Just a quick one today!

We all had such a great time today while creating mini scenes inside the small pocket watches! There were 3-4 watch styles and sizes to choose from, a couple were locket size, several backgrounds, and many different tiny people and animals to choose from.

Everyone made some really cute scenes and had a blast. I can hardly wait to cut a wooden watch stand to display mine! It’s so fun when you can make a mini in an everyday item like the pocket watches. Look around your house and see what you can find to make a mini scene inside.

I came home with extra supplies to make a second watch and will post it here when finished.

Happy Mini Making,

Teri

In part 01, we had discussed a few issues, found solutions for the issues, and applied a first layer of paint to the walls on the lower floor. I am beginning this second part by painting all of the lower parts as needed. Since I did not think you wanted to watch me paint a ton of pieces, you will see these painted in the images below.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR PART 2 ON YOUTUBE

Let me say that painting the front staircase unit, the porch rails, and the main entrance roof assembly was not easy! This took several thin layers of paint and most of a day, plus a bit of sanding and some prep work. It can be a patience tester lol.

This morning, after some thought, I’ve decided to turn this into a Santa’s Workshop instead of continuing with the build as intended. With it being 1:48, it’s just too small to replicate the parts of the Hegeler mansion as I would want to. So, below you can see a few changes I’ve made from the photo above in light of the new theme.

I have used red flat back pearls and red bead trim for the accents. Two trees help to hide the area at the bottom of the stairs, where I glued kraft board to hide the gaps. TIP: You will find it easier to attach the bead chain by adding a couple of drops of super glue with the tacky glue to quickly hold it in place while the glue dries.

Texture paste mixed with Stickles glitter glue makes a pretty snow. Use a palette knife to apply the snow texture on the base, steps, and ledges on posts.

Small flat back pearls were used as tree ornaments.

I will be adding the same snow texture to the main base, but first, I need to figure out the flooring, then finish the inside of the walls, and get them glued in place. This is so that I can pile the snow up next to the walls after they are installed.

For the flooring and wallpapers, I’ve used digital papers found at CreativeFabrica – a great place to find these type items! These digital papers will typically be made 12″ x 12″ @ 300 dpi. You want to look for papers that say “seamless pattern” as well. I wound up reducing the flooring from 12″ square down to 3″ square and the wallpapers down to 1.75″ square so that they fit the scale I’m working in. A good way to test this is to reduce the image, then print it on normal printer paper, cut it out, and test it in the room. If the scale looks off, reduce the image size a bit more and reprint, then test. Once you have the size right, copy and paste the image to fill a full 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and print it on good-quality paper. I use either 80lb or 110lb paper in bright white.

If your flooring is not a simple square, like in this build, try this little trick I learned from Ara at Bentley House Minis! Use cheap post-it-notes laying them on the floor to build a template. Use this template to cut your flooring. Make any small adjustments as needed.

There are no doors in the kit for the lower floor inner walls, only door frames, so the flooring can go through the openings in the wall.

Now that the flooring is laid down, I’m beginning to work on the wallpaper. I’ve cut the templates out, measured them against the walls, made any necessary adjustments, and then used the templates to cut the wallpaper. Double-check how the walls connect before gluing your wallpaper! I’m not trying to match the paper from one wall to the other because I will be adding things that will cover those areas later on.

Here’s a look at all of the wallpaper in place. I also found a paper that had a repeating circle motif, which I shrunk down and will use as a rug. I always print rugs onto a canvas-type material you can find HERE. This printable canvas fabric can be used with an inkjet printer and works great for outdoor tablecloths and placemats. I will show the rug later.

A great way to paint windows and doors is by creating a painting board. I’ve used a stiff piece of chipboard with part of a silicone mat glued to it. Tape is laid down in strips and secured at the ends. The silicone mat can be cleaned with a baby wipe or a wet towel, making this painting mat reusable! Always test fit windows to see if any parts can be seen from the inside or outside. If so, you need to paint both sides. If not, you can paint only one side.

One of my favorite purchases in 2025 was the Signo Uniball UM-153 pen in gold and silver. The ink flows like magic, and the finish is amazing. It can be used over stains and paint without any issues. You can see here how I’ve used it to decorate the door.

So, this door had some issues in that it wouldn’t fit into the opening and lay flat. I think it was a couple of globs of glue, so I wound up having to sand the sides of the door unit a lot. It was also difficult to paint the door, as it was previously installed. Again, I wish they had not pre-assembled parts. I could very easily be wrong; it seemed like both the door unit and the door frames were too thick for the scale. I would have preferred that they were the same thickness as the window frames.

Here is a look at the door and frames installed. You be the judge and let me know what you think.

Once all of the windows are in place, it’s time to work on the wall trim. There will be trim at the top and bottom of all walls. In the middle room, there will be a third strip used to create a chair rail effect.

In the bay window area, additional trim will be added to hide the gaps between the pieces that make up the bay window.

Now, at the final stages of the lower floor, I have stippled some of the warm white paint on top of the brick walls to create a mottled style brick. Lightly applied, this adds a subtle change to the bricks.

The final touch will be to add snow texture all around the base, the bottom of the posts, and on the window frame tops and sills. I will have to wait on this part until my order for more texture paste comes in.

Hop on over to Part 3 (live when posted)

WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR PART 2 HERE

I hope you are enjoying the build and that you will stay tuned for part 03 coming soon!

Take care, mini friends,

Teri

Here is a look at the amazing finds I purchased this year . . . if you see something you love, visit the vendor’s website.

As you can see, I went a bit dragon crazy this year lol. Just couldn’t resist these amazing 3D printed ones.

Top: T&D Miniatures had these amazing dragon scale bookcases that I want to place beside the larger dragon archway figure.

Right: This little guy was purchased at the Bishop show, but the vendor did not put a card in the bag. The irridescent colors are amazing on him!

Just some random tiny things. Isn’t the Jack Skeleton jar soooo cute! It’s hard to see, but the dragon book has a glittery finish on it that was very kewl.

The table and chairs kit above is hard to see, but it’s amazingly crafted and has a beautiful finish. I will be sure to show it later after I’ve built the kit1

I could spend the entire day looking at all the amazing kits from Blackthorn Studio!!! The unfinished pieces at the back will be so fun to finish.

One of the new mini-friends I met was so kind and gifted me this set of 3D printed items. Now I just want to make a bathroom diorama lol.

Now for my fave finds . . .

Michael R Miniatures is a MUST VISIT vendor for me at the Bishop show, and his items this year did not disappoint. Just amazing quality and such cute facial expressions.

No idea yet how I will use these, but I may just make a simple room to showcase my collection, as I do plan to add to it each year.

Last but not least . . . let me introduce you to ZELDA!!!! (If you follow my Coven Lighthouse special project, you know.

Isn’t she just perfect as Zelda! Just walking down the aisle at the show and saw her immediately, thinking that is Zelda. I just knew she had to come home with me, and I can hardly wait to add her to the lighthouse.

So that’s everything that came home with me this year. I LOVE every single piece and am looking forward to adding them to my mini projects.

Hope you enjoyed the quick view.

Happy mini making, Teri

My first full-scale, 1:12, size dollhouse, and the second miniature I ever worked on was the Lighthouse from Real Good Toys. Sometimes, the space allotted in a dollhouse room can be smaller than what you would like, and you will need to find a creative way to make use of the space. This is exactly what I had to do in the top room of the lighthouse when using it as the bedroom. To this day, this is still one of my favorite ideas. I hope you find this tutorial helpful, and maybe it can be a solution for you one day!

Here is a look at the full room . . .

What I did was to create a loft bed with a sitting area underneath and a bath area on one side. In the first photo you can see a repurposed bought miniature cabinet, a little mirror I created from scraps, and a bathtub made from a food container. I love the faux wood wall and the ladder taking you up to the sleeping area.

Most of the items within the room has simple furnishings that were created with mat board and are non-functional. Beads make great furniture knobs, and bakers twine can add a nice accent to any miniature piece. Old washcloths were used as mini towels, while various beads and a paper butter cup were used to create a lamp.

The sitting area featured a long couch, bookshelf, coffee table, and wall sconce lighting. Added later but not shown here were a few books for the bookshelf and magazines for the coffee table.

The entire loft bed section was created with white mat board. The bed needs to be high enough so that a person can actually walk underneath comfortably, but low enough from the ceiling that they can sit upright in the bed. Keep that in mind for your own space and measure accordingly. Once you have these dimensions, you can decide on the size of the couch. I suggest making the couch as deep as possible so that it can be used as a second sleeping area for a guest. You could also make it like a trundle bed with a pull-out mattress underneath.

You can use post-it notes, printer paper, or cardstock to create a template for the shape of the area where the bed will rest against the walls. Keep in mind that these walls slant inward as they rise upward, so you need to take that into account when deciding on the height of the sleeping area. Once you have a template made, cut a single piece that will fit against the walls and come outward to the side and forward towards the room opening for a double-size bed. You can’t see it in the photos, but I left a space towards the back wall side of the bed for a small nightstand and an area where a person would be when they climbed the ladder.

There are so many options you could do with this space. You could add railings on the side of the bed that are viewed from the front, or add a higher wall on the same side with a board/shelf across the top for use as a nightstand. Let your imagination run wild and have fun!

Last but not least, in case you are wondering, the ceiling light was created with a large starfish shell. I carefully drilled a hole in the center to run the light wires through and secure the bulb. I love how it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by, and till next time, happy mini making!

Teri

The Woodland Collection

One of my favorite designs last year was the Woodland Collection that I created for the 2025 Chicago Spring Showcase of Miniature Show. Created for my Pergola kits, the cut-and-scored leafy vines are lovely accents for both structures and furniture. Not only are these kits fun and easy to build, but they can also be very relaxing to finish. If you find coloring fun, using acrylic paint markers to color the vines and/or leaves can be extremely relaxing and rewarding.

So far, the collection consists of a Pergola in 1:12, 1:24, and 1:48 scales, various cabinets, a bookcase, and patio furniture sets, also in various scales. These sold out at the shows I did last year, but I’ve made up a few more for this year’s show, as well as some new things for the collection. I plan to add more for the Indy show, so keep an eye out!

I wound up with a couple of sets of patio furniture left and decided to finish them up by adding a decorative screen and a base, as you see in the photo above. These will be sold as finished items at the upcoming show.

The pergola can be finished in a variety of ways, but the favorite seems to have been the black and brown color scheme with painted leaves. Last year, I had some weathervanes that could be added to the top of the 1:12 scale version, but those are no longer available.

In the photos below, you can see one of the bookcase kits inside the structure and a close-up of the tapestry kit. Where these were sold separately, the furniture and tapestry kits are now included with the Pergola as a full kit.

At left, you can see the light fixture I created for the Pergola. These include a twist-on/off battery operated led light. Both the light and the fixture are held in place with a magnet so they can easily be removed and replaced as needed.

The light fixture with the light is only available with the 1:12 and 1:24 scale kits. Only the light fixture is available in the 1:48 scale, and the light was just too large.

The China Cabinet is another one of my favorite furniture pieces and was very popular at the shows. The cabinet can be used with both the lower and upper parts glued together, or as separate pieces with the shelf unit hung on a wall. The vine cut version is only available in 1:12 and 1:24 scales, while the scored version is available in all three scales.

(ABOVE) Vine cut China Cabinet Kit

(LEFT) Scored China Cabinet Kit

This is just the start of this collection, as I have many other ideas for structures and furniture items. While I will only have a small amount of these kits at the show, all items in the collection will soon be available for ordering on my website shop.

If you would like to know when new kits are added to the collection, be sure to sign up for my newsletters!

Till next time . . . happy mini making!

Teri

Mother Bates House by Dreaming Tree

Not long ago, when I posted pics of the Mother Bates House project I created with a file from Dreaming Tree, I received a lot of requests for more information. So here’s a little video showing you various techniques you can use with cardstock and paper models!

Papercrafted models are an inexpensive way to create miniatures, and there are tons of low-cost projects available online.

You can watch my YouTube Video here. or below.

I hope this information has inspired you to think a bit out of the box the next time you look at paper models. Please feel free to leave a comment below should you have questions.

Till next time . . .

Teri

When I first ran across this project, I fell in love with it and envisioned a very run-down haunted Lighthouse. If it grabs you as well, click the link below the title above and watch her construction videos. There is also a FREE PDF file with a cutting guide on her blog.

The original project was created with chipboard and scrapbook paper. Unable to cut straight lines with thick chipboard anymore, I choose to use Cricut Kraft Board and cardstock. So far, it’s worked well, but I did need to double up on the walls by adding kraft board liners inside. The same with the base as well as a support square in the center of the larger base.

As you can see from the images below, I’ve gotten pretty far in a weeks. Using Cricut Design Space, I’ve recreated all of the pieces based on April’s dimensions in the cutting guide. You can also see that an extra base has been added. This will become a graveyard.

The final thin base was created with 2mm chipboard, then covered in blue cardstock. I had to create this base in two pieces because of the size: 12″ wide by 15 1/2″ long.

The two bases were covered in cardstock that was embossed with a bricks folder from Darice, then inked with Ranger Distressing Inks in Black Soot and Vintage Photo.

I’ll be using the folder on the left for the tower section. I’m sorry, but there is no name or brand listed on the folder, but most likely it was purchased on Amazon.

To finish the top base, I’ve used the house to draw around so I will know where ground cover can be placed. You can see that pavers have been added from the front door at this point. These are cut pieces from the embossed sheets.

That’s it for this time, but stay tuned as I add new pics and info while I work more next week!

Week Two

This week, I’ve finished up the graveyard and top base area. Fence and headstones are all images from Cricut Design Space. Cardstock in black, grey, and white was used, then white pigment ink was applied for a distressed look.

The ground was created using old black tea grounds and salt crystals. Woodland Scenics fine turf and coarse turf were sprinkled on the base as well.

Fence sections were welded together in Design Space, cut twice, then glued together. The double thickness is needed to keep the fence firm.

Lastly, the brickwork from the sides of the base was repeated for the top base floor. The house will not be attached to the base but instead rest on top, giving access to the light.

UPDATE . . .

As you can see below, I’ve begun to add the siding strips. These are 5/16″ high by 11.50 long and cut on the Cricut Maker. Add scor-tape to the backside and apply to the house with each additional strip overlapping the preceding strip just a tad. On the corner,s use 1/2″ strips folded in half for trim.

did find that I had to make changes to the lighthouse part of the project. The original way was not working well for me, most likely due to the thinner materials. Instead, I created a hexagon shape, added stonework to the bottom, and different windows on three sides.

I’ll be using another embossing folder for a different type of brick on the lighthouse section.

THURSDAY UPDATE

There’s something about making shingles and siding, then applying the strips that I find so relaxing. Call me crazy, but it’s always my favorite part of a build. Today I’ve added both the entrance and main roof, then covered them with shingle strips and a cap on top.

You can also see that I’ve changed the original design once more by omitting the chimneys and adding an accent piece with an octagonal window. These were added to both the left and right sides.

Also, notice that all of the shingles are now glued on. You can see that they were left off one of the windows that has been boarded up.

FINAL UPDATE!

I managed to finish up the Haunted Lighthouse today!!! Well, the base still needs something, but I’m not sure what yet. The house, however, is now finished and has lights. Check it out . . .

The tower light is one of those bottle lights that has a USB charger inside it. I painted the light cover purple with alcohol inks. An LED round light has been used inside the house. It has several colors and can be changed with a remote.

A few paper cut-outs from Artfully Musing were added. I may add some spider webs at some point, but for no,w I’m done.

Hope you are inspired to try this project, and do visit Craft Knife Chronicles website as well as the YouTube channel for lots of fun projects!!!

Teri

In the meantime, because I have so much going on, I can easily get sidetracked and forget things I want to do with each of these special projects. So maybe, if I start a little “Project To Do” list here, I can keep on track and get a bit more done! This should also kind of make me accountable to the projects.

Project: Hegeler Mansion – “The Kringles House”

• Edit & upload Video #2 for part 2 post
• Continue with part 3 post – working on the second floor
  • Painting exterior
  • Wallpaper choices
  • Flooring
• Design some furniture pieces for the store in the first floor
• Start on the third floor

Project: The Real Good Toys Lighthouse – “Emerald Coven Lighthouse”

• Remake bedroom furniture
  • Bed (trundle ?)
  • Dresser
  • Chair or chest at end of bed
• Design furniture for the shop
• Design lighthouse extension piece – guest house

Project: Greenfield Orchard House – “The Haunted Bookshop”

• NOTE: because I know that a final move is in the future for us, this project may be delayed till after the move!

So this is my plan for now. I’m sure once I get back to a project this list will grow with other ideas that will pop into my head while I work but this gives me a good starting place!

Thanks for visiting this post and please feel free to leave comments below should you have ideas or comments on any of the projects or my ideas.

Till next time . . .

Happy Mini Making!

©2025 Teri Hanson / The Covered Chipboard / Teri Hanson Miniatures

I FOUND TWO KITS LEFT IN MY STASH!

***THE VIDEOS REMAIN ONLINE SO THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT FOR BUILDING THE PROJECT***

2025 ANNUAL HALLOWEEN VIDEO WORKSHOP KIT

JOIN THE FUN WITH MY OCTOBER NIGHTS SPECIAL VIDEO CLASS AND DEAD INN KIT!!

Get into the Halloween spirit while creating this 1:48 small-scale haunted inn! Formerly a papercraft project, Dead Inn has been transformed into a laser-cut wooden miniature structure, with a tavern on the bottom floor and sleeping quarters on the second and attic floors. Everything you need to complete the build, as seen in the photos, plus a few surprises, has been included in this kit. All you need is paint and basic supplies. We will be doing a bit more to the build during the workshop that has not been shown in the photos. I decided to add a few surprises to the kit!!!

These video workshops will provide step-by-step, detailed instructions, along with optional ideas and techniques using new materials. There are three videos for the workshop, plus written/printed instructions in the kit.

Upon purchase, you will get an email with a link to the online instructions and a supply list so you can get organized before the first class is posted.

ORDER YOUR WORKSHOP KIT HERE

WORKSHOP Kit Includes . . .

• laser-cut pieces in 1/8″ and 1/16″ quality wood
• foam base
• landscaping materials
• scored flooring
• fence
• dowels
• sign
• cardstock shingles
• embossed card for stone texture walls and chimney
• embossed brick card for a pathway or steps
• embossed board card for attic ceiling
• wood bat trim and accents
• Kraft board for the roof
• wood ladder
• printed wallpaper sheets
• instructions with lots of photos

FINISHED DIMENSIONS:  6″w by 4.75″d by 8″h

Have FUN!

Teri

• Thurs 10-7 Fri 10-7 Sat 9-4
• Wyndham Garden Hotel – Schaumburg, IL
• 1725 E Algonquin Rd.
• There will be a shuttle to take people from this show over to the Tom Bishop show and back

It’s begun . . . The countdown to the Chicago Spring Showcase of Miniatures has started, and I have several NEW products to share!

By request, I decided to offer pre-order options for some of my new kits for Chicago. Since I can only fit so much into my car, the quantity of kits I can bring for everything is limited to between 5 and 10 each. Last year I found myself pretty much sold out by noon of the second day! While that makes me very happy, I was so sorry when some of you came to my table looking for something specific, only to find I was out of them. Hopefully a pre-order option this year will prevent that.

PRE-ORDERS NOW SOLD OUT! I WILL HAVE FROM 5-10 KITS PER DESIGN AVAILABLE AT THE SHOW.

TILL THEN, HERE IS A PREVIEW FOR SOME OF THE NEW KITS . . .

I was soooo excited to finish up this new 1:48 scale Modern House kit in time for Chicago. It’s the first modern miniature that I’ve created, and I can see more coming in the future.

• Finished size (W/O Base) – 12″w, 9″h, 5.1/2″d. With base: 13 1/2″w, 9 1/8″h, 6″d
• Features: a wood ceiling in the living room and a fireplace. Larger openings from the entry to the living room and from the living room to the kitchen. In the hallway, there is a unique floating staircase.
• The walls and rooms are pretty much set to be built as seen in the photos. Making changes would cause pieces to be out of line or not fit so please consider this.

THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION KIT!

My Tea Shoppe was first created as a chipboard-and-cardstock project PDF and has since become one of the most popular designs. Now that I am working with a laser cutter, it seemed a good time to convert the design into a wood kit.

• FINISHED DIMENSIONS: 8.25″w, 12″h, 5.75″d
• ROOM SIZES: 7.5″w, 5.75″h, 5″d

FURNITURE ALSO SOLD SEPARATELY

DECOR PACK PREVIEW

A FULL KIT is also available that includes the basic kit plus the furniture and decor pack.

FURNITURE KITS PREVIEW

New Roombox Kits . . .

This 1:24 scale roombox has a few options with it. You can move the divider as you like, use or not use the faux door, and apply the siding to the inside or outside. Printed papers are included with the kit in three color options: Blue, Green, and Gray.

This 1:48 scale roombox has trim for the outside and is perfect for a single room setting.

This little roombox is one of a kind! Perfect for 1:48 scale, there is a slide-in, slide-out plastic sheet to protect the display. The back has been covered nicely in faux leather. Just imagine what type of scene or special miniature you could place inside.

The last of the Witchy Clocks will be available at the show. This 1:48 scale miniature is completely built, with lights, and ready for you to dress. And yes, the clock actually works, is battery-operated (mine has run for several years now on a single battery), and the battery is easy to change when needed.

The lights are controlled with an on/off switch and batteries hidden inside the bottom drawer.

Great Halloween decoration!!!

As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions! For those who pre-order, please be sure to download the PDF to print your proof of purchase! You will need to bring this to the show with you!!!

Take care mini friends, and I hope to see you in Chicago!!!!

Teri

Hello mini friends! While working on a recent project and figuring out measurements, it occurred to me that keeping a record of these measurements and design ideas would come in handy. So you will begin seeing these posts at random times at least once a month on my blog. I hope you find them helpful!

Here is a handy chart for wainscot paneling in three scales, showing typical heights for wainscotting and beadboard installation. These same ideas can be used for a combination of beadboard, wainscotting, and wallpaper.

This is a look at my current project using the chart above for placement on both the wallpaper and beadboard.

The beadboard was made from kraft board, which was scored by hand with a scoreboard tool. You can easily paint this material with acrylic paints if you like.

A heavy cardstock, like 100lb weight, would also work for making beadboard.

Here is an idea for adding trim and baseboard to a wall with beadboard. You could easily add a shelf on top of the top trim piece for a fun place to add minis!

And here is a fun idea for beadboard on a ceiling. I love unique ceilings on minis.

Make some beadboard and add it to your next project for something different!

Till next rime . . .

Teri

NAME group project by Cindy McDaniel Miniatures

This darling little “She Shed” was a fun project to teach me patience while working with some of the tiny fiddly parts (grin). My joy has always come from building the main structure and then finishing the structure and landscaping. After working on these smaller decorative parts, I’m finding a growing sense of accomplishment from working with the smaller items.

I adore these tiny wood post-style birdhouses with faux tin roofs.

The picnic table fits so well with the simple style and theme of the project.

I added two flower pots in the corners, made from painted wood beads.

During the meeting, several of us remarked that the rocking chairs and side table looked way too large for the scale of the shed. The size made a bit more sense when we were told they were “Cracker Barrel Rockers” (grin), but I’m still a bit unsure of how well they fit. For now, they stay, and I will be dressing the little table very soon.

That’s all for this time, but stay tuned for more projects coming in the months ahead.

Till next time, happy mini making!

Teri

You can purchase a light set, which includes everything you need in a package, for only $5.50. Additional lights are available for $2.50, and a battery, battery holder, and switch are priced at $3.00 each.  (THESE PRICES COULD HAVE CHANGED SINCE I MADE THIS POST) At these prices, for a two-room building or smaller, your lighting is super affordable and far easier to work with than round or tape wiring!!

UPDATE !!!! – I’ve since started ordering ALL lighting materials from a shop called Model Train Software.  Please visit their website for lighting products. Great customer service! They are more than happy to answer any questions and help you with ordering the correct materials.

Here’s a look at what comes in the “set” package and how it comes to you.  Now don’t panic!!!  (grin).  This is so super easy, even I couldn’t mess it up!!

Basically, you have two wires connected to the LED light and two wires coming off the switch/battery unit.  Place the battery into the battery holder, plus side to plus side (marked on both the battery and the holder).  Now, see the little black tubes?  Slip one tube on each of the wires coming off the switch/battery unit, then twist the light wires to the switch/battery unit wires . . . red to red and then the other two wires to each other.  And when done, this is what you have . . .

Make sure that the little black tubes are covering all exposed wires, and then use a hair dryer to heat up the black tubes so they shrink tightly around the wires where you twisted them together. Test the lights to be sure they are working before you heat up the shrink tubes!

NOTE: The only issue I had was that my blow dryer wouldn’t get hot enough to shrink up the black tubes.  I had to get my craft heat gun out and use it.  With the heat gun, the tubes shrank up in seconds, but be careful not melt it all!!

Now here’s the light, lit-up

And here it is inside my house with the battery and extra wire up on the shelf in the shop ceiling. You could easily run the wires to the back of the structure and then use my upcoming Storage Shed Kit to hide the battery pack. Look for the shed to appear in my shop soon. It’s great for connecting to most any type build and will be available in several scales.

And in a dark room, so you can see how much light it gives off.  Pretty good, huh!  Bright enough that you can see what’s inside the house, looking through the windows.

As to the use in the village shop, you might want to make the ledge bottom wider, as the battery holder is almost an inch in diameter.

That all said, there is one more thing I want to mention, and another good reason to maybe run the light wire from the back of the building, through the wall to the inside.  According to the tutorial from the shop where I purchased the lights, you can actually connect several lights to one battery holder!!!  This means you could, for the shop, attach two or more lights to one battery holder and then run them into the shop for each floor. From the switch to the end of the wire where the light is, you have about 9″ to play with, and that will go pretty far in these shops.  If I thought a bit more, I probably would have done this for my Tea Shop!

Lastly, these lights would be great for lighting the inside of a cabinet or an under-counter light for a shop display counter.  I’m sure too that you could find a way to use these on the outside of a shop!  Or . . . get an inexpensive street lamp and add one of these lights to it!

So that’s it for now, but I’ll come back and update once I have my lights in place!

Update – 01

I used a small flat clear button, glued to a larger curved flower button for the shade.  The LED light runs through the button hole and back towards the trim, where it’s tucked into the trim.  Any remaining wire will be painted white to hide it.

Update – 02

So after the above was said and done, I ran across another type of LED lights and received them today.  As before, the same way to build the light was used, but these actually have two lights per set/battery, and they are larger and brighter than the ones above.  Here’s a look at the pkg and the light, parts, and finished.

Here’s a link to where I purchased these lights.  The item I purchased was the “Miniaturists Lighting Package

• coin cell holder : 4 inch wires
• LED wire Length : 8 inch wires
• coin cell battery : 1 battery
• Color : Warm White
• 1.8mm LEDs : 2 light packet

As you can see below, they are brighter than the other lights mentioned in the original post.

So this “package deal” will give you two lights to use in a single shop while having only one battery to conceal.  You can also change the package deal by adding as many as 6 lights and longer wires if needed.

Pretty inexpensive for lighting!

Happy Mini Making . . .

Teri