages elegantly made.
My daughter got one of the bags that had little porcelain dishes. One of them was from France, 3 pieces from Germany. One of mine was from Mexico! It was as though our dolls had taken trips.
This is how I come up with scenes like this one! I decided to build a nerdy kids playroom.
I added Squishmallows as stuffed toys. The books you see 'floating' are in clear razor covers that are now as shelves. The rug was made from a furry vest.
I was inspired to make this toybox/bench because of the Rainbow High fashion pack box. I used that as a drawer. Made the pillow cushion. And the back board is covered in paper and decorated with the tops of cupcake toppers from a super hero theme.
The Star Wars pictures came from a calendar we had. Also from packaging. I wanted it to look like posters covering the whole wall. That mini shelf came from the Mini Brands Books capsule. I'll add more kid books to it from my collection later. The Minecraft sword was one I 3D printed.
I had these little dinosaurs my daughter didn't want. A unicorn 'doll' toy and a Doorable princess as a doll too. I just need to add the baby themed items. You can sorta see the Mini Brands Baby bouncer in the corner of the above photo. But I also have a Grogu bassinet I had 3D printed too. That way the babies aren't left out of the fun!
What are you creating?? Leave me a comment. I'd love to hear about it!
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