Miniature Ramblings from Fingertip Fantasies Dollhouse Miniatures

Miniature Ramblings-1

When you purchase your first dollhouse kit (and subsequent ones!) it is a good idea to read all the instructions thoroughly before beginning.

The second important step is to sort the parts (as per the instructions) and identify each part and label them to make the whole process easier. Masking tape is a wonderful label and you can remove it easily once you no longer need it.

After this step, make sure that you have the supplies, tools, space and lighting available to be able to start the build and not have to move everything each time you need to stop.

Keep your receipts. I find it very helpful to keep a small notebook for each house I work on and keep notes on how the build goes as well as all the receipts so that I have an idea how much money the final house is worth. I also keep a log of my time spent on the project, just for my own knowledge. Years later, I look back and find all this information interesting and sometimes, invaluable.

Miniature Ramblings-2

Sanding – A really boring, menial, time consuming, Absolutely Necessary task!!

My advice to you is to be patient when sanding. Don’t rush it or “cut corners”. The end results will be worth it, trust me.

Always sand in the direction of the grain (the lines in the wood – if there are any). Don’t push too hard, let the sandpaper do the work. Some people even like to use a brown paper bag that has no staples or anything stuck in it. This works well in a lot of cases,
try it.

Remember to sand between coats of paint or varnish and you will be rewarded with a satiny smooth finish. Very professional and pleasing in appearance.

After you sand, a piece of flannel, netting or cheesecloth is great to wipe away the excess dust. Don’t just blow it off – you will probably end up with the dust somewhere else in or on your work that you don’t want it. Also, protect your eyes from the dust as it can be irritating to the eyes.

Do remember, I told you it was boring, but rewarding – PATIENCE!!

FINGERTIP FANTASIES Dollhouse Miniatures Shop