Sunday 30 October 2016

Project: Tree Stump House Diorama

What can I say? I caved! I was with the hubby preparing some tiny furniture for my next photostory with Merry and Cookie (what is Merry doing while grounded), when I realized that the furniture hubby made was too pretty and I had nowhere near as pretty to take photos of it! I started gambling with the idea of a tree house... and you know I've always wanted a diorama for them.

I shared my thoughts with the hubby, but he is an enabler! Then I mentioned it on Twitter and Fantasywoods was another enabler! Finally, the Discord BJD chat flooded me with miniature fairy houses and I couldn't resist myself.

So here I am sailing on a new project journey! I'm also doing a project journal on DoA, which you can read here: http://bit.ly/TreeHouseProjectJournal

I'm also keeping a board on Pinterest with tutorials and inspiration images, because I will really need some help on this thing, to be honest. I can't sculpt to save my life, plus some things as tiny paper flowers are going to be hard to find in my city.

Anyways, more info under the cut!


Okay, this is the tiny furniture that started it all:


I was suggested this tutorial/journal on discord, and hubby also suggested a circular box, so I'm going for it! So here are my starting materials! I also have DAS clay, and I'm planning to go to another part of my city, in hopes of finding paper flowers and other cute miniature stuff.



So, for now, my plan is:
  • Cut the box and get a window/door in, also open it to make it bigger, and supplement the floor that will be missing.
  • Make the wood texture in the outside with newspaper and other recycled paper.
  • Paint the outside in browns.
  • Paint the inside in the old white paint of the photo...
  • Figure what else to do xD. Suggestions are very welcome! 

Do wish me luck, as I have no clue what I'm doing here!! I think I will also scavenge what small toys I can re-purpose by painting them and making them look not-plastic. I know that dioramas look better when full of props, but I tend to be so minimalist, that I think that is what ruins things for me. I need to dare myself and do a lot of props!

Updates

Here are some of the updates I've been working on! The overall shape of the house:




And the start of the fake bark:






I started this project last weekend, but since I had already posted something on the blog, I decided to wait to share it. I'm getting so much fun with this, to be honest! However, the waiting times for it to dry are so long, so I'm going to start a secondary project: a pair of jeans and a knitted sweater for Coco! I want to go ahead and start sharing snippet of that story, so I'm very excited about it!

I also bought urethanes for Coco and incoming Venezia (Iplehouse Violet, just waiting to xmas event to order her! and they shipped! I'm not that excited, as my packages with Cookie and Merry's eyes and Coco's boots are still stuck at custom... and I already surpassed the 3 months on that. 3 months stuck at customs on a different city, and there is nothing I can do =S

Anyways, there are tons of more photos on DoA's Project Journal, so feel free to check it out! How are you doing? Any projects? Have a happy Halloween weekend!

18 comments :

  1. This is so inspirational! What a wonderful project! I remember when I was a child and made myself a aquarium out of a shoe box. It was relaxing and fun. Look forward to read more about this project of yours! And Coco will absolutely look adorable in jeans and a knitted sweater!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!!! I've been wanting a diorama for my tinies for so long!
      An aquarium in a shoe box is such a cute idea! Would have love to see it!

      Delete
  2. WOW!!! Que trabajo tan espectacular y grande has emprendido con la casa del árbol!! Creo que va a quedar preciosa. Ciertamente que los muebles quedaron tan lindos que pedían a gritos un lugar apropiado jajaja.
    Me gustaría que hicieras macetas y jarrones, un par de cuadros para las paredes y unas cortinas, me gustan los dioramas con muchos adornos, como son las casas en realidad. Está quedando muy bien. Te admiro por el trabajo que has emprendido

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gracias!! La verdad que es un trabajo lento, espero que salga bonita!
      Voy a hacer macetas y jarrones, tengo varias ideas planeados :D

      Delete
  3. Hi Musume,
    I hope you have better luck with your tree stump house than I did, I'm sure you will. It's a fun project, so I shall keep an eye on your progress.
    Hugs,
    X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! What happened to your tree stump house?

      Delete
  4. This diorama project looks so amazing and I love the idea of using paper maché for the outside of the tree trunk! :3 :3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! I'm actually following some tutorials for the fake bark, so that is were the idea came from. Hope it turns out nice!

      Delete
  5. Ya pasaron tres meses que horror, ojalá te lleguen pronto, que ridiculez de servicio!

    Me encanta como está quedando el árbol, la textura va muy bien!! Y los pedacitos de tronco cortados están geniales, a lo mejor un día te copio la idea :O si no te molesta claro! Pero conociéndome capaz y no hago nada x.x... esta flojera mía ya es crónica! aunque siento que este año he mejorado y he hecho mucho más!

    Esto tiene pinta de quedar espectacular :D! Aquí en Santiago venden flores de papel, las que usé para hacer unas coronas, En la foto de Serafina con pelo amarillo se ven, no son lo mejor la verdad, pero peor es nada.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Si, dos o tres meses, ya perdí la cuenta la verdad. Espero las liberen pronto!!

      Me alegro que te guste como está quedando, haz los muebles con tronco, seguro que te quedan más bonitos! Me habías contado de las flores de papel, no pude conseguir nada aquí de eso =S

      Delete
  6. I like where this is going! Your house is already looking like a tree stump, even covered in papier maché. I'm going to follow your project journal to see how this develops.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! You are too kind :D
      Although I must confess I love where the kitchen roll left me, it has such a nice texture!
      Thanks for following my project, I hope to not disappoint!

      Delete
  7. You make it sound like enabling you to make this is a bad thing. ;p This is looking great so far, Cookie and Merry are going to have so much fun in their house when it's finished. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah, it is not a bad thing at all!! I just wanted to explain how things went, hahaha!
      Happy you like my progress so far!

      Delete
  8. Such a cool project! :D You're so inspiring, that you're never afraid to dive into a new, unknown project. Even when I try my hands at new things, it ends up as failures T_T It looks so great so far! Keep up the good work :D

    And good luck ordering Venezia <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! But I do fail a lot, it is just that I do not post that =S
      I'm sure your projects were good!
      Thanks for the good luck! I can't wait until the Christmas event!

      Delete
  9. Already a good work, I'll go and check out your DOA project journal! :D I'm sure they'll have a fantastic little house! So exiting and inspirational! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much!!! Happy you like it and thanks for the support!!

      Delete