Card: I used three thicknesses of card. The thinnest I've called index card because it's the kind used for index cards, but any thin card or heavy paper will do. Business cards, birthday cards, "cover stock," filing folder card, any of these will do. Most of the house itself is built out of the kind of card that is found on the back of a sturdy writing pad. Up to about 1/16 inch thick, something that you can't quickly fold in half. For the floors and base I used some very heavy card , the kind you can't cut with scissors, nearly 1/8 inch thick. If you don't have any, just use two layers of the medium thickness. I realize that acid-free cardboard, obtained from an art supply or picture framing store, would be the best choice, but this is a found-around-the-house project. Your house's resources may of course include nice cardboard, but if not you are quite free to go and buy some. No need to obey my rules! Squared paper: Any kind will do, including graph paper. We just want to be able to keep things square. Your computer will probably print some squared paper for you. Check Backgrounds and Patterns, or look for web sites with printable graph paper. Wallpaper: Since you only need a tiny bit (about 1 x 4 inches at most for each room), you can use the coloured envelopes that greetings cards come in, or the insides of envelopes from banks printed with tiny patterns. Paint your own designs if you prefer, or use any pretty paper that does not have a very heavily textured finish. If you have access to a colour printer, there's no end to the papers you can make for yourself. Just keep the scale small. Window material: Any unscratched stuff you can see through. Overhead projector sheets or "blister" packages are the easiest to find. Fancy writing paper and chocolates often have boxes with transparent tops. Hinge material: I use silk ribbon because I have it and it will only fray on the two ends, but anything that is flexible and thin and that won't break will do for a hinge: leather, or any thin fabric. Lace: Makes nice curtains. You can cut them out of a bigger but fine piece of lace. Wood: I've suggested alternatives, but it would be handy to have some toothpicks (cocktail sticks), a strip of wood about 1/8" square and 3 inches long, and perhaps some very skinny strips from a model railroad store, 1/32"square or less. Glue: Your choice, but any white craft glue should work. Not the kind that smells strongly and is used for model airplanes etc., and not "Super" or "Crazy" glue. See my Materials page for more about glues. Paint: Acrylic craft paints, or whatever you have. The kind that clean up with water. I used dark green, white, and several shades of grey and blue and light brown. Polyfilla or spackling compound: Use anything, including sand, that will give your paint a little texture. Remember this is only 1/144 scale, so the walls don't have to be very rough. Sealer or fixative or matte finish: Not really necessary for this project, but it does protect the paint and perhaps add a slight sheen. Some people use hairspray as a fixative. Blunt knife or scriber: Explained in context. Something that will make a dent or partial cut in cardboard. Sharp knife: X-acto, Excel, Stanley, or even a one-sided razor blade. Anything sharp enough to cut through cardboard 1/16" thick without force, and safe enough for your level of experience. Often in this project you can use scissors, but when I mention sharp knives, I'm talking about something that small children should be kept far away from. See Tools and Techniques for suggestions about safe cutting. Lego bricks: Useful to hold things square, and even to use as measuring units. |
.Checklist of supplies and tools for 1/144 stone house project This project is specially intended for those who don't have access to specialty items, so don't rush out to buy anything until you've checked the instructions. There may be an alternative. Please let me know if I've used a term that you don't understand. I've tried to include British and American equivalents. |
Card: I used three thicknesses of card. The thinnest I've called index card because it's the kind used for index cards, but any thin card or heavy paper will do. Business cards, birthday cards, "cover stock," filing folder card, any of these will do. Most of the house itself is built out of the kind of card that is found on the back of a sturdy writing pad. Up to about 1/16 inch thick, something that you can't quickly fold in half. For the floors and base I used some very heavy card , the kind you can't cut with scissors, nearly 1/8 inch thick. If you don't have any, just use two layers of the medium thickness. I realize that acid-free cardboard, obtained from an art supply or picture framing store, would be the best choice, but this is a found-around-the-house project. Your house's resources may of course include nice cardboard, but if not you are quite free to go and buy some. No need to obey my rules! Squared paper: Any kind will do, including graph paper. We just want to be able to keep things square. Your computer will probably print some squared paper for you. Check Backgrounds and Patterns, or look for web sites with printable graph paper. Wallpaper: Since you only need a tiny bit (about 1 x 4 inches at most for each room), you can use the coloured envelopes that greetings cards come in, or the insides of envelopes from banks printed with tiny patterns. Paint your own designs if you prefer, or use any pretty paper that does not have a very heavily textured finish. If you have access to a colour printer, there's no end to the papers you can make for yourself. Just keep the scale small. Window material: Any unscratched stuff you can see through. Overhead projector sheets or "blister" packages are the easiest to find. Fancy writing paper and chocolates often have boxes with transparent tops. Hinge material: I use silk ribbon because I have it and it will only fray on the two ends, but anything that is flexible and thin and that won't break will do for a hinge: leather, or any thin fabric. Lace: Makes nice curtains. You can cut them out of a bigger but fine piece of lace. Wood: I've suggested alternatives, but it would be handy to have some toothpicks (cocktail sticks), a strip of wood about 1/8" square and 3 inches long, and perhaps some very skinny strips from a model railroad store, 1/32"square or less. Glue: Your choice, but any white craft glue should work. Not the kind that smells strongly and is used for model airplanes etc., and not "Super" or "Crazy" glue. See my Materials page for more about glues. Paint: Acrylic craft paints, or whatever you have. The kind that clean up with water. I used dark green, white, and several shades of grey and blue and light brown. Polyfilla or spackling compound: Use anything, including sand, that will give your paint a little texture. Remember this is only 1/144 scale, so the walls don't have to be very rough. Sealer or fixative or matte finish: Not really necessary for this project, but it does protect the paint and perhaps add a slight sheen. Some people use hairspray as a fixative. Blunt knife or scriber: Explained in context. Something that will make a dent or partial cut in cardboard. Sharp knife: X-acto, Excel, Stanley, or even a one-sided razor blade. Anything sharp enough to cut through cardboard 1/16" thick without force, and safe enough for your level of experience. Often in this project you can use scissors, but when I mention sharp knives, I'm talking about something that small children should be kept far away from. See Tools and Techniques for suggestions about safe cutting. Lego bricks: Useful to hold things square, and even to use as measuring units. |
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Toys in Miniature: Frances Armstrong |
