The Greenleaf Miniature Comunity
IN THIS ISSUE
  • Building on a Budget
  • Creating Mossy Effects
  • 'Building on a Budget' Challenge Game
  • May Member of the Month - Meet Gina!
  • Havana Holly's Quick Tips!
  • The Critter Corner!

  • QUICK PICKS
  • Product Pick of the Month - Miniature Workshop
  • Featured House - Linda's Madison
  • Official Gazette Archive



  • GREENLEAF FORUM HOT TOPICS

  • Eye Candy of the Month - Building a Fairfield
  • Featured Blog - Glencroft Blog
  • Extra treat - Doug's Greenleaf Village

  • The Dollhouse Universe
    The Greenleaf Miniature Community
    The Greenleaf Company Store
    Welcome to the Greenleaf Gazette!
    Making Minis on a Budget!
    May 2008

    Dear Miniature Enthusiast,

    This month, we're taking a look at how to make the most of your miniature budget while still having enough leftover for other things like gas and food. Holly shares some of her best ideas for making your own miniatures, and we've got a fun challenge game guaranteed to get your creativity in high gear. Tracy Topps shares a quick and easy way to add realism and greenery to your miniature home that only requires two materials!

    The report from the main office is that the judges for the 2008 Spring Fling contest are threatening to go on strike. They claim that picking only three winners out of the 73 entries is cruel and unusual punishment! There truly are a ton of fantastic projects, but don't take my word, have a look for yourself at the Spring Fling Sneak Peak Gallery!

    Deb Roberts
    Editor in Chief


    Budget Dollhouse Building on a Budget
    By Holly Parker

    Many of you who live close to the belt have by now discovered that this hobby can get a tad pricey. Heck, it's downright expensive! I have my standard answer for this problem: DO IT YOURSELF!!! What? You say you checked the price of plywood at Lowes and those little pieces of basswood at the hobby shop are causing you to feel woozy? Guess what? You've built a dollhouse kit, you have resources literally at your fingertips!

    Full story...


    Dollhouse MossCreating Mossy Effects
    By Tracy Topps

    This month, Tracy Topps shows us how to add those magical touches of moss to stonework for your miniature home or vignette.

    Full story...

    Ready, set,  go!'Building on a Budget' Challenge Game
    By Deb Roberts

    Join us in a little creative fun as we challenge our readers to come up with ideas for miniatures made from ordinary items!

    Full story...

    Butterflyex - Member of the MonthMay Member of the Month - Meet Gina (Butterflyex)!
    By Heidi Cleveland

    I would like to introduce you to our May Member of the Month, Gina (Butterflyex). Gina has been a member of the Greenleaf Community since May 31, 2006. Gina is a wonderful person to chat with as well as an exceptional miniaturist.

    Read more about Gina...


    Havana Holly's Quick Tips!
    By Holly Parker

    It's the end of the month money-crunch time and you wound up owing Uncle Sugar money on your taxes, and you want to make pleated drapes? I read this DIY your own pleater on Small Stuff Digest. If you happen to have a piece of plywood or MDF approximately 6" X 10" and a pack of bamboo skewers, you can cut the skewers into 10" lengths. Glue the first skewer to one 10" edge of the base and lay another next to it; glue another one next to the second skewer and lay another one next to it, and repeat this; as the first skewers begin to dry you can remove the even skewers and use them to finish. You will want to seal this with polyurethane because when you pleat your fabrics you'll be working with them wet and letting them dry on this gadget, and after every few pleating sessions you'll want to rinse off the starch build-up.

    No plywood or MDF & you use the skewers to BBQ? No worries, mate. You cut a piece of the cardboard box your dollhouse kit came in, with the 10" side running the same direction as the corrugations (you'll notice the ripples across the 6" end). With a wet rag dampen one side until the cardboard darkens & looks & feels wet, and gently peel the layer off, leaving the rippled center layer glued to the bottom layer. Let it dry really, really well before applying polyurethane to both sides (one side at a time, letting it dry before turning it over). This version will not last as long; but as it is basically free, who cares?


    Back to work human1 The Critter Corner!
    Feline Foreman keeps human on task

    Maggie is the perfect miniature building supervisor too! She's equipped to do the job all the way down to her little hard hat. Based on the miniature work done by Maggie's human, Smallhouset, Maggie must be doing a great job! Our thanks to Smallhouset for sharing such a great picture with us.

    Our thanks to Terry for sharing such a great picture with us! Maggie will receive a $25 gift card from Petsmart for being our May Critter of the Month.

    If you'd like to submit your pet's picture for consideration for the Critter Corner, you can upload pictures in the "Good Pets acting bad!" or "Good Pets acting cute!" galleries at the Greenleaf Forum.


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