DYI Doll/ Lego House /Playroom Scene

I had the privilege of teaching some Art Camps this Summer, and I asked one of my students what they would like to make and she said a Doll House. Well, we weren't going to have time for that in the camp, so I suggested a Doll House Scene. I wanted it to be able to be folded and put away, so here is what we came up with.

Materials:

•  4 Hinges 1-2 inches tall (they come in packs of 2) you don't want the screws longer than .5"
• Paint, brushes, water, palate, etc.
• Paper and pencil to sketch designs
• Modge Podge Matte
• Drill

• Wooden Board, I used the pretty kind of wood about $13- $14, lol      2' x 4' piece

- Ask the very pleasant Lowes or Home Depot People to cut your board like this:





Step 1: Lay out your boards with the 2' wide sandwiched between 1' wide boards (all are 1.5' tall)

 Step 2: Screw 2 hinges to one of the 1.5' x 1' boards (I did use a drill), about 2" from the top and bottom
 Step 3: Place something straight under the board you have just "hinged" and the 2" middle board to make sure they will be level and then screw in the other side of the hinges.
Step 4: Add hinges to the other 1' board and other side of the 2' board with same method, make sure bottom is even across.
Step 5: Stand up and admire your wooden fold-able masterpiece and get inspired. Have your kids sketch out designs to paint on the insides and outsides of your scene.
Step 6: Paint. Let dry fully. Have fun!
Step 7: Seal with Modge Podge Matte (Unless you want the glossy look)

 Lola had the idea to paint a TV in the Playroom scene so she could paint different pictures and tape it on her Scene. Then change them out as she wanted to, very clever young lady=)

Don't forget to do a scene on the back and outsides too!

Hope ya'll have fun with this, I know we did. If you decide to venture out and make it happen, please send me a link to your picture!!! Hope you have an awesome summer! Thanks for reading.

Polymer Clay Mosaics

Polymer Clay Mosaic

This was a project we did at United Artisans Shop and Studio in downtown Fort Mill, SC during our Summer Art Camps with the 10-16 year old group. I think it would be fun to do at home or school, but it would be hard without a bunch of pasta machines=)

Necessary Tools:

• Polymer Clay - varying colors - Any
• Pasta Machine (To only be used for Polymer)
• Dull Knife
• Grout and Adhesive
• Surface to put the mosaic on
• non-food spoon
• gloves
• 2 Tiles (the size you want to make your design on) or Clean workspace and 1 Large Tile

Would be nice:

• Cookie Cutters (To only be used for Polymer or crafts)
• A pretty Frame and Backing to Seal it

To start have a clean workspace and tile, cleaned pasta machine


Make sure your hands are clean and warm up the clay in small increments and run through the pasta machine on "9". Ball up and run through again on "9".

Put your flattened sections on your workspace. Cut out squares, triangles, circles, etc...with your dull knife. If you have craft cookie cutters, those work great.

Carefully arrange the Clay cuts on your large tile, and Repeat steps for different colors. (It will be important to keep a paper towel on hand to wipe the pasta machine in between colors.)

Student keeps arranging until they are satisfied leaving about 2-3mm or 1/8" in between. Make sure they gently press the edges down so that the appearance is like flat tiles, don't press too hard to make it smash.
Note: In the design below some of her "tiles" were too close and did not fit into the final design... Make sure to leave space in between the clay pieces.

Rachel's finished design before grout=) 

 

Rachel's Finished Polymer Mosaic

Bake the Polymer Clay on the large tile in a normal oven what the directions tell you. It will vary in the type of Polymer you get. I like Sculpey premo myself. Do not over bake !!! Toxins released= bad times! Trust me!!!=) Make sure you have the right temperature too! =)

Let the hot clay sit for a half hour and cool.

Choose a surface: a pot, wood, glass- whatever the grout and adhesive will stick to=)
Get a spoon and gloves and spread across the surface.
Remove your gloves and place the Polymer Tiles( on the large tile) you have created on your surface=) Fun fun fun!

If you do this please, please please post pictures so I can see the beautiful things you have made!!!! Have a blast creating!

Also, if you have any suggestions or questions, don't hesitate to ask=) Thanks for reading!