My Doll Haven

Everyone Needs Playtime

In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing.

When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.

Monday

Project: More 1:6 Scale Furniture (Part 3)

How to upholster the chair:

Make a cardboard template of the seat and back (do this before making the chair, its easier).

Cut a strip of wadding and using PVA glue, stick all the pieces onto it face down. When the glue is dry, trim around each piece.

Cut a piece of fabric about 1/2 inch wider all round. Cut the corners.

Using your glue, stick two sides first, then fold corners in before sticking the rest down. (You will probably find you get lovely sticky fingers doing this step.) Try to keep it taught, but not so tight that it flattens the batting.

When you turn it over, it should look nicely padded like this.

Then you can glue it down on the chair. Then repeat this process with the back piece.

Once that's complete you may wish to trim the sides of the seat with narrow braid as I have done.

Happy Crafting!

Friday

It's Time!

Yes, it's time for another . . .

THINK PINK IT'S FRIDAY!

Today it's for all the lovely caring mothers who cook for their family every day of the week and for those of you who simply just love to cook or bake!

What would look better in the kitchen than a PINK refrigerator!

With a matching PINK oven!

And pretty PINK saucepans to cook with.

Of course you couldn't begin to cook without PINK knives to chop the meat and vegetables.

A stylish PINK mixer to make some lovely cupcakes with PINK icing, would be nice too!

If you're going to bake, you would probably need some PINK measure cups as well.

Of course you couldn't possibly get through the day, without a PINK kettle/jug to make your tea/coffee.

And lovely PINK spotted mugs to drink from.

Then after you've done all that, you can finally sit down and enjoy your cuppa with a yummy PINK strawberry cupcake . . .

. . . you can find the recipe on Sally's Baking Addiction.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Big hugs,

Tuesday

Project: More 1:6 Scale Furniture (Part 2)

Yesterday afternoon, after I had finished the wardrobe, I painted the table and chairs midnight blue (a colour I mixed myself to match the fabric I'm going to use on the chairs). But I wasn't really pleased about the table looking just like a painted wooden table.

I had in mind something a bit different, like one that had a marble or granite top. So I pulled out these two Folk Art paints from my stash (#659 Metallic Pearl White and #660 Pure Gold) along with a couple of small pieces of sea sponge and began dabbing first with the Pearl and then while it was still wet I dabbed with the Gold.

You have to be very careful NOT to drag the sponge across your work, dab straight up and down, making sure there is not too much paint on the sponge. I always have an old rag beside me, so I can dab on that before I dab the table.

Now all I have to do is give this a coat of gloss, as I want it to shine, then I can begin upholstering the chairs. Sorry the photos are not very clear, I just took a couple of quick snaps, to show you what I am up to with the furniture.