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A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam

A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam published on No Comments on A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam

The mini pulps I made today and yesterday are racier than earlier sets. See details as Alison and her extended Dork Fam gather in the Spymaster’s lab for some reading time. The first set took pictures from late 19th and early 20th century ads for circuses, plays, magicians, and Navy recruitment. The next three, all featuring Terra Nova and her spacesuits of dubious functionality, combine renders that I made in Daz Studio on the fronts and 20th century vibrator ads on the backs. Continue reading A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam

Recent doll doings II: The papercraft steampunk laptop

Recent doll doings II: The papercraft steampunk laptop published on No Comments on Recent doll doings II: The papercraft steampunk laptop

Inspired by my recent forays into papercraft, I made a steampunk laptop printable of my own, combining images that I rendered [primarily the keyboard] and images from Pixabay, where people can download royalty-free images. I did a test run of the laptop this afternoon.

Miraculously, the laptop possesses correct measurements so that it fits together without any problems. However, it’s about 20 to 25% too big. I need to print it at about 75 or 80% for more of a laptop size. Also I supplied the keyhole, leather handles, hinges, side gauges, and side buttons as separate things to glue on to add some dimensionality to the piece. Only the handles and hinges should be glued on; the other stuff doesn’t need to be.

Anyway, pictures below show the Spymaster modeling and using the clunky device.

Continue reading Recent doll doings II: The papercraft steampunk laptop

Anatomy of a pile of junk

Anatomy of a pile of junk published on No Comments on Anatomy of a pile of junk

Conflict occurs when the chaotically organized Spymaster encounters Alison, an insatiably curious person who pokes at everything.

Alison: “Oooooh, what’s that?”

The Spymaster: “Don’t touch! I have everything organized. Besides, do you know how long it took me to balance all of that?”

Continue reading Anatomy of a pile of junk

How to entertain a bunch of nerds: snacks and pulps

How to entertain a bunch of nerds: snacks and pulps published on No Comments on How to entertain a bunch of nerds: snacks and pulps

More shots of my recently created pulps and Rocket Fuel Foods in action, courtesy of Alison and her extended Dork Fam. Continue reading How to entertain a bunch of nerds: snacks and pulps

A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress

A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress published on No Comments on A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress

This weekend I also worked on a new Fiendish Device and the Spymaster’s vintage/steampunk computing center. Continue reading A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress

Papercraft pulp magazines, books, food packaging, and apothecary cases

Papercraft pulp magazines, books, food packaging, and apothecary cases published on No Comments on Papercraft pulp magazines, books, food packaging, and apothecary cases

I have been papercrafting a lot recently. This past weekend I folded, cut, scored, and glued a lot of paper. Results below. Continue reading Papercraft pulp magazines, books, food packaging, and apothecary cases

I built some shelves over one of my counters.

I built some shelves over one of my counters. published on No Comments on I built some shelves over one of my counters.

I used a cardboard box, art papers [for lining box], electrical tape [for covering raw edges of box], balsa wood [for shelves], hot glue [to secure shelves], and picture nails [to secure shelves to counter] to make some shelves for the back of one of my counter units. Look! More storage/display space! Continue reading I built some shelves over one of my counters.

Early forays into making 1:6 scale food: 11/25/2003

Early forays into making 1:6 scale food: 11/25/2003 published on No Comments on Early forays into making 1:6 scale food: 11/25/2003

From the depths of Andrea’s archive of photos I sent to her in MSN chat eons ago come these shots of my early attempts at making 1:6 scale food. As you can see, even back then I tended to make my stuff on the large side of 1:6 scale.Continue reading Early forays into making 1:6 scale food: 11/25/2003

1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store

1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store published on No Comments on 1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store

I’ve always wanted a small-scale grocery store. However, the sheer volume of food available that I would have to make has always daunted me. Recently I decided to use my time-honored method of using a part to suggest the whole, but with the principle applied to a grocery store. I chose a produce section to make because variety of shapes and colors would be aesthetically pleasing. Plus fruit is much easier to make than endless permutations of, say, cereal boxes. Results below. Continue reading 1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store

Shalka Dorks showing off a broom

Shalka Dorks showing off a broom published on No Comments on Shalka Dorks showing off a broom

I made a broom. The handle is a wooden chopstick painted red and sealed with Mod Podge. Bristles are made of string, of which I cut many individual lengths, attached with micro rubber bands and Mod Podge, then trimmed to be even. I glued some stiff folded manila folder at the core of the bristles to make them stand up. Then I wrapped some more string near the head and near the base of the broom and unleashed my creation into the wild. Pointless photostory resulted. Note: Scintilla, who’s all in blue, is the humanoid robot form of the Master’s TARDIS.

 

Continue reading Shalka Dorks showing off a broom

Shalka Dorks read more pulp fiction

Shalka Dorks read more pulp fiction published on No Comments on Shalka Dorks read more pulp fiction

Making mini vintage sci-fi pulps is too much fun, so I made another four. Here are the Shalka Dorks engrossed again.

Continue reading Shalka Dorks read more pulp fiction

Shalka Dorks read pulp fiction

Shalka Dorks read pulp fiction published on No Comments on Shalka Dorks read pulp fiction

The Internet Archive has a beautiful trove of pulp magazines ranging from the late 1800s through the 1990s, all free, all scanned in high-quality color, available for you to read or to admire the pretty pictures.

Being a sci-fi and fantasy fan, as well as a connoisseur of the Technicolor cover art of 20th century pulps of that genre, I picked out some of most iconic and amusing covers for my own use. I modified the covers to add silly titles and author names. Then I reduced covers and backs to a size at which people could still admire the covers, but at which my 1:6 scale populations could also read them.

Here are my Shalka Dorks getting meta-fictional: sci-fi characters reading Atomic Age pulps!

Continue reading Shalka Dorks read pulp fiction

On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out.

On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out. published on No Comments on On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out.

On the positive side of things, someone decided to repurpose it in his world domination schemes. Oh wait…that’s probably another negative, huh? 😛

Continue reading On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out.

It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet…

It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet… published on No Comments on It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet…

I’ve spent the last few weeks making miniature books, both openable and dummy. The openable ones have page blocks made from a notepad that I cut down with a paper cutter, gluing pages with hot glue. Some of the covers are patterned notecards, while most are made of origami paper. Dummy books are made of craft foam for page blocks, more origami paper for covers. I love making books of different sizes, thicknesses, and covers, then arranging them messily on the shelves. 😀

 

Continue reading It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet…

Another Fiendish Device or several

Another Fiendish Device or several published on No Comments on Another Fiendish Device or several

Behold my latest magnificent creation, which I have designed especially to achieve my devious plans. It may appear to be the underside of a record player turntable, but the ignorant masses clearly know nothing of such cutting-edge technology as mine. This is an audiovibratory physiomolecular transport device!

“You mean…he’s gonna send us to another planet?!”

“Planet schmanet, Janet!”

Continue reading Another Fiendish Device or several

Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices

Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices published on No Comments on Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices

Julian and Cara showing off their Fiendish Devices. The larger one I previously detailed. The smaller one is another circuit board from the same stereo, housed in an iPhone 5 box, with indicators made of findings with pins inside. Continue reading Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices

The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had

The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had published on No Comments on The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had

Back about a decade or so ago, I lived in an apartment on the third floor of a house. The landlord collected stuff. I got the innards of an old record player, as well as some vacuum tubes, from him. These, along with a circuit board from a calculator, as well as the halves of some plastic Easter eggs, some ball-headed pins, and some pipe cleaners, became a 1:6 scale Fiendish Device.

I originally thought I’d use it as a piece of equipment for my Frankenstein-like scientist Janet. However, the Device took up too much desk space to be a truly usable background element. Also it was really heavy, so I eventually ditched it before moving.

I’ve always missed the Fiendish Device. Sadly, though, the only record I have of it survives in this small photo of crappy quality in which Will, dressed up as Frank in prep for a midnight showing of RHPS, pretends it’s a sonic transducer.

I should remake it. It was the best vaguely ominous, sort of scientific-looking thing ever. Continue reading The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had

Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office

Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office published on No Comments on Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office

I’ve been focusing on digital for so long that I don’t even recall the last time I posted about doll-related creative projects! I’m shifting, though, away from an all-consuming obsession with digital to my first love, actual dolls. Right now I’m working on Zombieville stuff, but [eventually!] I’ll get to those BJDs who have languished, unfinished, for a year or more. [I’m sorry, Delmar and Fritillaria!] In the meantime, see below for details on Isabel’s wardrobe and workplace. Continue reading Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office

What’s more fun that a Christmas tree? A Halloween tree!

What’s more fun that a Christmas tree? A Halloween tree! published on No Comments on What’s more fun that a Christmas tree? A Halloween tree!

Vermont Doll Lovers  has its Halloween meetup in about a week and a half, so I’ve been collecting seasonal props appropriate for dolls of various scales. Today I took the inspiration even further and decorated one of my 11″ fake pine trees, previously serving as a piece of my forest set, to be a Halloween tree. Since a Halloween tree is exactly the sort of thing Isabel would enjoy, we may see one shortly in Zombieville. Pictures below.Continue reading What’s more fun that a Christmas tree? A Halloween tree!

Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set

Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set published on No Comments on Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set

Since Chapter 7 [and some of Chapter 8] of Zombieville centers on Isabel’s visit to Doctor Z, I decided a long time ago that I needed to make an exam room set. I started sometime last year with research. I had the opportunity to sit around in an actual exam room for about 45 minutes, waiting for a doctor, so I took the time to observe the layout and contents of the room. I sketched a diagram, which I then transferred into Photoshop. Continue reading Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set

Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge

Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge published on No Comments on Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge

At the suggestion of a Figurvore member, I added a local menu to the fridge. [I found it online and reduced it to 16.67%, then printed it out.] I also added a LOVERMONT sticker, since Vermonters really like to proclaim their attachment to their state.

Continue reading Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge

Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge!

Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge! published on No Comments on Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge!

This month’s Figurvore prop challenge was to construct something kitchen-related and to provide photos of dolls using the item. Originally I planned to make a popcorn popper, though I had no use for it, but I turned my mind instead to one of the gaps in my set collection that has long frustrated me: the lack of a 1:6 scale refrigerator. Sure, I’ve got a stove, a sink, a microwave, a coffee maker, a table and chairs, a toaster, a blender, cooking utensils, silverware, plates, bowls, a hutch, crockery, a colander, etc., etc., etc., but I wanted a fridge dammit!

Continue reading Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge!

Wig stands for Isabel

Wig stands for Isabel published on No Comments on Wig stands for Isabel

As the next ep of Zombieville will be set in Isabel’s bedroom, I needed to complete the interior decoration thereof. Isabel, because she dislikes her grey hair, shaves it short and wears a variety of meretricious wigs. In a natural extension of her interest in dolls, she has customized her wig stands by repainting them, renaming them and giving them personalities.

Continue reading Wig stands for Isabel

Anatomy of a set: The Cemetery of Her Dreams

Anatomy of a set: The Cemetery of Her Dreams published on No Comments on Anatomy of a set: The Cemetery of Her Dreams

I had a few inquiries on MWD about the cemetery set for the latest episode of Zombieville, so below I’ve collected some notes and photos that I created during its creation.

 

Peter’s gumball machine

Peter’s gumball machine published on No Comments on Peter’s gumball machine

Sure, I have a wonderful little Rement gumball machine that I could use on the counter of Peter’s resale shop, Rumpy Pumpy. However, as much as I love Rement, I love even more the satisfaction of finding a Valentine’s candy dispenser for 88 cents the day after Valentine’s and quickly repurposing it into a gumball machine that I customized by my very own self.

Continue reading Peter’s gumball machine

From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece

From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece published on No Comments on From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece

Last year I acquired a small replica of William Wetmore Story’s Angel of Grief that he originally carved for his wife’s tomb. Made by Design Toscano, your friendly neighborhood purveyors of all things mediocre, tawdry and expensive, she looked like this initially:

Continue reading From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece

Chaz’ chair coming together

Chaz’ chair coming together published on No Comments on Chaz’ chair coming together

Some weeks ago, I used one of the last warm days in November to empty a can of fluorescent pink spray paint on the base of Chaz’ electric wheelchair, a 1:24 scale ForTwo Smart Car. Today I finally connected the wheelchair’s seat — a salon chair that I acquired this summer — with the base.
Continue reading Chaz’ chair coming together

“Say hello to my little friend.”

“Say hello to my little friend.” published on No Comments on “Say hello to my little friend.”

Isabel’s glue gun is a ray gun from the Takara Cy Girl Aurora, repainted with green spray paint. I drilled a hole in the back end and inserted a polymer clay glue stick that DLSarmywife on Figurvore made for me. I wrapped a little tin foil around the nozzle for the metal and then added a blob of actual hot glue.
Continue reading “Say hello to my little friend.”

1:6 scale food I made last night

1:6 scale food I made last night published on No Comments on 1:6 scale food I made last night

Last night I took a class in making polymer clay foods with Melissa Cook, a local miniaturist. I really enjoyed myself as she taught us how to make jack-o-lanterns, apples, bananas and bread. She was teaching in 1:12 scale, but she provided enough clay for me to make fewer items, but larger ones.

Jack-o-lantern: formed, carved and baked around a core of loosely wadded tin foil.

Apples: lime green dusted with bright red pastel.

Bananas: bright yellow flattened to make four "ribs," brushed with lime green along top, bottom and ribs. Top to be colored with black Sharpie. Spots to be added with brown marker.

Bread: very pale tan with most color added via pastels: red, orange, brown, yellow, ochre. Red and dark brown look good for the toasted parts. Ochre gives the cooked parts a nice depth.

Continue reading 1:6 scale food I made last night

Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies

Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies published on No Comments on Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies

One Zombieville set that I will greatly enjoy making is Isabel’s room, including her mess where she customizes dolls. The accessories for this set will be easy to furnish since I can use many of my own supplies for Isabel’s. See:
Continue reading Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies

Isabel’s mess

Isabel’s mess published on No Comments on Isabel’s mess

Well, technically, it’s Isabel’s doll studio, but it’s a barely organized heap of several projects in progress, so it’s pretty messy. I should start making this. I’ve been amassing dolls, doll parts, shelves and tables for her for quite some time, and I think I need to just dive right in and do it. The huge list of supplies I want to stock her with looks daunting, but, as much of it is either easily made or cut down from my own supplies, I should be able to quickly generate it. 

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1557604.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Growth of the 1:6 scale forest

Growth of the 1:6 scale forest published on No Comments on Growth of the 1:6 scale forest
My forest set has been months in the making.
 
Back in November, 2012, I planned to get appropriate backdrops, including a sky, a deciduous forest in spring/summer and a deciduous forest in fall.
 

At that time, I also decided that I needed some 3D foreground trees, to be played by actual sticks.

Not until March, 2013, though, did I get around to beginning its construction. At this time, the forest was an extremely simple deciduous backdrop with a ground made of moss glued to foamcore. Trees were sticks with stands made out of nails.
 
I soon added another color of moss and brown crinkle paper to the humus on the ground. My first underbrush made of plastic greenery also appeared.

Next I made Aves Apoxie Sculpt bases, covered with moss and crinkle paper, for my trees. I added a few stands of slender trunks to the thicker ones.

The forest still looked sparse, so I added some sprays of plastic leaves to pass as young trees.

I tried putting down loose green crinkle paper for additional ground cover, but it was the wrong shade.

However, I eventually discovered the right shade of green.
 

Then I added stands of plastic ferns.

I am probably not finished with this set. I’d like to have the option of a stump or log, a conifer or two and maybe a rock.

EDIT: The pictures were not hiding behind the cut, so I removed them. >:(

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1543869.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

E-Z Cacti [TM]

E-Z Cacti [TM] published on No Comments on E-Z Cacti [TM]

Figurvore’s first custom challenge is to make a 1:6 scale plant. I toyed with the idea of making a bonsai tree with some of my various wire for a skeleton and possibly some fauxliage as leaves, but that looked like it would require hours, rather than minutes, of effort, so I scaled back. I made an E-Z Cactus, as previously mentioned in an entry in December, 2012, but with some improvements.

I made the cactus by twisting together two shades of green pipe cleaners. Then I formed the pipe cleaners into a club shape with a projection on the bottom to stick into the soil unit. To help the cactus stand upright, I rammed a slender piece of bronze wire up inside it.

To make the soil unit, I filled a 1.5" diameter terra cotta pot with Aves Apoxie Sculpt most of the way. I snipped off small shreds of brown crinkle paper and stuck them to the top of the Aves Apoxie Sculpt to look like wood chips. Then I stuck the wire on the bottom of the cactus into the soil unit. When the Aves Apoxie Sculpt dried, I used hot glue and more "wood chips" to cover the areas where the soil unit showed.
Continue reading E-Z Cacti [TM]

Pieces of new graveyard

Pieces of new graveyard published on No Comments on Pieces of new graveyard

Here is the dead version of Isabel showing off the hollow plastic gravestones I got at the end of last week. As you can see, the fronts are, like most Halloween decorations, bullshit in terms of cemetery iconography, but the backs are fine!

Continue reading Pieces of new graveyard

Proof of concept and the challenge of scratch-built 1:6 scale stuff

Proof of concept and the challenge of scratch-built 1:6 scale stuff published on No Comments on Proof of concept and the challenge of scratch-built 1:6 scale stuff

I have recently developed the useful and somewhat surprising facility for making my own serviceable 1:6 scale stuff. I go through the following process, demonstrated for example’s sake with an electric wheelchair:

  1. I want a 1:6 scale electric wheelchair.
  2. Let me search for a commercially produced one.
  3. There are no commercially produced ones, or they are too expensive.
  4. I’ll have to make one.
  5. Let’s break down the electric wheelchair into its simplest components, which I may be more likely to find in 1:6 scale.
  6. An electric wheelchair looks like an office chair on top of a lawn mower.
  7. I have procured an office chair, but I can’t find a lawn mower.
  8. I will have to use a 1:18 scale ForTwo Smart Car instead.
  9. [Construction ensues.]

The key steps, I think, are 5 and 6. I’m currently planning to scratch-build two 1:6 scale things, not necessarily because I need them, but because I want to see if I can.

The first is a tape dispenser, which is basically a block with a channel down the center and a roll of tape half-submerged in the channel. I know exactly how I want to make this; I just need to sit down and actually do it.

The second is a grandfather clock. I started coveting a functioning 1:6 scale grandfather clock on the Doll Page Show and Sell site, but $33.00 for something I don’t really neeeeeeed seemed too rich to me. Even when I got the idea that the dead version of Isabel could come and go in Isabel’s room through the door in the clock, I still couldn’t bring myself to spend north of $30.00 for one.

I’m perfectly willing to make one, however. A grandfather clock is basically a clock face on top of a locker, so, once I find the appropriate 1:6 scale locker/narrow cupboard with working door, I have the base for a modern grandfather clock!

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1521675.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Latest bookshelf

Latest bookshelf published on No Comments on Latest bookshelf

New things since last time, going L to R, top shelf to bottom: Rement mushroom container with frog, 1:6 scale Vermont bicentennial license plate [scanned from personal collection], Rement vase of flowers, Rement orange pen [below vase], Mattel watch, Rement magnetic paperclip holder, Kitchen Littles mug with Rement utensil sticking out.

Continue reading Latest bookshelf

Continuing to work on the bookcase

Continuing to work on the bookcase published on No Comments on Continuing to work on the bookcase

I’ve gone off on a bookcase tangent. I’m trying to make its contents a little more interesting than just books, but generic enough so that the bookcase can be used as a general backdrop. I added three things today:Continue reading Continuing to work on the bookcase

Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase

Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase published on 1 Comment on Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase

As I’ve mentioned before, bamboo drawer organizers make wonderful bookcases with little to no modification.

Make page blocks for dummy books by hot-gluing together "signatures" of balsa, foamcore or craft foam cut to size.

Don’t forget to vary the dimensions of the dummy books. No one’s library contains uniform volumes of all the same size.

Use scraps of paper sticking out from between "signatures" for bookmarks.

Create the impression of a diverse library by binding your dummy books in a variety of papers. Magazine pages and origami paper provide aesthetically pleasing patterns. Used cheap self-adhesive gift tags for trim, stripes and further differentiation.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to distribute colors and patterns randomly amongt the stacks. Very few people shelve according to the color spectrum. :p

For added realism, make it messy. [Tip for the lazy: Falling-over books take up more room than neatly stuffed shelves!] Have some books stick out further than others. A pile of books can act as a makeshift bookend. Try shelving some books on top of other books.

Use some sort of adhesive to keep the books on the shelves, particularly those that are falling over or leaning precariously.

See these principles in practice below.

Continue reading Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase

[Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the fifth time

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A test of the forest against the deciduous background reveals that it needs more filler.
Continue reading [Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the fifth time

[Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the third time

[Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the third time published on No Comments on [Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the third time

Okay, so technically Isabel’s not in these pictures. Let’s pretend she’s standing just out of frame. :p

Behold the understory! Yesterday I harvested some slender twigs from the nearby woods, then turned them into the understory for my forest set. I made bases for clusters of twigs using the same principles that I used when making them for my underbrush this weekend. This time, though, I did things differently.

First, I didn’t use polymer clay. I used Aves Apoxie Sculpt. It is a two-part sculpting medium that requires manual blending in 50/50 composition before use. It then has a working time of approximately two hours before it dries rock hard. When pliable, it may be tinted with acrylic paint. When dry, it may be sanded or carved.

I really like Apoxie Sculpt. I find it easy to use, with the caveat that hand-mixing just about three-fourths of a handful of it at a time is best. Otherwise I hurt my hands in an attempt to blend huge wodges at once!

Once blended, Apoxie Sculpt starts off slightly tacky, soft and very pliable, slowly stiffening and drying as time wears on. It responds readily to tools, cut it’s also easy enough to form with one’s fingers. [The instructions recommend wearing nitrile gloves and make it sound like the stuff is difficult to get off, but it’s really not. The second time I used it, I didn’t wear gloves, and I removed the sticky bits from my fingertips with soap and water.] Unlike polymer clay, it cures on its own, so no putting things in the oven, then juggling hot items as they come out.

Second, I didn’t glue the twigs into guide holes the way that I did with the underbrush. Instead I just stuck them in the Apoxie Sculpt bases and let the Apoxie Sculpt cure around them. As much as me and hot glue are BFFs, sometimes it’s nice not to have to use it.

Continue reading [Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the third time

Easy 1:6 scale pillows

Easy 1:6 scale pillows published on No Comments on Easy 1:6 scale pillows

I acquired a few gunmetal satin drawstring bags in a recent purchase of 1:6 scale doll heads. You can easily find such bags in a variety of sizes in craft supply stores or online shops in the category for weddings. I guess people often put favors [Jordan almonds BLECH!] in them.Continue reading Easy 1:6 scale pillows

Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat

Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat published on No Comments on Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat

There’s a thread on Figurvore about one’s first attempts at set pieces compared to one’s current efforts. It got me thinking about how I used to make sets.

When I first started in 1:6 scale, I built movable sets on my desktop or more permanent ones in bookshelves. I had very few backdrops and/or set pieces, so I mostly made do by repurposing commonly available items. One of my favorite examples of such reuse was the jelly bean seat.

To make the jelly bean seat, I started off using a short cylindrical container for binder clips. I brought it home from the office because it looked about the right size to serve as a table or ottoman or something.

When I got it home, I discovered that it was, in fact, the right height. However, the flexible plastic bowed under the weight of a doll, so I needed something to balance, solidify and add support.

It being in the vicinity of Easter, I hit upon the idea of filling the container with jelly beans. Hey, why not? I reasoned that they were attractively colored and also unspoilable [being made mostly of wax :p ]. I filled the container with a pleasing series of jelly beans, then glued the top on with my best friend ever, hot glue.Continue reading Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat

Bed

Bed published on No Comments on Bed

After suffering many years with a 1:6 scale bed made from a saggy, undersize cracker box covered with a piece of fabric from a pillow case, I improved my 1:6 scale bed tonight. This one is a sturdy, NON-saggy doll box, also covered with another pillow case. Isabel enjoys a book on it. I need some throw pillows that DO NOT have monkeys on them.
Continue reading Bed

Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter

Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter published on No Comments on Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter

I made some 1:6 scale spaghetti this week. At first I coveted Rement’s Fun Meals #8, Spaghetti and Meatballs, but it’s out of print and running at ridiculous prices on Ebay. I am not paying $20.00 for a plate of plastic spaghetti! I don’t even pay that much for a plate of real spaghetti.

Anyway, I decided to make my own. I mixed up some yellowish tan polymer clay and rolled it into a long thin string. The I swirled the string into a pile and cured it. After curing, I added sauce. The lumpy consistency of the acrylic paint worked in my favor, giving the appearance of tomato chunks and possibly pieces of ground beef.
Continue reading Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter

What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick?

What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick? published on No Comments on What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick?

A smallipop, of course!

I finished making a bunch of 1:6 scale lollipops last night and tonight by modifying a tutorial by Linda Chang on WonderHowTo. She uses polymer clay for both lollipop sticks and the candy parts themselves, but I used toothpicks painted white, trimmed down and sealed with matte varnish for my sticks. I also lacked any colors of polymer clay besides white, so I tinted my clay with shaved chalk pastels, which worked really well! I was able to get surprisingly vivid colors, especially in my second batch of pops [red/white/purple].

These smallipops were really fun to make because they required very little effort to create a really cool spiral/swirl effect. My favorite smallipops are the green/yellow/white swirls and the red/purple/white ball pop.

Here’s Peter and Isabel showing off my smallipops. I love taking pictures of both of them because they have so much expressiveness in their faces. Peter’s all "Oh shit!" and Isabel’s all "No shit." Continue reading What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick?

Lazy bathroom finished and lazy kitchen in progress

Lazy bathroom finished and lazy kitchen in progress published on No Comments on Lazy bathroom finished and lazy kitchen in progress

I made a bathroom today. From left to right we have a wooden box [once held gift condiments] supporting DripClips paperclip holder sink, various Rements [soap dispensers and tissues], some Barbie bottle, Japanese t.p. erasers by Itasho, unknown trash can [helpfully labeled RUBBISH BIN!] and a squirting novelty toilet with the squirt removed.
Continue reading Lazy bathroom finished and lazy kitchen in progress

Peter shows blender and lazy cacti.

Peter shows blender and lazy cacti. published on No Comments on Peter shows blender and lazy cacti.

In case you haven’t noticed, Peter has been modeling most of my recent 1:6 scale accessories and set pieces. That’s because he’s the only finished Zombieville denizen of average height that I can stand. Both of these qualifiers are important, because Béatrice is finished, but she has dwarfism, so she’s not as easy a reference as a Zombieville denizen of average height. Theophany is finished, but her personality annoys me too much to let her in pictures frequently.

Other Zombieville denizens exist, but they are not ready for modeling:

  • Anna needs her hair finished. I’m having an epic fight with it, to be detailed later.
  • Carter needs a headback, a custom body constructed [fat doll!], faceup, eyes, hair and clothes.
  • Chaz needs faceup and hair.
  • Isabel needs a custom body constructed [fat doll!], faceup, eyes, hair and clothes.
  • Novella needs faceup, eyes and hair.

Okay…anyway…here’s Peter showing off the blender that I got from stupid.com. It started off as an Xmas ornament, hence the little metal loop at the top. It’s a solid piece of painted resin, 2 inches high, which scales out to 1 foot in 1:6 scale. There are no removable parts, but it’s well sculpted. I also may be biased toward it because its design reminds me of the blender in my kitchen growing up. Continue reading Peter shows blender and lazy cacti.

Lazy bookcase finished

Lazy bookcase finished published on 1 Comment on Lazy bookcase finished

I finished shelving books on my 1:6 bookcase made from a repurposed drawer organizer. A shipment of premade dummies in two sizes arrived today from Factory Direct Crafts, so I spent from about 1:30  to 9:00 PM [with a break for an appointment, a brief trip to the grocery store and dinner] completing the project.

I’m not the sort of person who feels the need to scan actual books and print out their covers in 1:6 scale for a library appropriate to each character. However, I was dissatisfied with the plain, undifferentiated spines in the earlier iteration of the bookcase. I spent most of those hours creating unique dummies with the help of solid origami paper, patterened origami paper and gift tag stickers with vaguely Xmas- and winter-related patterns.

I also endeavored to arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing fashion, representing a variety of heights and colors, as real bookshelves do. Then I glued them into blocks of several books, but these blocks are not glued to the shelves. Instead they are kept in there by the fact that everything is wedged so tightly. I’m sure there’s a technical term for that, but it escapes me at the moment.

Anyway, behold the bookcase! Though it’s currently displaying Peter’s interest [flora], this bookcase, like pretty much in my collection of 1:6 scale set pieces, will be used wherever a full, well-used library is needed. In fact, the shelves with the flowers and lava lamp I have intentionally left open so that their contents can reflect the bookcase’s current owner: cacti for Peter [have to make some of those], 1:6 scale figures for Ellery or Isabel, zombie dolls for Theophany, mementos mori for Lucian, etc.

Continue reading Lazy bookcase finished

Lazy fleurs

Lazy fleurs published on 4 Comments on Lazy fleurs

I made some potted plants today for my 1:6ers by scrounging leftover bits of 1:1 plastic flowers from AC Moore, then gluing sprays of them into 5/8" spools. I wish I had gotten some larger spools, but I think I did well with the plants shown. These will be great for Mark, who can never have too many plants, or for Waverley, an easy way to decorate her studio apartment.   Continue reading Lazy fleurs

Work space photo and plastic food collection

Work space photo and plastic food collection published on 2 Comments on Work space photo and plastic food collection

Below are a picture of my work space and some pictures of my plastic food collection. I don’t collect dolls, but I do collect plastic food, almost all of which is either Iwako or Re-ment. People have diverse diets, so I want to reflect that in 1:6. [My vampires, though bloodthirsty, eat human food for nostalgic and sensory reasons.] I’m not looking for a plastic representative of every food ever, but 1:6 versions of foods commonly found in American restaurants and kitchens. It’s all stored in plastic trays that used to hold beads or nails. Continue reading Work space photo and plastic food collection

1:6 [playscale] vintage canned food labels for Barbies, GI Joes, Cy Girls, etc.

1:6 [playscale] vintage canned food labels for Barbies, GI Joes, Cy Girls, etc. published on No Comments on 1:6 [playscale] vintage canned food labels for Barbies, GI Joes, Cy Girls, etc.

Are your 1:6 dolls, such as Barbies, GI Joes, Cy Girls, etc., hungry? Now you can make them some 1:6 canned goods. I have taken public-domain images of vintage [1910s-1950s] canned goods and reduced them to 1:6, while still maintaining the crispness and detail of each image.

The 11 labels include lima beans, fruit salad, clams, beets, wax beans, spinach, salmon, potatoes, pineapple, peas and pears.

To use these labels, take a link to the PDF or the Word 2003 doc. Cut out each label and wrap it around a cylindrical shape, such as a dowel, a glue stick or a bit of tubing. Labels can be affixed to cans with glue or tape.

Here is the PDF of the labels. Here is the Word 2003 doc of the labels.

Lazy furniture: stool, end table, vanity

Lazy furniture: stool, end table, vanity published on 1 Comment on Lazy furniture: stool, end table, vanity

See photos of some of my lazy 1:6 furniture below, including a list of materials of those things I made myself. Tonight we’re looking at Will’s vanity, a generic end table and a stool from the Nightcrawler. Continue reading Lazy furniture: stool, end table, vanity

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