Thursday, August 4, 2011

A "Brass" Table and a Dishtowel

Mom worked on a new doll today. While she had her supplies out, I borrowed her Styrofoam block, fabric stiffener and extra-thin pins to make a dishrag for my cupboard.

 A few weeks ago, I ordered some shrink plastic (or Shrinky-Dinks). This stuff comes as a plastic film which can be easily cut with scissors, and colored with markers. Then you heat it in the oven or with a heat gun, and it shrinks to about 1/2 the original size, and becomes about 1/6th" thick. I had the idea that it would make great glass for miniature table tops.

 Well, that idea was a failure. I just couldn't get the plastic to shrink perfectly evenly, and any fingerprints I got on the film became permanent smudges on the finished plastic.One or two pieces just curled up like the piece on the left. After a half-dozen tries, I gave up the idea.
While I was working on the glass however, I'd built a little table out of styrene. To make it look like brass, I spray painted it gold, then added highlights of gold Rub'n'buff.

 I rather like the table with the Zebra chair I re-covered a while ago. They are both outrageous.  

Since I hadn't managed the glass top I'd originally pictured, I painted some marble for the top and popped it in.

4 comments:

  1. I think the marble looks wonderful! Even better than a clear sheet of glass would have. It is a very nice texture to combine with the "brass' of your table. XXX

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  2. When I had that problem with my shrinkies, I bakes them at the lowest temp I could get for longer, it worked for me.

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  3. The Zebra chair i love! Your blog is very nice I just found it today.
    Miniature greetings

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  4. Another clever crafter! I am ever amazed by the creativity of you other miniaturists. What tickles me most is your pioneering-spirits...going into territories rarely trod by others. The "failure" are as enlightening as the ultimate successes!!! Thank you for your willingness to share your finds. : )

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