What happens when your daughters no longer want a blue haired Rainbow High doll? For me, I see Ice Queen in the making!
It started with a box actually. A shoebox. And an Elsa doll who needed her ice castle. So I started renovating it. But then Elsa changed her mind and moved into the mansion with the rest of the dolls. Yes, my daughter is quick to change her mind. So things get redesigned pretty often. It seemed like such a waste to just toss the box though. So I gave it some more love and way more details!
Next came the doll. My girls weren't as excited about Rainbow High as they were about the made-to-move Barbie or Monster High dolls. Big heads or something like that. I love their jointed bodies and soft, vibrant hair though. I have a couple set aside for future projects. This one just screamed for a bit of a makeover in a cold way.
I had thought about repainting her face, but then decided against it. I'm not as proficient with that type of project and she was just too pretty to do that with. So I swapped out her outfit. I trimmed her hair. 3D printed a crown that is jeweled with beads. And gave her some handmade bling.
The box windows are from My Froggy Stuff printables. I printed out a marble pattern for the floor and part of the walls. Tried to make it look like her castle leads to the sparkling snow-covered world outside. Used an empty perfume bottle with fake plant pieces to give her frozen world some greenery.
The chandelier actually glows in the dark too, thanks to glow-in-the-dark filament from a printed piece.
Let's look at the new Teeny Tinies Gamer Essentials set. Do they fit well with Barbie? We will find out. I made a video showing how they look with the dolls. Enjoy!
I think all but one item was perfect. I love the variety and how they can be used in various scenes. What is your favorite thing from this set? Would you get one?
My mom sent me 2 of these Mini Brands Create capsules. Let's see what we are making and how it might be used in the doll world!
This first one turned out to be a lovely Strawberry Cake.
I was able to put it together easily and the smell from the resin wasn't nearly as overwhelming as the one I had gotten in the Chocolate Cherry Cake one.
However, this one did not come with a UV light, so I'm not sure if that is a random thing? Also, there were defects on the cake stand.
I thought it was beautiful though and loved adding it to my Leia's Sweet Buns shop. What do you think? It adds more elegance to the confection array I have going on in here.
In capsule number 2 we have...
The tropical fruit parfait! I decided to modify this build according to how I would want to make a parfait. So I did not use the chocolate sprinkles pieces. Sadly, the cake pieces aren't as visible as I would have wanted them to be. But I think I might try to make another version with air dry clay. I plan to make more fruit pieces and cake pieces to fill the containers so that I can put them into the store I built.
Sometimes you just want a moment to make something fun. In miniature. Or maybe that is just me. It brings me joy and helps me when I'm stressed out. Then they are fun for photos with the dolls! I tried some of the Make it Mini Lifestyle capsules for the first time. The first one... well, it didn't go according to the instructions. But it did turn out rather cute. And my daughter loved it!
I took a video of this first one to show the process of making the little calico cat teapot. Instead of an hour or less... we had about 3 days for the whole thing? But it was different!
Now, let's check out the second capsule, shall we? I showed it partially in the end of the video, but this teapot came out quite beautifully and will look lovely with the doll tea party scenes.
It fits really well with the doll too! I love it. The little silver tray adds to the elegance of it all as well.
My husband recently took a day off from work to take me somewhere I really love going. It is the Texas Sized Garage Sale. I saved up to go shop. And had so much fun! I found some cool things that could be used by my daughters, myself or even a friend in Canada.
The Texas Size Garage Sale benefits Meals on Wheels in our town. This is a program that I can get behind, especially after seeing how it has helped elderly loved ones in my life. They host the sale once a year. Volunteers come to set everything up, sort out and price everything. And in case a price is lost, there are plenty of people set around the warehouse that can help you with that. Things here are really priced to sell. I can appreciate this as there are plenty of other stores that price things to try to make loads of money, but merchandise doesn't move... So come with me to see what I got!
Why was this such a big deal for me? First off, it was a time that my husband took me somewhere I really wanted to go. He took a day off from work so we could just go and have fun. Yes, even he has fun looking at stuff sold here. We even ran into a friend of ours that we hadn't seen in a while. It was nice to catch up. My husband calls outings like this one my sanity savers. After spending almost 24/7 with the kids, there are times when just being out with him means the world to me. And no, I don't mean just getting groceries. Though that is the only constant outing we get as a couple... This type is what I really looked forward to!
First I had to clean up the desk a bit. There was quite the mess, you see. That happens when you are working on multiple projects at one time. So. Many. Projects. But I have been trying to whittle away at them and get to a better balance in the crafting world. Why am I telling you all this? Oh, right! Because I needed the space to do another unboxing, of course. This time, we are taking a look at the Teeny Tinies Tea Party. So let's dive in!
Teeny Tinies Tea Party Set
There are so many cute pieces. I love all the fantastic details. One day, I plan to set up a proper room. Thinking maybe in Regency style. Then I can take photos of the regal tea act that I enacted out during my childhood, and even with my daughters.
My mom sent me some Netflix themed Mini Brands capsules. When I first heard of them, I thought they wouldn't be worth my time or money. But I'm seeing some pretty cool things (even if I have never seen the shows) that fit into the 1/6 scale world. Even better is that these additions I have been getting from them are great in a gamer room, or even for those that incorporate pop culture references into their builds. So let's check out the ones I have received, shall we?
Let's start by going over the recent revisions that I did in the doll room. That is where I opened the first capsule I was sent.
And now we open 2 more to see what we can add! I like that some even make accessories for my mini me too.
These capsules add fun details to the scenes I build. I think if I am able, I'd love to keep trying for Emily in Paris and Bridgerton items. What are your favorites?
Well, I have showed you the Smarties and Dum Dums versions of Teeny Tinies Candy Shop. Now, let's see how well the Bazooka variety fits with our 1/6 scale world, shall we? You can check your local Five Below to see if they still sell these near you. I think they have been sold out in ours to make room for new products.
Still not a huge fan of the shelf, but one of my followers had given me advice on making the backing stay in place. So I think I will give it a try and move things around soon. She also had a great idea for making a stand for the lollipops.
A little bit of foam makes a great way to display the tiny lollipops! Thanks to my reader/watcher Robin for the idea. This will be on display in the shop with the others. In the meantime, I will happily have Grandma carry around some candy!
You know that I have been working on a lot of doll projects lately. Dolls, crafting, and reviews - oh, my! Well, here is another one. My Mom sent me quite the care package recently. I'm still getting through each part, so keep up with the posts as they come out.
This one is focusing on the Teeny Tinies Candy Shop sets that you might still be able to find at your local Five Below. I created a video for you, to show you the intricate little pieces. They work pretty well in the 1/6th scale world.
While I have the grocery store, I can also fit these into my food court build and keep tiny candies in Grandma's bag for the little ones. So many uses!
So without any more blabbing, let me show you. Then, I hope you will let me know what you think. What would you use for them?
I really hope we get to take a vacation next year. To get away and see some sights. We had talked about doing weekend trips around Texas, but that has not been happening. So instead, I dream on! Part of that includes making doll-sized travel accessories. And this time, it is the luggage set.
I had picked up 2 of these tiny rolling luggage cases that were actually Barbie activity sets. They were on clearance and looked like the perfect thing to doll up (get it, doll up?) for those future trips we may try to take.
I highly suggest using the spray paint + primer to make it easier to paint the plastic. From there, decorating it is however you might want it to be. They do roll and they can be too tall. However, just don't raise the handle up all the way. I decided to go with rub-on transfers. You can see that in this video I made. What are your thoughts?
Thanks to MGA Entertainment, we get to take a look at the Bratz Scorchin' doll, Jade edition!
This line of dolls was set to fully be released by the end of July. However, from what I was seeing, they might not be all out there yet. There are 4 dolls in the collection. My initial thought at seeing them was how they look like a biker chick gang. I love that!
Jade comes with the standard articulation and slightly bendable knees. True to the Bratz way, the boots come off, leaving behind a ball nub that click locks into place.
The clothing is incredibly detailed, and is removable. While Bratz weren't high on my dolls list, these are definitely pretty cool! I think the only downside for me is that they are not more articulated.
Where you can get them:
Walmart may still be in the process of adding them. There were no photos when I looked them up. But Jade is HERE. However, it also looks like their stock was extremely low in my area.
Amazon - had listings for 3 of them, but not currently in stock.
Target had the initial release. I'm pretty sure they have a deal with MGA to get all the toys earlier than other retailers. They also had them cheaper than what I saw on Walmart.
I decided to do my review on video for you guys. Feel free to let me know what you think about these dolls!
Zuru Mini Brands has taken the miniature world by storm. They have so many to choose from - one for every type of collector, it seems. Some are better than others, I think. Let's take a look at the variety, shall we.
I got into Mini Brands through my search for doll-sized items. I was making things for my daughters to play with their Barbie dolls. And a good amount of the Mini Brands items seemed to be the perfect size. If they were too large for the 1/6 scale world, they could often fit the 18" dolls instead, which we also had at the time.
But then they were something we couldn't really afford to get. I would wait to get them on clearance or get them as gifts. There was a time when I was wish-listing them so hard! Especially when I would watch vloggers like My Froggy Stuff or Delightful Dolls. Talk about dangerous channels...
Now, however, I am much pickier when it comes to getting them. I love the Retro collection. Mostly because they are things I grew up with that I have to explain to my kids. The Disney Store ones fit well for 1/6 scale in my toy section of the doll store I made.
So, let's rank them for doll enthusiasts!
If you want a straight-up doll-sized selection in every bag - Books are the series. They all fit in the doll scene as far as I have seen so far.
The Fashion collections of the first series were just a single purse and some accessories. The handbags were made for the dolls as far as I am concerned! Even the accessories were perfect. However, the newer series included shoes that don't really fit. For the price point and some of the 'purse' options, I don't see it worth bothering with. But that is just me.
But what about usefulness?
As a doll collector who enjoys photographing them and sharing things with my girls, I want things that are more realistic and useful to the doll scene. I also want something worth the price. So the more things inside that fit, the better.
Mini Brands is such a mixed bag of sizing, but the items are more likely a good enough fit. These are a bunch that I loaded into a shopping cart.
Disney Store toys are also usually a great fit. They have a pretty large variety in these as well. I would love to get more of these for the VHS movies they have too. Like the Beauty & the Beast one... that was my favorite movie as a kid!
The Toys capsule are also on par like the Disney Store capsules. I have found the majority to work just fine and look great in doll photos.
The Netflix ones are so narrow in their offerings, but from what I have found my have a 50% chance of being doll-sized.
The Create cake I have done was perfectly sized. The price is a no for me, though. And so is the overwhelming smell from the chemical elements that are included. This something I would have to put together outside and only bring in once 100% set.
KFC and Foodie are usually pretty good as far as sizing. I hate that the Pizza Hut ones seem to be in the capsules more than anything. At least for me. You have to a real fan to want these collections. But they make for some fun photos too.
Retro is a collection that is more fun for those of us in the age range that grew up with the items included. Like a VHS you could record on or a Floppy Disk! I wrote stories on those things. However, the sizing can be off for 1/6 scale sometimes. Like the film capsule, for instance. Or the Campbells soup cans that look more economy-sized than Barbie-sized.
My final input is for the Mini Baby ones. The babies themselves are totally the right size. I love the little flexible, rubber babies! But their accessories are more for Chelsea's playroom than for Barbie to use. The bouncer seat was the best one for me. And I have seen that the newer ones are so much more detailed. But is paying $12 for a rubber baby worth it? Not sure it is for me...
Now we have a couple other options, but these are ones I actively avoided buying. I watched capsule openings and comparisons to dolls. What I came to realize is, these are mostly for show in the background of a doll scene, instead of useful.
Kawaii is cute (literally), but mostly huge in the hands of a doll.
Home items are insanely detailed! But they are also incredibly too small. These are better for maybe a 1/12 scale world.
Garden looked good for the scale, but you have to be a plant person. I'm not big on plants. I can also make my own with scraps from my crafting bin. Maybe not as pretty, but saves money for the collections I prefer anyhow.
Sneakers are way too big. They are just a pair of shoes with maybe a hat and a sticker? I think some can fit Ken dolls, but I don't think it worth my time. Too much risk in things that won't fit my scenes.
And lastly, Ulta collection. This one has a lot that fits the 1/6 scale. Maybe about half of them? But this is more for the fashionable dolls out there. My doll is a nerd. So make up products don't come into play as much with my photos.
Now to finish up with a video of my latest unboxing and testing of products! Let me know what your favorite collection is. And why! See ya next time.
Get your head outta the gutter! Nope, not that first time. I'm talking about the first time I went to a Daiso store!
I have heard and seen so much about them. About the amazing products they have. A teaser for what visiting Japan might be like. Going to Japan has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager. The culture, the scenery, the gadgets - I want to see and experience all of it. But for now... that is a dream in the clouds. So instead, I love going to shops here that sell Japanese items. Most are just your typical Asian Markets. You ever been to those? They have a variety of things from various Asian countries. But Daiso is different. They are a Japanese Home Goods store. Far more specialized.
The first time I heard about them was through a doll vlogger who found items that were Barbie-sized. After that, I just knew I wanted to go to one! Of course, after moving from Waco, they opened one there. Now, I'm waiting for them to come to my town. But we did find many in the Dallas area. So as I planned out our trip to Dallas, I told my husband and kids that I thought we should totally stop in...
The one we went to was in the mall in Dallas. It was so clean! Seriously, wasn't expecting that. The people working there were friendly. Most of the products were from Japan. They were also priced in the Japanese Yen with signs everywhere showing the conversion to USD for those of us who don't think in Japanese. Anything that did not have a price printed on the product or a sticker/sign saying otherwise, was to be $2.25. A few items we found were less than that, especially down the cosmetics aisle.
I was eager to find a few things. I wanted to see if they had any cool play food and kitchen items for my niece and nephew. I did find one thing of that to send them.
I did not see any miniatures for my Barbie dioramas. Guess that was too long back.
But I did find these decals that were actually textured! I grabbed one to use as flooring in a future diorama. My daughter liked the cosmetic products. We grabbed one for my little sister.
The snacks and drinks were the most popular among my kids, though the youngest also insisted on getting a stuffed animal - dinosaur, of course.
My oldest daughter found this drink that she absolutely loves. We will have to see if we can find them at the local Asian market stores in our town.
When we were checking out, the lady told me the prices out loud as she scanned them for me. This could be helpful for anyone who might not realize the correct price.
I can't wait until one is closer to us! Though my husband did say that if one came near us, he would limit us to only 1 trip every two weeks... That is how much fun we had in there! Let me know if you have a Daiso near you. If so, what is your favorite thing about going there??
Okay guys, I am a HUGE Phantom of the Opera fan. I've read the book. I even read the fan fiction short story of an alternate ending (definitely a better one than the original). I've seen multiple movie versions (including a truly gruesome horror flick...) AND my dad once took my mom and I see to see a theater version. I even cosplayed as a Lady Phantom once. Planning on doing it again! I also did a Steampunk Lady Phantom. But you know what I'm even more proud of?
My mom and I created the OOAK (One Of A Kind) doll versions way back when. While the Christine doll disappeared, I do have the lacy dressing gown outfit that my mom made for me. I love these so much. Which is why, when I was moving my dolls to my crafting shed, I decided to make a dedicated space just for them.
I had imagined shelf box that would be absolutely perfect. I wanted to have the Phantom reaching through the mirror to draw Christine towards him. So buckle up and let's dive into my latest craft!
First off, we needed a frame. I found my large frame at the local thrift store. It has a great hardware piece on the back to make hanging it easy and sturdy.
Next thing I had to do was get more foam board. I grabbed mine at Dollar Tree. $1.25 gives me plenty to work with on this project.
I measured and wrote out some notes for what I wanted to do in this project. Then I started cutting the foam board to create the scene. I will say that foam board and I are not very good friends. I have a difficult time making this work and it never cuts smooth. If you know any tricks, leave them in the comments below so I can try to get better!
Gluing comes next. I started with the hidden room walls, floor and ceiling. As I mention in my video, it did not come out smooth, so I covered the dressing room facing pieces in a Fleur-de-lis wallpaper pattern. It was the closest pattern I could find that I liked. Her dressing room was pink. Most rooms back them were also gilded. But I'm not usually big on things like that, so we are taking some creative liberty here and making it a.... calmer toned room. I don't have to worry much about the hidden room pieces. However, I at least wanted to cover the sides with paper so that you can't see the raw edges.
You can follow my progress a little quicker in these videos I put together. Easier than reading the steps. However, I'm not the best for videos and I also don't have a dedicated space yet. So be warned! What do you think? Did I pull off the right look? Let me know in the comments below! I have another project coming soon. And this time I will try to do better with the videos.
