the memory keeper's room...

 This little shabby chic roombox is a tribute to all of you out there who collect vintage ephemera and photographs. I started collecting when I was a child because I spent a lot of time with my Great Grandmother, who was a collector. I still get a thrill when I find a particularly interesting old postcard or well worn love letter. The memories attached to these treasures may not be my own, but they still speak to me and inspire me to imagine a long past world so different from my own.

 As you can see, the focus of this room is the tray filled with old letters, postcards and photographs. There is even a magnifying glass for closer inspection. Below the tray is an open faux book box, with more photos and ephemera, waiting patiently for perusal. A couple more faux book boxes on the shelf await their turn as well.

 I felt this room really needed a window to look out of (while daydreaming) so I used a set of Dollhouse Windows with Shutters 1:12 to add one. The image I used behind the window wasn't quite tall enough to fill the whole window sooo... I made a decorative window shade out of a toothpick and some cardstock to hide it. I just glued the cardstock around the toothpick, added a piece of cardstock to the back so it hangs down and glued filigree beads to the ends. A small piece of white Dresden trim adds a finishing touch.

 I love cats, so I always try to put a cat or two (or three or four!) in any room box I make and this one is no exception. There's a mama cat and three kittens (who are really half scale cats that work purrfectly as kittens!)

I thank you for stopping by my blog and hope to see you again! Remember to take time to daydream and use your imagination :) Now run along and create something!

Supply list is available here.

a brocante summer cottage...

Brocante is the French version of a flea market and an awesome place to find loads of sweet and unique items to furnish a summer cottage. Like most people, I don't own a summer cottage but I really wanted to decorate one with finds from the brocante, soooo... I created a 1:24 scale cottage using the new Half Scale Room Box with Slanted Roof, a Half Scale Bay Window and a Cottage Base - 9x9x1.

I really enjoyed building and furnishing this tiny cottage and I think it turned out pretty cute...

I used Sheet Moss to cover the roof (to give it a fairy garden feel) and covered it in a distressed stucco paper I found in the Provincial 6x6 Paper Pad. The flagstone patio is a 12x12" sheet of Provincial Cobblestone Scrapbook Paper. I really love that scrapbook paper companies are offering so many realistic background and architectural papers currently.

My fence was made using Mini Chipboard Gothic Fence that I dry brushed with white chalk paint and hot glued around the base.

I used a Mini String of Fairy Lights to light up my tree, and two of the new Half Scale Tulip Ceiling Lights to light up the interior of my cottage. To conceal the lighting wires I ran them under the paper I used to cover the ceiling like this:

 The area above the ceiling has a small empty space where you can put the 9v Battery Converter for Half-Scale Lights and when the roof is in place you don't see them at all.

I furnished my cottage with (new and awesome!) Half Scale Princess Love Seat, Table & Chairs Set that I painted with pink and white chalk paint then antiqued it a bit with some brown acrylic paint to give it shabby chic style. The adorable Half Scale Metal Tea Set sitting on the coffee table was painted with Vintaj Metal Patinas. I used Marble from the Painted Barn Set and Onyx from the Retro Highway Set. Here's an easy way to paint tiny things without making a mess:

I use long toothpicks, Loctite Mounting Putty (bought in the hardware section of Walmart) and a floral Styrofoam form to hold everything until dry and ready to use in my miniature scene. 

Lastly, there is the (another NEW thing!!) Half Scale Princess Table & Chairs Set. I modified my table by drilling a hole in the top and adding a cocktail umbrella that I painted (with chalk paint... love the stuff!).

The tiny book on the chair was made using an image from my latest collage sheet, Half Scale Books & Things Collage Sheet. The dog, cat, and cheese/wine tray are from a miniature store, but, you can buy the tiny wine bottle here.

Wow, that was a long post... I feel like I've been nattering on for ages! I hope I have inspired you to make your own brocante summer cottage or maybe a witches cottage or a garden shed or how about a fairy house... the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my post! It is much appreciated. If you would like to see a supplies list click here.