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Tips from the Fashion Royalty Convention - by DeeinNJ
(October 2005)Hi, Divas!
I just got back from the Jason Wu Event the other day, so, as you can imagine, I’m busy unpacking and doing laundry and getting back in the groove... not to mention finding a place for all of the goodies I brought back.
Since I’m pressed for time, I thought I’d just recap a few “diorama” topics that arose at the FR convention.
I’m sure by now many of you have seen the fabulous “retro loft” display that Integrity Toys had in the hospitality hub. If not, I’ve posted some pics here. It was very much in keeping with the retro cocktail theme and was made mostly of foam core board that was cut and fastened together.
Notice the realism with the soot in the fireplace. Also, the cool chandaliers and floor lamp, as well as the backlit niche int he fireplace actually lit up. I think if you studied these photos, you could make these lamps yourself with some paper and some small silver brads used for scrapbooking. Just an idea!
My Favorite Doll gave convention goers a mini tri-fold version of the loft as a backdrop to put behind a doll. But, being a diorama junkie, I felt I needed it to be bigger! I think I am going to scan the center panel with the fireplace and the portions of the window scene not obscured by the furnishings, then enlarge them on my computer to make my own version that is a bit larger. However, I am thrilled with this little giveaway and am delighted to have it. I’ll let you know once I undertake this task and be sure to post pics.
Also at convention, last year’s diorama competition winner Jakki Peters gave a workshop about dioramas. Here are some of the things she discussed:
• Use foam core to make walls. Fasten the walls together with brads used for fastening reports together (found at office supply stores), then you can transport your structure and reassemble it somewhere else or knock it down for storage and still be able to reassemble it later.
• Repaint playline furniture and add woodgrain textures to table tops and drawer fronts with contact paper. Marble print contact paper works for fireplace fronts and mantels, tabletops, etc.
• Use rub-on decals from the craft store to add small borders, trims and patterns to repainted furniture for a bit more detail and ornamentation.
• She also suggested using wooden scrollwork pieces found at craft and home improvement stores above mini doorways or as headboards for a bed. They are instantly elegant and cost next to nothing.
• She suggested scanning images of real books, magazines, posters, menues, etc. and reducing the size on your computer, then printing them out to make mini versions of almost anything you can think of.
• Don’t just repaint playline furniture... upholster it. With scraps of fabric, faux suede and leather and some spray adhesive, you can cover playline seats, couches, chairs, etc. for even more realism. She suggested using the thinnest size of batting under your seats and trimming just shy of the edge if you wanted to actually cushion your seating. Her examples were amazing and she picked up some absolutely gorgeous fabric remnants cheaply since she didn’t need much.
• She recommended using wallpaper pattern books as sources for wallpaper for mini dioramas. Some patterns actually work scale wise... or scan it and print your own.
• Use cheap strips of wood trim and paint or stain to make chair rails or baseboards to add realism. Also, cut out photos from magazines and catalogs and frame them with the same little wood to make mini framed art.
• She reminded us that dollhouse scale furniture can work. A small chest with doors made for a doll house served perfectly as a base for a mini fishtank Jakki found and a diningroom table made for dollhouses works perfectly as a cocktail table in play doll size. Keep your eyes open and always look for ways you might be able to use something!
Jakki had so many tips, it was hard to remember them all, and although some are basic, I think it’s nice to have them all listed in one place.
I hope these tips were useful! If you have ideas to share, we’d love to hear about them. Just post them or e-mail me!