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Good Morning Everyone!!

Posted by Ann Ole Fashion Christmas on December 20, 2005, 10:07 am
152.163.100.201

Let me start first today by saying thank you to Doll Diva’s and Dee for asking me to share my diorama details with you. I’m not much of a writer but I will do my best to describe and give you all the info you need to create your own lovely space for your dollies to live!! These are some of my Lofts and Rooms I’ve made in the past few months. Let’s get started!! These are the supplies and tools that I use to build my rooms: Foam Board: This is available in many colors at Walmart and Craft stores and has been the answer for me in creating rooms. Exacto Knife Hot glue gun Long straight pins Contact paper of all kinds Wood strips if you want trim Ruler Tape measure Elmers glue or glue of your choice Duct tape Scissors Leafing pens The foam board sheets are large 2-1/2 ft by 1-1/2 ft. If you want to just make a single room one piece can be your back wall and if you don’t have a shelve and need a floor another piece is your floor. Then you just measure and cut your sides. Get yourself 4 or 5 sheets when you get ready to do this in case of mistakes which we all make in the beginning. Save any extra that you have because you will end up using it later for other things to go in your room. I salvage everything I can to make furniture or whatever later. I fasten the side together with the pins and that way if this is temporary and you need to take it apart and store it you can. If your going to go large like I did you have to splice the back piece with duct tape. I had an old shelving unit that became a permanent doll house for me so I’ve taped over my sides and pins with tape because I’m not going to be moving it or taking it apart. Pins and duct tape hold the walls: This is a room with a floor:

This is how to make a fireplace and the finale!!

I want to show you how to make a fireplace today because it will add so much drama and life to your room and you can decorate and have a nice place for photo’s. this is where any scrapes of the foam board are handy. You can do this simpler than this but I’m going to do one with a firebox so you can make it more realistic. You can get as elaborate as you want to with yours once you get the basic structure done. I go to the dollar stores and other inexpensive places and buy contact paper of all kinds. I’m just going to do the one today in the foam board so you can get a general idea. Just decide how large you want it and cut your pieces. I’m just pinning this together to let you see but I usually hot glue the firebox. Everything you see today is just pinned for an example. Here it is pinned together with the skyline pics next to it before they are spliced. This is after they are cut and glued together This is the point where you can decide if you want a frame and if so heres where you use your wood strips You can add a mantle or a ledge around the bottom for cushions just create what you want for your girls.

Next is the fun part - decorating your room is the fun part!! Once you get your room and fireplace like you want them you can have a great time decorating. Your printer can be your best friend if you have one. Look for prints you like and cut them out of magazines or download some. Always look for cheap little frames for your pictures to make them look realistic and never throw away any little accessory that can be made beautiful with a leafing pen which you can find in the scrap booking department. All the little plastic pink candle holders can be made to look like brass or silver and vases. Also save your doll boxes and use your imagination to create things. I’ve made bookcases, tables, desk - the possibilities are endless. Examples from FR furniture boxes: Add some holiday decorations and change the whole look of a room:   I hope I’ve inspired some of you to try your luck at a room or a loft. I want to thank Doll Divas and especially Dee for inviting me to share with all of you. I’ve enjoyed sharing my much loved doll hobby with you all.