Netflix in the Dolls Game Room!

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? 

Teeny Tinies - Bazooka Themed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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! 

Teeny Tinies Candy Shop - How Do They Measure Up?

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? 

Dreaming of Vacations

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?  

Bratz Scorchin' Jade Doll Review

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!  

Mini Brands Capsules - Which Ones Are Worth It?

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. 

Here are some of the types you might find...

Disney Store                                        KFC                           My Mini Baby

Kawaii                                                 Home                          Ulta

Netflix                                                 Retro                          Toys

Books                                                  Foodie

Create                                                 Garden

Fashion                                              Sneakers

Or just straight up, the originals - Mini Brands!  

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. 

My First 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??  

He's There! The Phantom of the Opera!

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.

Doll Display Shelf - Fantasy Style!

Okay, I've been watching My Froggy Stuff again. This time, she had the brilliant idea to create a doll shelf to display a couple dolls by using a frame. You can check out her video HERE. So.... I decided to make one of my own.

And I have to admit, I think it came out beautifully! I see myself making another one. Though I would tweak it some more. Like make the railing taller, for instance. And give it a different theme. You get the point though. So let us take a walk through the steps, then watch a video where I show you my design elements!

Decide a theme

I chose something medieval. Fantasy style. Because why not?

I had thought about a Fallout version, with a vault door, but I was having trouble coming up with the right design. Maybe next time.

I think this weird frame got a great new life. What about you? I'll stop talking and show you now. Enjoy!

A 1/6 Scale Store to Make Life Size Ones Jealous!

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!

Giving the Barbie Closet Some Upgraded Looks!

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.