
ere is what I spent most of the weekend doing. Yep, putting together a dollhouse. Usually, if I have something on my mind or I am upset, I bake, and bake, and bake. Not this weekend, I was determined to be distracted and it was time to tackle the dollhouse project. Mr B. (tired of seeing it in pieces in a corner of the dining room, I'm sure) volunteered to help me with some of the construction, I concentrated on the details. It did take nine hands to get this thing resembling a structure of any kind. Fortunately, Mr. B. has some of the best tools, um, clamps on the planet. I was motivated so much more, once it began to look like a house. Lots of sanding, painting and putting together little pieces to create window, casings, doors and trim. I even painted and wallpapered the walls before it went together. Much easier, that way. I also made a wonderful discovery, probably a duh, to most of you out there. Doll house wallpaper paste, otherwise know as
mucilage. Remember that old timers, the stuff we had in elementary school in the sixties. I'll jog your memory, caramel colored, curvy bottle, with a red rubber head that had a slit in it. (Oh boy, that sounds a little risque). Anyhow, this stuff is available at Hobby Lobby (in the miniatures/ dollhouse area) and is called,
Mini Graphics Wallpaper Mucilage. It dries clear and cleans up with water, and oh, the point of this ramble, it is the best paper glue I have ever worked with!! No bubbles, wrinkles or funky behavior of any sort, and it smoothes on easily (the label says it has silicone in it). I cannot wait to try a decoupage project with it (
like this one perhaps). Forget about the Mod Podge folks, except for top coating and sealing. Use the mucilage for attaching the paper, you won't believe how well it behaves. End commercial.

Now, I have this huge dollhouse sitting on my kitchen island, and all the construction doodads everywhere. Here is what is left to finish, porch painting, construction, installation, gingerbread molding, trim and about a million little shake tiles glued to the roof. Uh huh, right.
I need my kitchen back, so I have to get going.
So, are you wondering why I wanted a dollhouse, last Christmas, I might add? Just thought it would be fun to decorate it seasonally and for the holidays. I do have two granddaughters also, and they will love it (give me some credibility) I'm sure. In the meantime, my friends and I will enjoy it in our second childhoods, not unlike the
doll bed project of last year!
Button Garland (see dollhouse photo above)
I do have a fun little craft for you, I love this button and wire garland I made at Lauren's last weekend. I incorporated my vintage and new heart buttons, all shell or MOP.
Get yourself some 27 or 30 g. wire. I was using a roll of surgical steel wire, that Lauren had on hand.
Cut the wire to your desired length, I used 8 feet.
String on one button and secure it to the end of the wire, with a few twists.
Continue stringing on buttons, alternating over and under the button holes (refer to pic), leaving 2-3 inches of space between them.
Secure the last button like the first, and drape, hang or wrap.
Repeat, you will want more of these and your friends will too! Beautiful.